Freshmen Adjusting to Michigan
9/21/2015 12:00:00 AM | Water Polo
Sept. 21, 2015
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Team 16 for Michigan water polo is underway, and after two weeks on campus the freshman class feels right at home.
There are five freshmen on this year's roster, and all five came to Ann Arbor from California. Delaney Cleveland (Huntington Beach), Sami Pratt (Newport Beach) and Julia Sellers (Santa Ana) are all from the southern part of the state, while Anna Edgington and Kim Johnson are from the Bay Area.
"We have been getting acclimated with our classes and college life," said Sellers. "It is definitely different than high school, but a lot about college is growing up and becoming an adult."
It is easy to get in a routine in high school with the same classes every day, but college is an adjustment, especially for student-athletes. The demands on a student-athlete's schedule can include strength and conditioning sessions, team meetings, visits to the athletic trainer and other athletic department events, all on a more intense scale.
"I didn't have trainers in high school," said Cleveland. "We had to go out and find someone. This is the time where we get to be at our best, so we need to take advantage of everything here for us."
The freshman class came in with a growth mindset and knew that all the support staff at Michigan would be beneficial to their improvement in and out of the water.
"It is really cool to have so many resources, and one of the first things my parents told me was to take advantage of everything Michigan had to offer," said Sellers.
By taking advantage of all the resources, the freshmen have also been able to make the transition from the West Coast a little easier.
"No matter where I went to school I was going to be away from home so the distance hasn't affected me at all," said Cleveland.
One thing that will help the freshmen from California is the water polo squad will make four trips out there this season. The team will play in the Collegiate Cup Nov. 7-8 in Irvine, giving the girls from Southern California their first chance to return home.
The team will be in Santa Barbara Jan. 22-24 for five matches. Two weeks, later the two Bay Area freshmen will be near home for the Stanford Invite Feb. 6-7. Then the final trip to California is Feb. 20-21 when they return to Irvine for the Anteater Invite.
