Gene Pool

By STEVE GALLUZZO | Sports Editor

When the opposing team failed to show up for a water polo game at Maggie Gilbert Aquatic Center, Palisades had an intrasquad scrimmage on Monday, presenting freshman Bailey Gair a rare opportunity to go one-on-one with her senior sister Taylor. In the end, Taylor’s white caps prevailed over Bailey’s blue caps but there were no hard feelings. It was just another day in the life of two teenage girls who live under the same roof, play the same sport, shop at the same stores, eat the same foods and, most importantly, share the same desire to win. It is in their DNA as their parents were both NCAA Division I swimmers.

“Yes, there’s a lot of screaming at home,” says Taylor, the team captain and top goal scorer who is headed to UC Davis. “I tell Bailey as much as all the effort you put in, the bonds you form with your teammates are lasting. She has improved the most of anyone on the team. I’m teaching her all my tricks. She aspires to be the next me.”

Taylor’s high school journey is nearing an end but Bailey’s is just beginning. Taylor has already won a City water polo title and Bailey may win several before she graduates, but this is their only chance to win one together—and they know it.

“I’m pretty confident we can win this year,” says Taylor, the more serious of the two. She helped the Dolphins beat Birmingham in the finals her sophomore year and led them to a runner-up finish last winter.

“Me too!,” Bailey chimes in. “I’m gonna have a huge responsibility when Taylor leaves but she’s preparing me. I really love being part of this team! [Sophomores] Dylan Kuperberg and Yasmine Santini are two of my best friends.”

What is the best advice Bailey has gotten from her older sibling?

“To show up and do my best,” she says. “Stay determined and serious even when I don’t want to. I love how Taylor can be serious but also kind and funny at the same time.”

Taylor just turned 18 while Bailey just turned 15 (their birthdays are 11 days apart) and they live in the Highlands with their wiener dogs Sunny and Luna. Their father Tim was teammates with Dolphins swim coach Maggie Nance, graduating from Pali High in 1992, and swam butterfly and freestyle at UCSB. He also set the time record for the 32-mile Catalina Classic Paddleboard Marathon. Their mom Ericka swam for Pepperdine and set a 200 backstroke record that stood for 26 years.

“Dad definitely passed his competitive nature along,” says Taylor, who is also on the swim team and took fifth in the 500 freestyle at the City Championships last May.

Bailey confirms in the spring she will join the swim team too—a sport she has participated in longer than water polo.

“I’m her chauffeur,” Taylor jokes on the way to their new favorite eatery: Layla Bagels on Ocean Park Boulevard in Santa Monica. “After practice, that’s where I’ll be.”