Bucknell University Athletics
Women's Water Polo Welcomes Seven Recruits
7/6/2016 2:24:00 PM | Women's Water Polo
LEWISBURG, Pa. – Seven new faces will appear on the Bucknell women's water polo roster in 2017 as Bison head coach John McBride announce the program's latest recruiting class on Wednesday. It is a true national class as four players are from California, while one each are from Nevada and Texas, as well as one from Pennsylvania.
“This is a deep and talented class which I am looking forward to coaching,” commented McBride, the 2016 CWPA Coach of the Year who ranks second on the program's all-time wins list with 68. “We have improved each of the last few years and this class can help us continue on that upward trajectory in the league. We lost a strong senior class – which included our top two scorers – to graduation, but we have a good group coming back and these new players will make their push for playing time.”
The women's water polo Class of 2020 will need to adjust to life away from home. The seven members of the class will be attending school an average of 2,106 miles from home. The six non-Pennsylvania residents live an average of 2,437 miles from Bucknell.
Bucknell is coming off an 18-15 record this past spring, its most wins since 2009. The Bison finished in fifth place at the CWPA Championship, its best showing at the prestigious event since 2010. Bucknell's win total has increased in each of the last three years.
Bucknell Women's Water Polo Recruiting Class
Nina Benson – Henderson, Nev./Green Valley
Arianne Evans – Laguna Nigel, Calif./Deerfield Academy (Mass.)
Katie Nedrow – Irving, Texas/Carroll
Hayley Pogue – San Diego, Calif./Torrey Pines
Gigi Rojahn – Palo Alto, Calif./Palo Alto
Savannah Weaver – San Jose, Calif./Summit Public School Rainier
Matylda Zaklicki – Shillington, Pa./The Hill School
Nina Benson (Henderson, Nev./Green Valley) – Nina Lyn Benson … born June 8, 1998 in Waconia, Minnesota … daughter of William and Debra Benson … three-year swimming letterwinner at Green Valley High School … attended same high school as Eleanor Marrs, a standout Bison women's water polo player from 2013-16 … swimming team captain at Green Valley … graduated as school's 200 free relay record holder … helped team to three regional titles and two runner-up finishes at state meet … played club water polo with Team Vegas/Henderson … helped team to Mountain Zone championship … strong sprinter who lost just four sprints in two years of Junior Olympics … played in water polo tournaments with boys team.
Arianne Evans (Laguna Nigel, Calif./Deerfield Academy (Mass.)) – Arianne Grace Evans … born Dec. 11, 1997 in Newport Coast, California … daughter of Arpi Evans-Burns and Don Burns … earned four varsity letters for girls water polo and swimming at Deerfield Academy … also a manager for boys team … practiced and competed with boys team for three years … girls water polo team's leading scorer all four years … two-year team captain … two-time team MVP … NEPSAC All-League as a senior … third-team all-conference as a freshman … scholar-athlete as a freshman … helped team to fourth place finish at 2016 New England Championships … swimming team MVP as a senior … helped team to first-place finish at NEPSAC New England Championships … member of Alliance Aquatics Club for seven years … competed in six Junior Olympic tournaments … consistently placed in top three in division during 2013 Junior Olympics Hungary Training Trip … one of four girls to play on 25-person team … member of SOPAC ODP Regional Team in 2013 … member of NEZ ODP Regional Team in 2014 and 2015 … is coached by two-time Olympian Julie Swail Ertel … has two siblings, Ashtin Rock and Amelia Evans.
Katie Nedrow (Irving, Texas/Carroll) – Katie Jo Nedrow … born June 3, 1998 in Grapevine, Texas … daughter of Mike Nedrow and Monica Hayslip … four-year member of water polo and swimming teams at Carroll Senior High School … two-year water polo team captain … two-year all-state selection in water polo … three-time TISCA All-Region selection … helped team to state title as a junior … team finished second in state her senior year … played for Thunder Water Polo Club for four years … team captain of swimming team at Carroll … two-time all-region swimmer … helped team to first-place finish in state as a freshman and second-place showing as a sophomore … swam for North Texas Nadadores from 2004 to 2015 … has three siblings, Michael, Elizabeth and Dylan … Elizabeth is a member of the swimming team at Pomona College … cousin, Kara Zimmerman, swim at Colby College … cousin, Emily Zimmerman, swims at UMass.
Hayley Pogue (San Diego, Calif./Torrey Pines) – Hayley Ann Pogue … born Nov. 25, 1998 in La Jolla, California … daughter of Megan Pogue … three-year starter on water polo team at Torrey Pines High School … Second Team All-CIF Division 1 … two-time All-Palomar League selection … three-time USA Water Polo Academic All-American … three-time Torrey Pines High School Scholar-Athlete … two-time San Diego Union Tribune All-Academic Water Polo Team … named team's Defensive Player of the Year as a senior … also a team captain as a senior … named JV/Novice team MVP as a freshman … helped team to three-year varsity record of 52-32 … team advanced to CIF Division 1 semifinals her senior year … graduated second on Torrey Pines all-time saves list with 655 … totaled 44 assists and 98 steals in varsity career … four-year participant in Junior Olympics with San Diego Shores Club … has one brother, Austin, who was a member of the crew team at Dartmouth College … mother competed on the racquetball team at San Diego State.
Gigi Rojahn (Palo Alto, Calif./Palo Alto) – Ginevra Margaret King Rojahn … born March 13, 1998 in Redwood City, California … daughter of Christopher Rojahn and Stephanie King … four-year water polo letterwinner at Palo Alto High School … also earned three letters in swimming … two-time first-team all-league selection in water polo … First Team All-CCS as a senior after Honorable Mention All-CCS recognition as a junior … played on CCS Senior All-Star Team … team captain and Offensive MVP … named Palo Alto Weekly Athlete of the Week (Sept. 25, 2015) … helped team to fourth-place finish in league as a senior … totaled 112 goals in her junior and senior years … played with Stanford Club team … has two siblings, Jonathan and Spencer … father is a Bucknell graduate … mother played basketball at Arizona State.
Savannah Weaver (San Jose, Calif./Summit Public School Rainier) – Savannah Jean Weaver … born July 14, 1998 in San Jose, California … daughter of Eric and Susan Weaver … attended Summit Public School Rainier, which did not sponsor a water polo team … member of Santa Clara Swim Club water polo team since its founding in 2013 … helped team to two Cal Cup state titles as well as championships at the 2015 Santa Cruz Classic Tournament and 2015 Shaver Lake Open Water Tournament … team placed fifth in the Gold Bracket at the 2015 Junior Olympics U18 Championships and second at the 2016 Winterfest Annual Tournament … named a USA Water Polo Outstanding Academic All-American three times … has three siblings, Marisa, Veronica and Rylie … Marisa was a member of the triathlon team at UC Santa Barbara.
Matylda Zaklicki (Shillington, Pa./The Hill School) – Matylda Bay Zaklicki … born Aug. 13, 1998 in Pottstown, Pennsylvania … daughter of Jacek Zaklicki and Dorota Ciosek … four-year member of water polo and swimming teams at The Hill School … named All-American in water polo … First Team Beast of the East … member of Pennsylvania All-Star High School Team … three-time First Team All-Eastern Championship … all-state selection … water polo and swimming team captain … helped water polo team to Eastern Prep title and two runner-up finishes … ranked top 10 in school history in goals, assists and steals … All-America Water Polo Scholar-Athlete … played club water polo with Kingfish, NXT and Mavericks … has a sister, Honorata, who swam at Denison University.
