Congratulations, Joshua Woren! Vaughn Bigelow Jr. 2024 Scholarship Winner
Josh is on the right, and Vince is on the left.
Big Waves Inc. named Joshua Woren from Cherokee Trail High School a Vaughn Bigelow Jr. Scholarship winner in 2024. Josh’s resilience, discipline, and ability to balance the ebbs and flows of life, academics, and athletics made him stand out. We are thrilled to support him as he sets sail for an exciting future at MIT.
Riding the Tides of Water Polo
Joshua’s dipped his toes into the water polo world when he was just a third grader. He’s been riding the waves of competition for nine years, primarily playing as a goalie, and his dedication has earned him a spot on the Great Lakes and Mountain Zone ODP teams multiple times. His high school team, the Colorado State Champions in 2022, was a vessel for many of his proudest achievements, including placing third with the USA National Jewish team at the 2022 Maccabiah Games in Israel.
Water polo has helped Josh stay afloat during difficult times—especially after he moved to Colorado and found himself socially adrift. Making friends can be hard when you’re the new kid, but all that changed when he joined the water polo team. “I met my closest friends on my team, creating experiences that I will never forget. We traveled the country together, seeing new things. The part about those trips was that I got to play with those I saw as my brothers and sisters,” recalls Josh.
“I was always taught there is no shortcut to greatness. Greatness only comes after exhausting days at the gym; we are not born with it. It takes integrity to show up and work daily with no excuses. I always wanted to be great at water polo, so I ensure I follow my integrity to be my best. I’m always working to become better, no matter what it takes. I make no excuse for myself, from early mornings in the gym to late nights in the pool.”
Paying It Foward
Josh believes in paying things forward. He passes on his love for the sport by mentoring younger players through Splash Ball. He explains, “It’s an organization that teaches kids the basics of water polo. These kids can stay active and learn this great game by doing so. Not only that, but I also recruited many kids from my high school to come and “try out” water polo with the high school team. I got nine people from my school who came out and tried out water polo. The best part comes when they choose to stay on the team.”
As captain of his club and high school teams, he constantly pushes himself and his teammates to reach new depths, “I was always taught there is no shortcut to greatness. Greatness only comes after exhausting days at the gym; we are not born with it. It takes integrity to show up and work daily with no excuses. I always wanted to be great at water polo, so I ensure I follow my integrity to be my best. I’m always working to become better, no matter what it takes. I make no excuse for myself, from early mornings in the gym to late nights in the pool.”
But Josh knows teamwork makes the dream work and treats his competition with the respect they deserve, “although I push myself hard, I also ensure my teammates are right with me. We can’t compete with the best if we can’t operate like a functioning team. We push each other to be our best because everyone in our pool dreams of continuing to play this game. We push ourselves into the pool, becoming a well-oiled machine. We also make sure that we act like a team. As the captain of both my club and high school teams, it is my responsibility for our team to act like a team. I scheduled outings at restaurants, golfing, and other activities to strengthen our team’s bond. As a goalie, I’ve also learned how to make sure our bond stays in the pool. Even against competitors, I make sure there isn’t any malice between my team and theirs. Poor sportsmanship harms the sport as people have less incentive to compete with it.”
Balancing the Ebbs and Flows of Life
Balancing water polo, academics, and extracurricular activities create choppy waters. Still, with careful time management, Josh ensures that his top priorities—school, water polo, and sleep—get the necessary time and attention. It allows him to be flexible and make time for other pursuits like engineering club, friends, and team bonding.
Setting Sail for MIT
Josh is setting sail for the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) this fall, where he plans to study Civil Engineering and play water polo. We know he’ll continue to make waves and navigate whatever challenges come his way. Happy sailing, Josh!
The Vaughn Bigelow Jr. Scholarship is more than just a financial boost; it's a tribute to a young life taken too soon and a reminder that even in the face of tragedy, we can create a beautiful and lasting legacy and a bright future.
Together, we're making waves, just like those in the pool, and leaving a legacy that will endure for generations to come.
To apply for the scholarship, click here. The deadline to apply is April 30, 2025.