SACRAMENTO, Calif. – St. Francis senior Jenna Barthels will sign with Cal-State Northridge on Wednesday to play water polo for the Matador program next fall.

“The team was amazing,” said Barthels of joining the CSUN program. “They do things together and work well together. They are such a fun group of people. I did not want to leave and I couldn’t imagine myself anywhere else.”

Barthels will play for Head Coach Marty Matthies, who is in his second season. He led the program to a second-place finish in the Big West Conference last season.

“The coach has such a great coaching style and runs a seven-person zone,” said Barthels. “After playing a two-person zone, I am looking forward to what it looks like and I know I am going to love doing it so much.”

Barthels was looking for a good team atmosphere in her college choice.

“I love the sport and being part of a team, doing things with a group of people,” said Barthels. “They are your team and people. It is why I had a hard time thinking about playing in college because my team now is so close. How was I going to find a team like St. Francis? But I did and Northridge is it.”

Barthels, who plans to major in biology or something along a pre-med track, has been a four-year member of the St. Francis program. She has scored more than 100 career goals and enters this week’s section semifinals with a team best 46 goals and 68 points. She ranks second on the team with 22 assists.

Barthels credits her coach Heather Moody in preparing her for this collegiate opportunity.

 “It means everything to me,” said Barthels. “Heather has made me into the player that I am. I give her all the credit. Under any other coach, I would not be a center and have legs, my shot or my speed. She has pounded in those swim sets. Everything about St. Francis water polo is so important to me. I am so committed and the team is so committed.”

St. Francis is the No. 2 seed in the section playoffs and play in the semifinals Tuesday.

“We are going to great things no matter whether we win or lose, we win out of the pool,” said Barthels. “We win and lose together. Everything is happiness and love.”

Barthels will participate in the St. Francis Collegiate Commitment Celebration on Wednesday, Nov. 11. The event will be broadcast on TroubieTV.