BRIDGEPORT, Pa. — The University of Michigan’s Sofie Pontre (Sr., Perth, Western Australia/Santa Maria College) is among 18 athletes identified as prospects for the 2024 Paris Olympics who were invited to the first in a series of Pathway to Paris camps by Water Polo Australia.
Among four active National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) athletes to earn a spot among the 18 selections – joining Hayley Ballesy of Arizona State University, Sophie Milliken of the University of Hawaii and Ruby Swadling of the University of California – Pontre and the rest of the group will join the Aussie Stingers on the Sunshine Coast for a camp in March leading up to the Tokyo Olympic Games.
It is critical to note the Pathway to Paris squad is not fixed and players will have the opportunity to be identified to come into the squad at any stage.
A senior at Michigan, Pontre has tallied 53 goals, 37 assists, 52 drawn exclusions, 77 steals and 21 field blocks during three seasons in Ann Arbor, Michigan. A two-time Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) Champion by helping the Maize & Blue claim the 2018 and 2019 CWPA titles and NCAA Championship berths, Pontre is a two-time Association of Collegiate Water Polo Coaches (ACWPC) All-America Second Team selection courtesy recognition in 2018 and 2019.
Enrolled in the College Literature, Science and the Arts at Michigan with a major in Philosophy and a minor in Political Science, she served as a 2020 team captain and picked up National Strength Coaches Association (NSCA) All-America status last season.
A transfer from the University of Western Australia, she was a member of the Australia Uniroos at the 2019 World University Games in Naples, Italy, and competed on the Water Poo Australia Junior National Team at the 2017 FINA Junior World Championships in Volos, Greece, helping her team to a 10th place finish. In addition, she competed at the 2014 Pan Pacific Games and helped Australia claim ninth place at the 2016 FINA Youth World Championships.
