PRINCETON, N.J. — Princeton University women’s water polo will welcome five recruits, all from California, as the program’s Class of 2021.
The quintet will help a team that finished the 2017 season at 24-4 and reached the Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) Championship title game. It was the fifth time in the last six seasons that Princeton reached the 20-win milestone. Head coach Luis Nicolao‘s unit won 12 games versus ranked opponents and seven contests against teams from California.
Sara Lawson (Corona del Mar High School)
- High School: Three-time All-League including first-team accolades as a senior … Third-team All-CIF as a senior … Squad was three-time Pacific Coast League champions along with reaching the D-I CIF Semifinals three times.
- Academic: Two-time USA Water Polo All-Academic … AP Scholar with Honor … Academic Letter with Distinction … Presidential Service Award and Gold Seal Bearer candidate … California Scholarship Federation Honor Society member … Principal’s Honor Roll six times and Scholar Athlete with Distinction four times … Sea King Pride Award.
- Club: CDM and SoCal Water Polo Clubs.
- Nicolao on Lawson: “Sarah has stepped up to fill some big roles over the last couple of years while competing for her high school team. Although she is extremely quick in the water, I think her biggest asset is her view of the game. She sees what others teams are running before they execute it, giving her the time to react and communicate to everyone around her.”
Kailie McGeoy (Santa Barbara High School)
- High School: Most Outstanding Female Athlete Award this year … 2016 All-CIF Third Team …All-Channel League first team in 2016, second team honors the year prior … Swam to the Channel League finals in the 200, 500 free, 50 and 100 relays in back-to-back seasons (2016-17) … CIF finalist in the 500 freestyle and 100 relay during 2016 campaign.
- Academic: USA Water Polo All-Academic (2015-16) … National Honor Society … California Scholarship Federation … American Business Women’s Association Scholarship recipient … Santa Barbara Scholarship Foundation recipient … CIF Southern Section Ford Academic Champion twice (2015-16).
- Club: Santa Barbara 805 Water Polo Club … Led team to Junior Olympics title in 2015 … Named Junior Olympics All-American second team.
- Nicolao on McGeoy: “Kailie is the first to join our program from the Santa Barbara community since Cassie Nichols ’02 and we could not be more excited to have her. “After years of playing with one of the most prestigious clubs in California, she’ll be bringing a lot more than just her talent to Princeton with her! Kailie is fast and a true utility, making an impact on both ends of the pool for every team she’s played for.”
Maddie Pendolino (Sacred Heart Prep)
- High School: California-Hawaii All-America team three times … NISCA/Speedo All-America twice … Registered three all-league and all-conference seasons including two first-team accolades … Contributed 45 goals, 17 assists, 28 steals and 67 drawn ejections during senior year … As a junior, posted 39 goals, 32 steals and 23 drawn ejections … Had a 40-goal season as a sophomore … Team took home the CCS Division II championship four times … Squad won three WCAL League championships and two WCAL League tournaments … Invited to conference sectionals in three different events (500 free, 200 free, 100 back) three years as a swimmer … Three-time all-league swimmer.
- Academic: Three-time USA Water Polo All-Academic … CCS Scholastic Championship team in water polo and swimming … AP Scholar with Honors … Awarded SHP “Athlete Build for Others,” a school athletic award for juniors given for service, standing in community and athletic accomplishment.
- Club: Stanford Water Polo Club … Top-12 finisher at 16U Junior Olympics in 2015 and 18U Junior Olympics in 2016 … Club Championships and Cal Cup Team.
- ODP/National Team: Won the gold medal at the 2015 Olympic Development National Championship Tournament with Pacific 99 team … Picked for Nick Johnson Inspirational Player Award.
- Nicolao on Pendolino: “Maddie has been coached by some of the greatest Northern California coaches over her high school career. She will never stop working and will do whatever it takes to get things done.”
Paige Thompson (Harvard-Westlake School)
- High School: All-Mission League First Team as a senior and second team accolades as a junior … All-CIF DIII second team during her senior campaign … Squad won the Mission League title and made it to the quarterfinals of the CIF-SS DIII … Most Dedicated Varsity Player Award winner as a junior … Varsity Coach’s Award as a sophomore.
- Academic: USA Water Polo Outstanding All-Academic (2015-16) … All-Mission League Academic First-Team … Cum Laude Society.
- Club: Played for LA Premier and S&S Bruin Water Polo Water Polo Clubs.
- Nicolao on Thompson: “Paige has found a program at Harvard-Westlake that has completely changed and grown her game. With no background in water polo, Paige decided to join her high school team freshmen year and picked up the sport extremely quick. Over the course of a few seasons, she’s grown faster, stronger and so much more confident as a player.”
Marissa Webb (San Ramon Valley High School)
- High School: Was a EBAL and CIF North Coast First Team player all four seasons … Team won the CIF DI championship every year … NISCA/Speedo High School Third-Team All-America (2015-16), Fourth Team All-America (2013-14), Sixth Team All-America (2014-15).
- Academic: USA Water Polo All-Academic (2014-16) … Student Recognition Project Childhood Education First Place Award winner … Honor Cord Student.
- Club: 680 Water Polo Association … Was Junior Olympic All-America three times, scoring first team accolades in 2013 and 2015 along with honorable mention in 2014 … 2013 Winterfest MVP.
- Nicolao on Webb: “Marissa has been a part of an extremely competitive high school and club program over the last four years. With no break between her summer and fall seasons, she’s consistently showcased herself as being the backbone of her teams’ defense through her communication and talent.”
Release courtesy Princeton University Athletics Communications
