BRIDGEPORT, Pa. — The College Sports Communicators (CSC) announced the 2023-24 Women’s At-Large Academic All-America Teams, naming Charlotte Newport (Jr., Baytown, Texas/Ross S. Sterling) and Ocean Akau (Jr., Pana’ewa, Hawaii/Kamehameha) of the Augustana College women’s water polo the 180th and 181st Academic All-America honorees in school history. They are both the first Augustana women’s water polo student-athletes to be represented on the Academic All-America list.
A total of six women’s water polo athletes garnered recognition as Newport and Akau pick up Division III Second and Third Team honors, respectively, to join the University of California’s Isabel Williams (Division I, First Team), California State University-East Bay’s Daniela Passoni (Division II, First Team), Biola University’s Maria Roldan Gonzalez (Division II, Second Team) and Claremont-Mudd-Scripps College’s Cooper McKenna (Division III, First Team) on the prestigious list of the nation’s best athletes and students.
During her time at Augustana, Newport has been a two-time Association of Collegiate Water Polo Coaches (ACWPC) All-America and was selected First Team All-CWPA Division III in 2023 and 2024. This past season, she ranked second on the Vikings in goals with 45 and led the team with team-highs in assists (36), steals (24), and field blocks (10). She was named to the All-CWPA Division III Championship team after helping Augie earn its second straight conference title.
Academically, Newport is a History major at Augustana with a 3.99 grade point average. She has been named to both the ACWPC and CWPA Scholar-Athlete Teams twice and has made the Dean’s List every semester at Augustana. Additionally, she earned the 2024 Texas Medical Center Summer Research Internship and has been a four-time Mitsui USA Sons’ and Daughters’ Scholarship recipient.
A three-time All-CWPA selection and a pick to the 2024 USA Water Polo Division III National Championship All-Tournament team after helping lead the Vikings to their second consecutive third-place finish at nationals, Akau also achieved ACWPC All-America status after ranking third on the team in goals with 39 and fourth in assists with 22.
The Psychology major boasts a 3.96 GPA and has been named ACWPC All-Academic in the Outstanding category twice, made the Dean’ List every semester at Augustana, and has garnered numerous scholarships, including the Outrigger Duke Kahanamoku Foundation Ambassador of Aloha Scholarship to go with five additional Kamehameha School scholarships.
Athletes for the NCAA Division I, II and III Women’s Academic All-America teams come from 11 sports: Beach Volleyball; Bowling; Fencing; Field Hockey; Golf; Gymnastics; Ice Hockey; Lacrosse; Rifle; Skiing; Water Polo.
The duo become the 16th and 17th Women’s Academic All-America selections from a CWPA institution since 2004 as they join:
2023 – Division III Second Team – Eleanor Michaud (Macalester College)
2021 – Division I Third Team – Maddie O’Reilly (University of Michigan)
2019 – Division III Third Team – Lucille Moran (Macalester College)
2017 – Division III Second Team – Abby Jank (Grove City College)
2016 – Division I Third Team – Ali Thomason (University of Michigan)
2016 – Division III Third Team – Abby Jank (Grove City College)
2016 – Division III Third Team – Kelsey Millward (Connecticut College)
2014 – Division I Third Team – Shae Fournier (Indiana University)
2012 – Division II First Team – Colleen Harriger (Gannon University)
2011 – Division II Second Team – Colleen Harriger (Gannon University)
2010 – Division III First Team – Jessica Barby (Washington & Jefferson College)
2009 – Division III Third Team – Jessica Barby (Washington & Jefferson College)
2005 – Division III Third Team – Kate Larson (Macalester College)
2004 – Division II First Team – Sonya Pyle (Gannon University)
2004 – Division II Third Team – Rishae Wood (Gannon University)
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