Michigan Holds Team Banquet to Celebrate Season
5/13/2019 11:46:00 AM | Water Polo
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Michigan water polo team celebrated its season and head coach Dr. Marcelo Leonardi handed out awards on Monday (May 13) at the Junge Family Champions Center.
Seven individual awards were given along with participation awards for each letterwinner and class. The seniors were presented rings, the juniors blankets, the sophomores watches and the freshmen letter jackets.
Two players shared the team's Most Outstanding Offensive Player honor as senior captain Julia Sellers (Santa Ana, Calif.) and junior Maddy Steere (Pascoe Vale, Australia) each had outstanding seasons. Sellers led the team with 65 goals to go with 19 assists, 22 steals and 10 field blocks. Steere tallied 55 goals, 42 assists, 25 steals and 12 field blocks. Â
Sophomore Sofie Pontré (Perth, Australia) was named the team's Most Valuable Defensive Player. With 23 steals and eight field blocks, Pontré was a lockdown center defender for the Wolverines.
Senior Kim Johnson (Walnut Creek, California) received the Coaches Award. An extension of the coach in the water, Johnson played a variety of roles on the team her senior season and over her four years. This year, she tallied 31 goals and 18 assists while leading the team with 63 drawn exclusions.
The Wolverine Award went to sophomore Emily Ritner. Ritner (Newport Beach, California) exemplified the hunter mentality of a Wolverine. In her second year with the team, Ritner used her length to be a force off the bench on the defensive end of the pool. She tallied three goals, five assists, two steals and three field blocks.
Freshman Erin Neustrom (Moraga, California) was given the Maize & Blue Award, which goes to someone who shows up in big moments. Once conference play started, Neustrom turned it on as one of Michigan's top players off the bench. She scored on all 15 of her shot attempts to tie for the third most goals on the team during conference play. She was big inside for the Wolverines with 60 drawn exclusions on the year.
The Most Improved Player Award went to junior Skyler Pyle. The Long Beach, California, native made a big jump over the summer and posted career highs of 21 goals, 19 assists and eight field blocks.
Abby Andrews (Indooroopilly, Australia) received the team's Rookie of the Year Award. Andrews led the team with freshman single-season records for points (128) and assists (71). She was terrific on both ends of the pool, scoring 57 goals to go with 47 steals and 13 field blocks. She was the CWPA Rookie of the Year and CWPA Rookie of the Tournament.Â
Michigan made the NCAA Championship for the ninth time in school history and fourth straight year, falling to No. 3 UCLA in the quarterfinals on Friday, May 10. The Wolverines qualified for the NCAA Tournament by winning their fourth consecutive CWPA championship. U-M finished the season with a 23-9 overall record.
2019 MICHIGAN WATER POLO AWARDS
Most Valuable Offensive Player: Julia Sellers and Maddy Steere
Most Valuable Defensive Player: Sofie Pontré
Coaches Award: Kim Johnson
Wolverine Award: Emily Ritner
Maize & Blue Award: Erin Neustrom
Most Improved Player: Skyler Pyle
Rookie of the Year: Abby Andrews
