PRINCETON, N.J. — Princeton University women’s water polo head coach Derek Ellingson announced the Tigers’ Class of 2030.
The eight-member class comes from three nations (New Zealand, Canada, United States) and two states (California, Illinois) as the newcomers will seek to help 2000, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2023, 2024 Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) Champion Princeton snap a streak of back-to-back championship runner-up finishes (2025, 2026). Princeton fell by an 8-7 score in four overtimes to Harvard at the University of Michigan in 2026 following a 10-8 overtime loss to the Crimson in 2025 at Brown University.
In the history of the program, Princeton has appeared in the CWPA Championship title game 14 times with eight runner-up finishes (2001, 2007, 2014, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2025, 2026).
Casey Coleman
Portola Valley, Calif.
Sacred Heart Prep.
Sacred Heart Prep: Senior captain that collected three WCAL All-League and two CCS All-League honors … Team won the 2024 CIF State Open Division championship, along with four WCAL titles and three CCS crowns … Lettered in swimming … Member of the Newspaper, Yearbook, Film Club … Latin, English, Religion Honors Convocation … Member of the U.S. National Cadet Team from 2021-25.
Personal: Daughter of Jen and Don Coleman … Has two brothers, Hunter and Jackson … Mother, Jen, swam at the University of California-Santa Barbara.
Lily Franzese
Huntington Beach, Calif.
Huntington Beach
Huntington Beach: Senior captain that led the team in scoring twice and four playoff appearances … Nabbed Team Most Valuable Player (MVP) honors and All-CIF Southern Section honors in 2025 … Three all-conference selections and four conference All-Academic team laurels … Earned CIF-SS Academic Athlete of the Year and Orange County Athletic Directors Assocation Student Athlete of Character in 2026 … L.A. Time/Daily Pilot Dream Team … USA Water Polo All-Academic three times … Named to the Coastal Zone ODP Team… Lettered in swimming and was the team MVP in 2025 … School’s Scholar Athlete Award all four years … National Honor Society … Math Club President … Science Olympiad … National Merit Finalist … AP Scholar with Distinction … California Seal of Biliteracy.
Personal: Son of Kristen and Nicholas Franzese … Has a sister, Piper and brother, Delcan … Mother, Kristen, placed soccer at Northwestern University … Father, Nicholas, played baseball at Northwestern.
Estelle Karaba
Laguna Beach, Calif.
Orange Lutheran
High School: Senior captain that collected two Second-Team All-Trinity League and All-CIF honors … Team won the two Trinity League and CIF-SS titles … Squad also won two CIF state regional championships and D-I CIF SS crown in 2023 … Team’s Best Defensive Player Award in 2025 … Earned the Lancer Award as a senior … Lettered in swimming and broke the school record in the 100 yard breaststroke (1:06.61) … USA Water Polo Outstanding All-Academic … California Scholarship Federation … High Honor … AP Scholar with Honor … AP US History Student of the Year as a junior.
Personal: Daughter of Yvette and Brian Karaba … Has a sister, Sophie, and a brother, Aiden.
Katie Marshall
Auckland, New Zealand
St. Cuthbert’s College
St. Cuthbert’s College: Led team to three New Zealand Secondary School national titles including two undefeated seasons in 2024 and 2025 … Earn All-Tournament Team in 2025 … 2025 College Sport Young Sportsperson of the Year for Water Polo … High School Sports Honours for NZ Representation three times … Corralled Most Valuable Player honor.
Academic: Class prize as a senior for Economics, Accounting and English … Class prize as a junior for Math with Calculus and Statistics.
Atlantis City Water Polo Club: Captained squad to first place at the U18 National Championships in 2025 and second place in 2024 … U18 Most Impactful Player Award.
New Zealand Nation Team: Was the team’s third leading scorer at the 2025 U20 World Championships … Led the U17 team to first place at the 2023 Australian State Championships … Member of the U18 unit at the 2024 U18 World Championships … New Zealand U18 MVP at the 2025 NZ National Club Championships …
Personal: Daughter of Katrina and Chris Marshall … Has a sister, Anna, and a brother, Lachie … Grandfather, Peter Walter, played professional rugby in New Zealand in the 1960s.
Bella Recker
Western Springs, Ill.
Lyons
Water Polo: Senior captain that led the team in scoring … Nabbed NISCA All-America and Illinois First Team All-State status … Collected Illinois Second-Team All-State … Team MVP in 2025 … LTHS Athlete Leader Program … National Honor Society … AP Scholar with Distinction … Three-time USA Water Polo Academic All-American … French National Honor Society … MU Alpha Theta … USA Water Polo Youth Regional All-Stars Future Team … Picked up USA Water Polo MDW Zone Nick Johnson Award.
Personal: Daughter of Natalie and Chris Recker … Has a sister, Caroline.
Alex Stoddard
Abbotsford, B.C., Canada
Abbotsford Christian School
Water Polo: Two-time CIF Open Division Player of the Year … 2026 Ventura County Player of the Year after posting 197 saves and 23 steals … Earned the Lions Award … Team won the CIF Open Division and Marmonte League titles in back-to-back years … National Honor Society … Academic Athlete Honor Award twice.
Personal: Daughter of Alisha Muangsouvanh and Ken Stoddard … Has two sisters, London and Charlee, and two brothers, Ryker and Bo.
Ella Del Rosario
Lafayette, Calif.
Acalanes
Acalanes: Senior captain that graduated leading the team in goals, points and steals during her time … Led the conference in goals during her time … Named the Diablo Athletic League MVP and three-time First Team All-League … Collected three NISCA All-America and Kai-HI All-America statuses … School’s MVP and Offensive Player of the Year … During senior year, team went undefeated in conference action en route to the conference title, corralled a silver medal in the NCS Open Division and Norcal Championship bronze medal …. Squad won the silver at the 2023 Norcal Championship and picked up the bronze medal at the NCS Open Division … Lettered in swimming … UMBRELLA Social Justice, Flipinio Heritarge and Girls Give Back organizations … National Honor Society … AP Scholar with Distinction … USAWP All-Academic three times … California Scholarship Federation … NCS President’s List … College Board National School Recognition Award … NSC Distinguished Scholastic Team … Presidential Community Service Team.
National Team: Four-time Junior Olympics All-America selection … Led club to a top-10 performance at the Junior Olympics … Earned the USA Water Polo Nick Johnson Award … Won four medals with ODP team … National Cadet and Youth Team athlete.
Personal: Daughter of Rhodora and Mark Del Rosario … Has a sister, Zoe, and brother, Ethan … Cousin, Helena Perez, played volleyball at Colorado State University.
Leila Winston
Chicago, Ill.
Whitney Young
Whitney Young: Two-time captain that was All-State honorable mention twice and All-City Honorable Mention as a senior … Lettered in swimming … National Honor Society … African-American Club … International Culture Club … AP Scholar with Distinction … National African American Recognition Program … National Merit.
Personal: Daughter of Kirsten and Gerald Winston … Has three sisters, Arielle, Mattie, Etta.
Information courtesy Princeton University Athletics Communications
