Wolverines Add Jackson and Rocco to Signing Class
5/1/2018 10:27:00 AM | Water Polo
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- University of Michigan water polo head coach Dr. Marcelo Leonardi announced Tuesday (May 1) that two student-athletes have signed tenders of financial aid to join the Wolverines program.
Leonardi adds Sophie Jackson (Halifax, England) and Isabelle Rocco (Naperville, Illinois) to his signing class, giving him six signees to join Team 19.
During the November signing period, Michigan signed four future U-M student-athletes: Kayla Barone (Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania), Rylee Brower (Naperville, Illinois), Ava Morrant (Maple Ridge, British Columbia) and Erin Neustrom (Moraga, California).
More information on each new signee:
Sophie Jackson
- Competes for City of Leeds and London Otter Club Teams
- Attends The Crossley Heath Grammar School
- Member of Team GB, the England national team
- Gold medal at the 2017 U17 EU Nations Tournament in the Czech Republic and the 2017 U21 EU Nations Tournament in England
- Named the tournament's Best Goalkeeper after both EU Nations tournament wins
- Selected as the U19 National Age Group Championships Best Goalkeeper in 2018
- British Swimming chose her as the Water Polo Emerging Female Athlete of the Year in 2017
- Swim England tabbed her Water Polo Performance Athlete of the Year in 2017
- Won the British Water Polo League Championship with City of Leeds in 2016 and 2018
- Placed first in the U18 ASA National Age Groups in 2018 with London Otter
- Competed with the first-place North East England Regional team at the U15 Interregional tournament in 2015 and U17 Interregional tournament in 2016
Leonardi on Jackson: "Sophie is hyper athletic. She is exactly what we are looking for in a game-changing goalie. She is one of the best goalies in her age group for the Born 2000s. She brings with her international experience and has great balance, explosiveness and leg strength. She is a good passer on the counterattack."
- Competes with West Suburban Water Polo Club
- Attends Naperville North High School
- Team captain as a senior
- Scored 156 goals her last two seasons and won 177 of 188 sprints
- Two-time Illinois All-Sectional team
- All III-Polo postseason team
- Made it to the sectional finals her sophomore and junior years
- Also on the swimming team for four years
- Placed 16th in the 50 free at the state championship her senior year
- Two-time academic all-conference for water polo and three times for swimming
- Plans to major in biochemistry at Michigan
Leonardi on Rocco: "Isabelle is a tall attacker at 5-10 who could also play the defender position. She is extremely fast and explosive. Her speed and athleticism will translate into our ability to press on the defensive end and then counterattack. She can match up with big, athletic attackers or guard two meters."
• Michigan Water Polo Announces Signing Class (11/19/2017)
