PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Head coach Felix Mercado announced nine additions to the Brown University women’s water polo program as the institution’s Class of 2026.
The Class of 2026 is made up of Marina Demas, Claire Eusey, Hana Homma, Roxanne Huzaka, Alexandra Love, Ella Palmer, Ashley Penner, Madeline Poissonnier and Sabrina Shipley.
“I am extremely excited for this group to get on College Hill,” said Mercado. “All nine are very talented and will have an immediate impact on our team. This will be the most complete and competitive team we have had since I have been here at Brown.”
Marina Demas
Attacker | 5’5″ | Sacramento, Calif. | Rio Americano High School
- Member of American River Water Polo Club
- Earned All-League First Team and All-Section Second Team honors
- Outstanding Academic All-American from 2019-2021
- Played on the Olympic Development Program Central Zone Team from 2019-2021
- National Merit Finalist, AP Scholar with Distinction and a member of the National Honors Society
Why Brown: “I chose Brown because of the ability to explore my interdisciplinary interests through the open curriculum, play water polo and gain new experiences with a diverse and friendly student body.”
Claire Eusey
Attacker | 5’6″ | Newport Beach, Calif. | Corona Del Mar High School
- Member of CDM Aquatics, SoCal Club Water Polo and the 68 Elite Academy
- Division I Player of the Year in 2022 and First-Team All-Surf League selection
- Named a member of the Los Angeles Times Dream Team First Team in 2022
- Won the USA Water Polo Junior Olympic Gold Medal in the Championship Division
- Scored 57 goals and had 37 assists as a senior
- Member of the California Scholarship Federation, named a All-Academic and won the Academic Excellence Water Polo Award
Why Brown: “I chose Brown because of the open curriculum, the people and the environment.”
Hana Homma
Utility | 5’8″ | Huntington Beach, Calif. | Huntington Beach High School
- Member of Huntington Beach Water Polo Club, Vanguard Aquatics and Chargers Water Polo Club
- Sunset All-League First Team in 2021-22 and All-League Second Team in 2020-21
- Captain at Huntington Beach High School from 2020-22 and named Most Improved Player in 2019-20
- Earned Sunset Conference All-Academic Team honors from 2018-22
- HBHS Scholar Athlete from 2019-22 and Water Polo Scholar Athlete for Academic Achievement from 2019-22
Why Brown: “I chose Brown because of the open curriculum that would allow me to pursue premed and literature, as well as how supportive everyone is. “
Roxanne Huzaka
Goalie | 5’10” | La Jolla, Calif. | La Jolla High School
- Member of Seaside and La Jolla United Club Team
- 2022 All-CIF Girls Water Polo Second Team and La Jolla High School MVP
- Olympic Development Program Select
- USA Water Polo All-Academic from 2019-21
- AP Scholar with Distinction and La Jolla High School Honor Roll from 2019-22
Why Brown: “I chose chose Brown because it has the best combination of athletic and academic programs.
Alexandra Love
Utility | 5’9″ | Newport Beach, Calif. | Newport Harbor High School
- Played for Newport Beach Water Polo Club
- Member of CIF Open Division Champion team in 2022 and Division I semi-finalist in 2021
- All-CIF Open Division Third Team in 2022 and Sunset Conference All-Academic Team in 2022
- Member of the USA Water Polo Youth National Team in 2021
- Three-time USA Water Polo All-Academic
Why Brown: “I chose Brown because of the open curriculum and the Division I water polo program. I am excited to explore all of my academic interest and continue to play high-level water polo for a great program.”
Ella Palmer
Center/Utility | 5’7″ | Auckland, New Zealand | St. Cuthbert’s College
- Member of Atlantis City Water Polo Club and Sea Wolf Water Polo Club
- St. Cuthbert’s Premier Team MVP in 2021 and Junior Team MVP in 2018
- Auckland College Sport Water Polo Player of the Year finalist
- Two-time New Zealand National High School’s Water Polo Championship medalist
- Won New Zealand Division I Club Championships at U14, U16, U18 and U21
- Member of the New Zealand Senior Women’s Water Polo team, u18 Women’s Team and Junior Women’s Team
- Member of the 2021 New Zealand Water Polo u18 FINA World Championship squad
Why Brown: “I chose Brown because it has the perfect balance of academic rigor and sporting excellence. I am excited to take my studies and water polo somewhere completely new where I am surrounded by a supportive and inspiring community.”
Ashley Penner
Attacker | 5’8″ | Atherton, Calif. | Sacred Heart Preparatory School
- Member of Stanford Girls Water Polo Club
- Named WCAL First Team in 2018, 2019, and 2021
- Named CCS First Team in 2019, CCS Second Team in 2021 and CCS Third Team in 2018
- Named 49er Cal-Hi Sports Player of the Week on April 21, 2021
- Scored 61 goals with 33 assists and 38 steals in 31 games during the 2021 season
Why Brown: “I chose Brown because the welcoming atmosphere in the classroom and in the water polo community made me feel at home before I have even started my journey. Brown demonstrates a perfect balance between a student’s academic, athletic and social life which will not only allow me to find success but to be happy throughout by four years.”
Madeline Poissonnier
Defender | 6’1″ | Tustin, Calif. | Foothill High School
- Member of SoCal Water Polo and NorthWood Water Polo
- 2022 Crestview League MVP, Century Conference First Team, First Team All-CIF SS Open Division and Varsity captain
- Three-time All-Academic selection and member of the National Honors Society and California Scholarship Federation
- First Team National Junior All-America in 2017 & 2018 and Junior Olympic Gold Medal Recipient in 2018 and 2021
Why Brown: “I chose Brown because of its balance of sports and academics. While at Brown, I will be able to keep playing the sport I love while also pursuing my academic interests through the open curriculum.”
Sabrina Shipley
Utility | 5’7″ | Miami, Fla. | Ransom Everglades School
- Two-sport athlete in water polo and swimming (butterfly, freestyle, IM)
- Led team in exclusions drawn as a freshman and added 39 goals
- Collected 13 goals, 22 assists, five steals as a sophomore and 27 goals, 14 assists, 23 steals as a junior in back-to-back shortened seasons.
- Tallied over 80 goals and 44 steals as a senior.
- Florida High School Athletic Association All-State Academic Team (senior), First Team All-County in water polo (junior), Second Team All-County in swimming (junior/senior), Andy Ansin Unsung Hero (junior), Most Promising Underclassman (freshman), USA Water Polo All-Academic (sophomore/junior)
- National Merit Scholar, AP Scholar with Distinction, Presidential Scholar Nominee, Cum Laude, University of Virginia Jefferson Book Award, Mu Alpha Theta, Spanish National Honor Society, Honor Roll
Why Brown: “I fell in love with Brown as soon as I stepped on campus. It’s such a friendly, collaborative community that makes me excited to learn and compete. It offers great academic programs paired with an opportunity to continue playing water polo at a high level.
