ANN ARBOR, Mich. — The University of Michigan water polo program and head coach Cassie Churnside announced the signing of five student-athletes to scholarship agreements — Ayla Ackerman, Courtney Smith, Natalie Whitfield, Sarah Wright and Sophie Yonker.
The class includes two utility players, an attacker, a center guard and one goalkeeper, with four from Southern California and one from Texas.
Ayla Ackerman | CG | 5-10 | Newport Beach, Calif. | Club: Regency Water Polo Club
- Won the 16U Junior Olympics (2024)
Natalie Whitfield | UT | 5-8 | Arroyo Grande, Calif. | Club: Arroyo Grande Water Polo Club
- CIF Central Section MVP (2023, 2024)
- CIF Central Section champions (2023, 2024)
- Finished third in U19 Pan American games (2023)
- Junior Olympic All-America
- USA Water Polo Development National team and Youth National team
- Arroyo High School all-time state leader in goals, assists, steals, earned exclusions and field blocks
Sarah Wright | GK | 5-9 | Lafayette, Calif. | Club: Diablo Alliance Water Polo
- Junior Olympic Honorable Mention (2022)
- ODP National Team (2022)
- East Bay Athletic League Defensive Player of the Year
- East Bay Athletic League first team all-league
- Four-time East Bay Athletic League champion
- D1 Norcal State champion
Courtney Smith | UT | 6-2 | Flower Mound, Texas | Club: Thunder Water Polo Club
- Marcus High School MVP (2022, 2023, 2024)
- First team All-Region (2023, 2024)
- First team All-District (2024)
- Second team All-State (2024)
- Honorable Mention All-State (2023)
- Newcomer of the Year All-State (2022)
Sophie Yonker | AT | 5-7 | Santa Barbara, Calif. | Club: Santa Barbara 805 Water Polo Club
- Finished second in Junior Olympics (2024)
- Four-time Channel League champion
- Three-time All-Channel League honors
- Two-Time All-CIF Open Division
Release courtesy University of Michigan Athletics Communications
