CAMBRIDGE Mass. — Harvard University women’s water polo will add five student-athletes to its roster next season, Ted Minnis, The Friends of Harvard Water Polo Head Coach, announced on Monday, May 15. All five members of the class of 2027 arrive in Cambridge from California as they look to build upon a very successful two-year stretch for the Crimson.
“I’m very excited to add these five scholar athletes to our team next year,” said Minnis. “They each bring something unique. After graduating such a large senior class, we are really excited to bring them in and build off the foundation and progress of last year’s team.”
Harvard reached the Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) Championship game for the second time in two seasons in 2023 after upsetting the University of Michigan in the 2023 CWPA Championship semifinals. The Crimson defeated Arizona State University earlier in the season for its first top-10 win in program history before adding another with the victory over the Wolverines.
Read more about the class of 2027 below:
Maya O’Dea |Attacker | Long Beach, California | Woodrow Wilson High School
Four-year letter winner in water Polo and swimming at Woodrow Wilson High School…Two-year captain of Wilson Water Polo team… Two-year captain of Long Beach Aquatics Federation…2023 & 2022 All Moore League Player of the Year (Water Polo)…2023 & 2022 All CIF-SS Division 1 First Team (Water Polo)…2023 All-Tournament Team- Santa Barbara Tournament of Champions (Water Polo)…2021 & 2020 All Moore League First Team (Water Polo) …2020 All CIF-SS Division 2 Third Team (Water Polo)…2022 All Moore League 100 Free, …200 Free Relay, 400 Free Relay (Swimming)…2021 All Moore League 200 Free Relay, 400 Free Relay (Swimming) 2023 CIF-SS Division 1 Runner Up (Wilson High School, Water Polo)…2020-2023 Moore League Champions (Wilson High School, Water Polo)…2022 Youth USA Futures Team (USA Water Polo)…2021 USA Cadet National Team (USA Water Polo)…2019 USA Development National Team (USA Water Polo)…Valedictorian, Class of 2023, Wilson High School… USA Water Polo All-Academic (2021-2023).
Lily Britt | Attacker / Driver | Newport Beach, California | Corona del Mar High School
Varsity athlete in both water polo and swimming… Corona del Mar travel team 2015-2023…2021, 2022, 2023 Conference Finals 50-free qualifier……Sea Queen Award 2022 (Team nominated)…USAWP Goal of the week 2023…Alcatraz Invitational 4th Place 2022…2021 Division 2 CIF Southern Section Swim Team Championship …2022 Division 1 CIF Southern Section Water Polo Championship…Surf League Champions (2022-2023)…Valedictorian of Corona del Mar High School…National Merit Commended Scholar…Reflections High School Award of Excellence in the Visual Art Category (2020) … Chamber of Commerce Scholar, California Scholarship Federation Member (2019-2023) … USA Water Polo All-Academic (2020-2022) … Academy of Global Studies (2019-2023) … AP Capstone Diploma
Emma Gilbert | Center Defender | Santa Barbara, California | Dos Pueblos High School
Four-year letter winner in swimming and water Polo…Two-year captain varsity Water Polo…2022, 2023 Team MVP…Four-time All-Channel League honors. 2023 Division 1 All-CIF first-team… Six-time USA Water Polo All-American… Three-time leading goal scorer… Scored 95 goals senior year.
Lucy Berkman | Attacker | Orinda, California | Miramonte High School
Four-year member of varsity water polo… Two-year member of varsity swimming… Competed for Lamorinda Water Polo Club from 2014-2023…Competed in the Diablo Athletic League and North Coast section… Two-time second-team DAL All-League… High School All-American Honorable Mention (2021,2022)…Helped lead Miramonte High School to a 70-game win streak… Two-time NCS and CIF State tournament champion…Four-time USA Water Polo All-Academic… Three-time NCS, CIF, Scholar Athlete.
Serafina Cortez |Attacker | Redwood City, California | Castilleja School
Four-year letter winner in water polo and swimming…One-year letter winner in track and field…Played for the Menlo Mavericks (2016-2019) and Stanford Girls Water Polo Club (2019-2023)…Captained both swimming and water polo…2022 Water polo SCVAL First team All-League…2022 All-CCS Third-team…2022 Swimming West Bay Athletic League (WBAL) Second Team All-League… 2022 Castilleja swimming MVP… Member of the 2019 PAL champions and 2021 SCVAL co-champions… Set school records in the 200 and 400 free relay…Two-time USA Water Polo Outstanding All-Academic… Positive Coaching Alliance Triple-Impact Finalist.. Castilleja Women Leading Award.. Southeast Asian/Pacific Islander Affinity Group Co-Lead and Member… Member of the Castilleja Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice Leadership Council Task Force
Release courtesy Harvard University Athletics Communications
