BRIDGEPORT, Pa. — Gigi Sandull (Fr., Kenilworth, N.J./Union County Vocational-Technical Schools) of Connecticut College continues a legacy of honors for the Camels’ women’s water polo program as the first-year makes history by earning Rookie of the Year and Most Valuable Player recognition, while the Camels’ Matt Anderson adds another Coach of the Year notch to his belt as the 2023 Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) Division III-East Region All-Conference Team is released by the league office.
Selected based on nominations and votes by the head coaches of the league’s five Division III-East region institutions (Connecticut, Grove City College, Penn State Behrend, Utica University, Washington & Jefferson College), the All-Conference Team honors the 16 best players (14 field players, two goalies) in the majority opinion of the coaches.
Sandull achieves a unique position in the annals of the league – although matched by Casey Barragan (So., Commerce, Calif./La Serna/Fresno State University) of Augustana College who garnered MVP and Rookie of the Year status in the CWPA Division III-West Region this year – as the duo of Barragan and Sandull become the first women’s Division III athletes to earn both MVP and Rookie (defined for award purposes as, “an athlete competing in their inaugural season in the CWPA”) status in the same season.
In the history of the league, only Hartwick College’s Kirsten Hudson matched the feat in women’s competition as the former Hawks’ standout garnered MVP and Rookie of the Year status during the 2007 season when the Division I and III programs competed in a single conference schedule.
She becomes the fourth Connecticut College women’s water polo athlete to garner MVP status joining Maria Sell (Sr., San Mateo, Calif./Aragon) (2022 CWPA Division III-East), Kelsey Millward (2016 CWPA Division III) and Nicolle Jasbon (2013, 2014, 2015 CWPA Division III). Further, Sandull is the second Camels’ player to take Rookie of the Year laurels following Stephania Lopez (2018 CWPA Division III).
Sandull is joined on the All-Conference First Team by fellow first-year Emma Luna (Fr., Wahiawa, Hawaii/Punahou School) as five Camels earned All-Conference honors after capturing the CWPA Division III-East Region crown.
A trio of Washington & Jefferson athletes highlight the First Team as 2022 First Team pick Ryley McClellan (Sr., Wexford, Pa./North Allegheny) and 2022 Second Team honoree Megan DePrez (Sr., Claremont, Calif./Claremont) are joined by goalkeeper Alliey Cunningham (So., Evanston, Ill./Evanstown Township).
Samantha “Nic” Darrell (So., Perkasie, Pa./Pennridge) of Penn State Behrend and 2021 CWPA Division III Second Team/2022 CWPA Division III-West Region First Team recipient Reese Trauger (Sr., Perkasie, Pa./Pennridge) of Grove City complete the First Team.
All five institutions placed an athlete on the Second Team as 2022 First Team selection Sell, Brooke Brandenburger (Fr., Sacramento, Calif./Christian Brothers) and goalkeeper Sarah Franco (Jr., Weston, Conn./Weston) completed Connecticut College’s honors. The selection of Franco at goalkeeper is unique as she previously earned Second Team honors as a field player in 2022 to become the first known athlete in CWPA women’s varsity competition to earn All-Conference status both in and out of cage.
2021 Second Team and 2022 First Team All-Conference recipient Shannon Young (Sr., Roseville, Calif./Roseville) of Penn State Behrend, 2022 Second Team pick Laura Anthony (So., Erie, Pa./Villa Maria Academy) of Washington & Jefferson, Tia Kannel (Sr., York, Pa./Central York) of Grove City and Kelly Waryncia (Gr., Clifton Park, N.Y./Shenendehowa) of Utica account for the remainder of the Second Team.
On the bench, Anderson picks up his seventh Coach of the Year kudo. The 2015 Division III Coach of the Year, he previously earned notability as the 2005, 2006, 2009, 2010 and 2011 CWPA Division I-West Region recipient while head coach at the University of Michigan.
He becomes the third head coach to earn a CWPA Division III-East Region Coach of the Year honor following Joe Tristan of Penn State Behrend (2022 CWPA Division III-East) and former Grove City leader Alyssa Hunt (2019 CWPA Division III-East). Prior to 2019, a single Division III All-Conference team was named with one Coach of the Year as Scott Reed of Macalester (2017, 2018), Tristan (2016), Anderson (2015), Andy Bax formerly of Carthage College (2014), JJ Addison formerly of Connecticut College (2013), Jon Miller formerly of Grove City (2010, 2012) and Sarah Zink formerly of Carthage (2011) earned status prior to the award system splitting into East and West honors.
For the sake of clarity, the 2019 All-Conference teams were divided into East and West Regions, while the 2020 was lost to the COVID-19 pandemic. Due to limited competition in 2021, the East and West All-Conference teams were merged into a single “CWPA Division III” group prior to the return of East and West Teams for the 2022 campaign.
2023 Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) Division III-East All-Conference Team
Most Valuable Player: Gigi Sandull (Connecticut College)
Rookie of the Year: Gigi Sandull (Connecticut College)
Coach of the Year: Matt Anderson (Connecticut College)
First Team
Alliey Cunningham (Goalie) – Washington & Jefferson College
Megan DePrez* – Washington & Jefferson College
Ryley McClellan^ – Washington & Jefferson College
Gigi Sandull – Connecticut College
Emma Luna – Connecticut College
Reese Trauger*# – Grove City College
Samantha “Nic” Darrell – Penn State Behrend
Second Team
Sarah Franco (Goalie)* – Connecticut College
Brooke Brandenburger – Connecticut College
Maria Sell^ – Connecticut College
Tia Kannel – Grove City College
Shannon Young^# – Penn State Behrend
Kelly Waryncia – Utica University
Laura Anthony* – Washington & Jefferson College
^2022 CWPA Division III-West Region First Team; *2022 CWPA Division III-West Region Second Team; #2021 CWPA Division III Second Team
