LEWISBURG, Pa. – The Bucknell University women’s water polo team has announced five first-years that will join the program for the spring 2022 season.
Boati Motau, Flora Beleznay, Caroline Oates, Sidney Finkler and Annika Lampen will join a Bison women’s program that earned its highest-ever finish at the Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWAP) Championship in back-to-back seasons after finishing third in 2019 and runner-up in 2021.
Boati Motau
Johannesburg, South Africa/Roedean School South Africa
Before Bucknell: Named 2020 Sports Woman of the Year at the Roedean School…earned full colors in both field hockey and water polo for three years…helped Roedean to a third-place National finish in 2020…member of 2020 Tokyo Olympic Team for South Africa…member of national team setup since 2018…helped U17 team to a second-place showing at the EU Nations Water Polo Cup in 2019…team captain in both field hockey and water polo in 2019-20.
Personal: Born on 9/25/2002 in Johannesburg, South Africa…daughter of Asmeralda and Semadi Motau.
Flora Beleznay
Delray Beach, Fla./Pine Crest School
Before Bucknell: Lettered in cross country, swimming, and water polo at Pine Crest School…Academic All-American with Outstanding honors from 2017-20 in water polo…member of Junior Olympics National Team and USA Water Polo Olympic Development Program member…helped water polo team to Sunshine State Games gold medal in 2019…Florida State Championship qualifier in the 500 yard, 200 yard freestyle. Helping team to team title…team captain for state championship swimming squad….played club for South Florida Water Polo.
Personal: Born on March 16, 2003 in Jefferson, La…has two sibling Andras, and Maya…sister Maya runs cross country and track and field at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)… has worked as a junior ocean rescue lifeguard and as a volunteer at the Gumbo Limbo Nature Center…speaks fluent Hungarian as a first language…has won gold medals at art competitions…fluent in coding/programming software…majoring in biophysics.
Caroline Oates
Westlake Village, Calif./Westlake High School
Before Bucknell: Lettered four years in water polo and two in swimming at Westlake High School…two-year team captain and team MVP…first Team All-County and Second Team Marmonte All-League pick…Four-year Academic Scholar-Athlete Award…led team in scoring as a junior…named Most Improved as a sophomore…Helped team to CIF Quarterfinals appearance in 2019, while qualifying for the CIF playoffs each of the past two seasons…helped swimming team to Marmonte League Championships in 2020 and 2021…qualified for CIF Division I as a relay team member…played club for South Coast Aquatics Water Polo, helping team to ninth-place showing at U.S. Club Championships.
Personal: Caroline Christine Oates…daughter of Kathleen and Michael Oates…has two siblings, Matthew and Molly…helps coach youth in introducing them to the sport of water polo with Splashball…is a burn survivor from a childhood hiking accident…Member of Advanced Anatomy program, one of three in the country…spent a year dissecting and performing autopsy reports on human cadavers.
Sidney Finkler
Annapolis, Md./South River
Before Bucknell: Lettered all four years in swimming at South River High School… member of Olympic Development Team in water polo and ODP Northeast Zone Team from 2017-2019…USA Water Polo All-Academic in 2019 and 2020…won American Water Polo (AWP) Scholar-Athlete Award each year from 2018-2020…won first place in the 100 free in swimming at the Central Maryland Divisional Championships…member of Navy AC Water Polo Club Team.
Personal: Sidney Raine Finkler…Born on September 18, 2002 in Annapolis, Md…was only girl on all-boys team in helping team to first-place showing at the Battle of the Bay Water Polo Tournament…Has four siblings – Aidan, Adison, Ashton Piers, and Taylor LaBrecque…Sister Ashton was a member of the swim team at St. Joseph’s College…Sister Taylor ran track at Bates College…Brother Aidan Finkler is a member of the Iona College water polo team.
Annika Lampen
Grand Rapids, Mich./East Grand Rapids
Before Bucknell: Played four sports in high school, earning 12 varsity letters overall…member of sailing, skiing, water polo, and swimming team at East Grand Rapids…All-Conference in both sailing and water polo…water polo team captain in 2020 and 2021…helped skiing team to regional championship in 2019 and 2020… member of state-championship winning swim team in 2019…water polo team earned conference championship in 2021, as well as a regional championship…water polo team went 23-0…as a goalie, compiled a 77.14 save percentage, scoring six goals while adding 13 assists…played club for Third Coast Aquatics.
Personal: Annika Jane Lampen…Born on November 5, 2002 in Grand Rapids, Mich…has one sibling, Greta.
Release courtesy Bucknell University Athletics Communications
