Daily Trojan Sports

Redshirt sophomore Daniel Imatorbhebhe DAILY and the football team play for TROJAN the Pac-12 title PAGE 16 | THURSDAY,S NOVEMBERPORTS 30, 2017 | WWW.DAILYTROJAN.COM/SPORTS on Friday. Following Jon Walters’ tragic death in 2014, his brother James looks to honor his memory in the fi nal match of his water polo career. By JULIA POE means more than just redemption. Even their positions were complemen- practice at the pool of their recreation lost the first game of his high school ca- Sports Editor Because four years ago, after winning tary: James played utility, the polo version center. Jon pointed at the splashing play- reer. But it was alright, he said, because the national championship, Jon fell into a of a point guard, feeding the ball to Jon ers and asked if they could join. Within a next year he would be at USC. They’d play Every time he dives into the pool, se- coma after a New Year’s party. He battled down low in the 2-meter slot. They nev- week, Jon and James were water polo con- together and win a championship. Just as nior water polo captain James Walters pneumonia and a series of heart attacks er felt the need to compete because their verts. planned. carries his brother, Jon, with him. before dying eight days later. He was 19, roles in the pool were a perfect fit — de- They grew up in the game, spending Jon recovered in time for postseason Jon’s initials, JDW, are emblazoned on a freshman and a national champion. He signed to assist one another. every afternoon in the pool, reeking of play, netting 2 goals in an NCAA semi- James’ cap, suit and sweats. A plaque me- was also James’ best friend. Sometimes, James remembers, he chlorine and gobbling down sandwich- final to push the Trojans into the final morializing Jon, a 2-meter who was key This weekend, James will captain his didn’t even have to look at his broth- es and In-N-Out between swim and wa- game. On Dec. 8, James was in the stands to the Trojans’ national championship team in its final national title run. But er when they were in the pool. He knew ter polo practices. James never consid- watching as Jon won the national title in victory in 2013, hangs on the wall along- he’ll play for more than just a title or a tro- where he’d be, how he’d move, which ered being on a different team than Jon, an overtime thriller over Pacific. It was side the supporters’ section where James’ phy. He’ll play for his brother, for the final play to run. In three seasons together at so he played up an age group for the next the sixth straight national championship parents, Jaque and Bill, sit in the stands. time. And he’ll play for a ring of his own. Mater Dei High School, the pair never lost five years. for USC. Jon’s name is engraved in the NCAA “I think, at the end of it, I want to a game. Bill and Jaque knew the boys would al- Afterwards, Jon hugged his brother, championship ring that hangs on a chain make him proud,” James said. “I know “You had to be on their team because ways be good at whatever they tried, and grinning widely as they celebrated the around Jaque’s neck. She clutches at the he’s proud of me, but I still want to do this if you weren’t, you were going to lose,” said it was true from the start. The pair joined first of many trophies. The celebration pendant, running her thumb over the for him. I want to finish what he started.” senior goalkeeper McQuin Baron, who a club team that soon traveled the coun- continued weeks later, on New Year’s letters, when a game comes down to the has played with the Walterses since fresh- try and secured a national title. They won Eve back in Newport Beach. Jon, who wire. ARM IN ARM man year of high school. “If Jon and James state championships in high school and struggled with insomnia for years, took Bill has a ring of his own, as do Jon’s were on a team, they were winning. They declared for USC together during Jon’s Xanax before heading to a party with his older siblings. It’s one of their favorite For most of their lives, it was always were unstoppable together.” junior year. For both of them, water polo brother. They drank champagne and fell memories of Jon — a true freshman, still assumed that Jon and James were twins. They were on each other’s teams just made sense. asleep, like always, side by side. But that recovering from an elbow injury, who They had the same strong frame — from the start, although their athletic “We just got so caught up with it morning, Jon didn’t wake up. squared his jaw to lift USC to a victory. broad shoulders, long arms, square jaws. careers began on the football fi eld. Bill from the beginning,” James said. “When For a week, Jon remained in a coma. James is the only one without a ring. Jon wore glasses, and James was an inch played defensive line at the University of I think of growing up, I just think of the On the third day, he contracted pneumo- When his family ordered them four years shorter. They were separated in age by a Kansas, so he signed the boys up for Pop pool with Jon. It was our everyday, and it nia. On the eighth day, he suffered a series ago, he refused to accept one of his own. year, yet it was rare to see them apart. Warner, hoping they’d follow his love for just never got old. It still hasn’t.” of heart attacks. He died on Jan. 8, at the He didn’t want to take Jon’s ring. James In and out of the water, Jon and James the game. Jon’s freshman year both started and age of 19, exactly a month after winning needed to earn his own. were the perfect pair. Jon was hot-headed, They took to it immediately, as most ended with tragedy. He injured his elbow the national championship. For three years since, James has been stubborn, quick to act first and think lat- little boys do, except for one problem — within weeks of the first game, grinding “It was devastating for all of us,” Bill looking to redeem his brother’s champi- er. Despite being younger, James was the Jon’s size. He was a stocky kid, tall for his a promising start to the season to a halt. said. “It’s like a fog. It fills you and sur- onship. For three years, his team fought mature one. He woke Jon up in the morn- age and thick around the middle, and he As Jon warmed the bench and recov- rounds you, and you don’t know how its way to a No. 1 ranking, to an MPSF ings and reminded him to not forget his needed to drop 35 pounds to play in his ered from his injury, James adjusted to you’re going to get out of it. I think we’re title, to the national championship title glasses or notes on the way to school. own age group. Bill knew it was impos- life without his brother. They saw each just waking up now. Years later, I think game. And for three straight years, the They lived in a four-bedroom house sible, so he walked the boys home, deter- other on the weekends and talked on the we’re still just waking up.” Trojans have fallen just short. and insisted on sharing the same room. mined to find something else. phone, but the distance made things dif- For James, the weeks following Jon’s This weekend is his last chance to Neither one really seemed to make sense The answer came in that short ferent. change that. And for James, this weekend without the other. walk, as the trio walked past water polo Without his brother by his side, James | see WALTERS, page 14 | Football takes on Stanford Helton has for Pac-12 Championship shown he The No. 10 Trojans face the head coaches Lane Kiffi n and Steve Cardinal seeking their fi rst Sarkisian, it was the un-fl ashy, un- fl appable Helton who brought USC is right for conference title in nine years. back to national prominence. Yet in order to silence all doubt that By TREVOR DENTON he was the right hire in 2015, and the job Deputy Sports Editor cement this season as a successful As No. 10 USC prepares to face one, Helton requires one more win No.12 Stanford for the fi fth time at Levi’s Stadium this Friday. Julia in three years, some of the veteran “I feel like last year if we Trojan players refl ected on the last would’ve went [to the Pac-12 Poe time they clashed with the Cardinal Championship], we would’ve won it then too, and I feel like every- POE’S in a Pac-12 Championship. PERSPECTIVE After going 5-2 as interim head body in the country thought the coach in 2015, Clay Helton was same thing,” Hawkins said. “But s we reach the end of the sea- promoted to permanent head this is a big step moving forward son, I’ve become more and more coach leading up to the conference for this program and Coach Helton grateful for head football coach title game.

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