Hall of Fame
Former Coyote water polo coach Tom Finwall once described Freyja Berg as “the hardest-working athlete I’ve ever coached.’’
Those words fit to a “T” when describing this Coyote Hall of Fame member of 2013.
During Berg’s four years at CSUSB, she became the first three-time All-American in her sport. She established and still holds school records for career goals (356), steals (269) and assists (269). Out of the water, she took on her academics with equal aplomb, earning a bachelor’s degree in chemistry at CSUSB.
“Every little break, I had my head in a book,’’ said Berg, who puts her degree to good use every day while working as an analyst at Pomona-based Enviro-Chem Laboratories, Inc. “As far back as I know, I’ve always like chemistry and biology. I knew after I completed my general education classes that I wanted to go in that direction.’’
But it was her efforts in the pool that gained her notoriety as a known factor in water polo. She led the nation in goals (110) her senior season and her bio was featured in the "Faces in the Crowd" section of Sports Illustrated that spring for scoring a career-high seven goals in the Coyotes’ first-ever win against nationally-ranked UC Santa Barbara.
Upon conclusion of the 2007-08 academic year, Berg also was honored as CSUSB’s Female Athlete of the Year.
“Time management was essential,’’ she said. “Sleep, study, practice; there wasn’t much time for anything else. That’s one of the reasons why I enjoyed playing water polo so much while at CSUSB. It allowed me an outlet from my studies where I could shift gears.’’
Finwall cited her intelligence and ability to make adjustments for her athletic excellence. And that work ethic began in a family of five children in Whittier.
“I give my parents so much credit for the good things I’ve achieved in my life,’’ she said. “Everyone in the house had chores and responsibilities. That and homework always came first before anything else. Once you have that approach toward work, I think, it never really goes away. It’s a part of you.’’
Freyja and her teammates remain good friends and although competitive water polo is not a part of her daily life, she relishes the annual alumni games that allow her competitive nature to shine once again.
“My time at CSUSB was an experience that I can’t imagine not having in my life,’’ she said. “My teammates were and are an extension of my family.’’
