WA Water Polo Talents Making a Splash Overseas

Published On: 2 May 2019

Despite the attention of water polo fans understandably being focused on domestic matters presently with the National League Finals Week starting tomorrow, three young WA women are simultaneously making a big impact in overseas competition.

21 year-old Abbey Grosse recently received an individual accolade following an impressive season with the LMU Lions in the Golden Coast Conference Championship in California.

She was announced as the Loyola Marymount University’s Female Sports Performance Individual of the Year, following a campaign that saw her play all 31 matches for the Lions and post 34 goals, lead the team with 38 assists and contribute 40 steals.

The Penrhos College collegiate has also overcome significant personal adversity, having undergone intensive treatment for thyroid cancer, marking her continued success as a particularly special achievement.

WAIS women’s water polo head coach Georgina Kovacs described her award as great news and hailed the aspiring future Aussie Stinger for her continued strength and determination.

Staying in the USA, 20 year-old Sofie Pontre has helped her University of Michigan team qualify for the prestigious NCAA Finals which will be held later this month.

Sofie Pontre, third from left in middle row with her Michigan teammates 

Pontre and her Wolverines team edged Princeton 10-6 to secure a fourth straight Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) title for Michigan and a ninth overall.

Meanwhile in Italy, Australian Stingers international Jessica Zimmerman and her Rapallo Pallanuoto club team are preparing for a shot at the Italian club league title with just one regular season match remaining.

Zimmerman netted three goals in a 27-8 rout over Ecogruppo Torre Del Grifo to help ensure that her team will be at its sharpest at the business end of the season.

Kovacs said Zimmerman is scheduled to link up with the Stingers squad for a preparation camp ahead of the FINA World League Super Final which for the women’s competition, will take place in Budapest in early June.

In domestic action, the Fremantle Mariners and Marlins will commence their campaigns in the Australian National Water Polo League tomorrow. You can find out more about that here.