GROVE CITY, Pa. — The Grove City College women’s water polo team enters the 2023 season with plenty of expectations and new faces in the lineup as the Wolverines aim for Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) Division III supremacy this spring.
Fourth-year head coach Jocelyn Bernhardt will rely upon a trio of seasoned seniors in 2023 as Tia Kannel (York, Pa./Central York), Reese Trauger (Perkasie, Pa./Pennridge) and Emory Shepson (Grove City, Pa./Homeschooled) are all back in the fold.
Kannel has started extensively in goal in each of the last two seasons and will again likely see time there in 2023. However, Bernhardt expects to also be able to deploy Kannel in the field this season.
Trauger returns for her fourth season after earning Association of Collegiate Water Polo Coaches (ACWPC) Division III All-America for the second consecutive year. Trauger posted 46 goals and a team-leading 35 assists in 2022.
A standout sprinter for the Grove City women’s swimming and diving squad, Trauger also earned First Team All-CWPA Division III as a junior. She will be counted on at both ends of the pool again this spring.
Shepson has been an integral part of Grove City’s defensive efforts over the past two seasons. Bernhardt looks for Shepson to take on a greater offensive role this year.
Junior Clarie Lochstet (Ambler, Pa./Upper Dublin) has the inside track to start this year after playing as a reserve in her first two seasons. The Wolverines will count on Lochstet for greater offensive production this year, according to Bernhardt.
Classmate Katie Goodwill (Mogadore, Ohio/Kent Roosevelt) will also compete for a starting spot after seeing reserve duty in 2022.
Sophomore Kamryn Kerr (East Grand Rapids, Mich./East Grand Rapids) returns for her second season as a starter after emerging as a key cog on both offense and defense.
Second-year performers Sam Logue (Hollister, Calif./San Benito), Riley McCullough (Spring, Texas/Oak Ridge) and Mikayla Zablocki (Kittanning, Pa./Armstrong) all saw reserve action last year and are vying for increased playing time in 2023.
Bernhardt also looks for Grove City’s newcomers to challenge for significant time this season.
