Women’s Water Polo Introduces Six-Member Class of 2023
5/2/2019 1:06:00 PM | Women's Water Polo
PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Brown University women's water polo will welcome six incoming freshmen as part of its Class of 2023, Brown head coach Felix Mercado announced on Thursday.
The class includes six natives of the state of California, spanning the northern and southern parts of the state. The group comprises two attackers and four utilities from five different high school and club programs. Four of the student-athletes stand at 5-foot-7 or taller.
Photo Gallery | Video Introduction
The members of the Bears' Class of 2023 include attacker Katie Dvonch (Seal Beach, Calif.), attacker Bryn Gioffredi (Laguna Beach, Calif.), utility Linnea Kelly (Newport Beach, Calif.), utility Zoe King (Almaden, Calif.), utility Claire Pisani (Redwood City, Calif.), and utility Lily Weiser (Long Beach, Calif.).
Katie Dvonch
Position: Attacker
Height: 5-foot-4
Hometown: Seal Beach, Calif.
High School: Los Alamitos
Club Team: Huntington Beach Water Polo Club
Prep Accolades: Earned All-Orange County honors as a senior … Gained All-CIF Southern Section accolades as a junior … Collected All-Sunset League laurels all four years … Selected to the 2017 Long Beach Press-Telegram Dream Team … Earned program's Player of the Year Award … Gained team's Offensive Player of the Year award twice … Helped lead team to three Sunset League titles and to the Division II State Regional in 2018 … Served water polo and swimming teams as a captain as a senior … Totaled 226 goals, 107 assists, 303 steals, and 104 ejections drawn over her career … Posted 73 goals, 27 assists, and 69 steals as a senior … Tallied 61 goals, 35 assists, and 108 steals as a junior … Played for head coach Dave Carlson … Also competed in swimming for Coach Carlson; qualified for the state regional finals in the 100 and 500 freestyle … Competed on the club level for Huntington Beach Water Polo Club from 2015-18 … Selected for the USA Water Polo Developmental National Team in 2015 … An AP Scholar … Earned Sunset League All-Academic Team and high school Scholar-Athlete honors all four years.
Why Brown? "I have always known that I wanted to go to school on the East Coast. I chose Brown because it is a beautiful school with incredible academics and a strong, competitive water polo program. I look forward to exploring the open curriculum and taking advantage of all of the amazing programs and opportunities that Brown has to offer."
Bryn Gioffredi
Position: Attacker
Height: 5-foot-6
Hometown: Laguna Beach, Calif.
High School: Laguna Beach
Club Team: Saddleback El Toro (SET) Water Polo Club
Prep Accolades: Helped lead team to two CIF-SS Division I championships in 2017 and 2019 … Reached CIF-SS Division I semifinals in 2016 and came in fifth place in 2018 … Won the Sunset League in 2019 and the Orange Coast League in 2017 … Helped propel team to tournament wins at the 2018 and 2017 Holiday Cup, 2018 Irvine Tournament, 2018 and 2017 State Invitational, 2018 and 2017 Santa Barbara Tournament … Won team's Rookie of the Year, Coaches Award, and John Wooden Award … Played for head coach Ethan Damato … Competed on the club level for Saddleback El Toro (SET) Water Polo Club … Won a championship at the club level in 2018 and competed at the Junior Olympic Regional Qualifier … Also competed in swimming for head coach Kari Damato … Earned USA Water Polo Academic All-American, Orange Coast League Scholar-Athlete, and Sunset League Scholar-Athlete honors … An AP Scholar.
Why Brown? "I chose Brown not only because of its striking and beautiful campus but also because of the welcoming and caring atmosphere it possessed. I loved the close-knit community on campus and how every student there seemed genuinely happy and academically and athletically engaged."
Linnea Kelly
Position: Utility
Height: 5-foot-9
Hometown: Newport Beach, Calif.
High School: Newport Harbor
Club Team: SOCAL Water Polo Club
Prep Accolades: Helped lead team to a CIF-SS Division II championship and to a Sunset League title … Won the team's Coaches Award … Played for head coach Ross Sinclair … Also competed in swimming for Coach Sinclair … Competed on the club level for SOCAL Water Polo Club … Won the Platinum Junior National Championship and California Cup Championship in 2018 … Gained Scholar-Athlete accolades … An AP Scholar.
Why Brown? "I chose Brown because it allowed me the ability to play the sport that I love while also pursuing my academic interest without boundaries."
Zoe King
Position: Utility
Height: 5-foot-8
Hometown: Almaden, Calif.
High School: Leland
Club Teams: San Jose Almaden Water Polo Club; Stanford Water Polo Club
Prep Accolades: Earned All-America honors as a senior … Gained BVAL Junior of the Year … Garnered First Team BVAL All-League honors twice … Gained a spot on the CCS Division I Second Team … Played for coaches Tony Samson and Eric Rise … Competed on the club level for San Jose Almaden Water Polo Club and Stanford Water Polo Club … Served as an alternate on the 2017-18 Pacific Zone ODP Youth Team … Also competed in swimming.
Why Brown? "What I love about Brown is that, due to the concentration system, I can explore subjects I didn't even know existed. On my official visit to Brown, while meeting the water polo team, I talked to many of the students about what they liked best about Brown. They all talked about how easy it was to figure out what path to take to have a career in something they'd enjoy. A student who thinks she wants to study pre-med is able to take classes in Latin studies and dream science. Opportunities are endless, and I am free to try a variety of classes to discover what strikes my passion."
Claire Pisani
Position: Utility
Height: 5-foot-7
Hometown: Redwood City, Calif.
High School: Castilleja School
Club Team: Stanford Water Polo Club
Prep Accolades: Earned Peninsula Athletic League MVP honors in 2018 … Gained First Team Peninsula Athletic League honors in 2017 … Played for head coach Brenda Villa … Also competed in basketball, swimming, and lacrosse … Competed on the club level for Stanford Water Polo Club … Gained USA Water Polo Academic All-America honors all four years … Earned the President's Volunteer Service Award.
Why Brown? "However cheesy it sounds, for me Brown is a dream come true. Only here can I play Division I water polo while also being a part of a program that allows me the flexibility to study my wide range of interests and also be prepared for medical school. The open curriculum ensures that I'm surrounded by classmates that are genuinely thrilled about the classes they're taking and will come to each class from different backgrounds and perspectives. And, most importantly, I was drawn to the compassionate and supportive community here at Brown, something that I see reflected in both the students and professors here, and of course my future team!"
Lily Weiser
Position: Utility
Height: 5-foot-8
Hometown: Long Beach, Calif.
High School: Los Alamitos
Club Team: Los Alamitos
Prep Accolades: Earned Scholar-Athlete honors all four years … Gained All-Academic Team accolades three times … Played for coaches Dave Carlson, Sean Little, and Jason Mills as a left-handed utility.
Why Brown? "I chose Brown for the excellent academics and the Division I water polo program. I am looking forward to the open curriculum, as it gives students a chance to find what they are truly passionate about before choosing a major. Additionally, I chose Brown for the beautiful campus and location."
Gallery: (5/2/2019) Women's Water Polo Class of 2023
The class includes six natives of the state of California, spanning the northern and southern parts of the state. The group comprises two attackers and four utilities from five different high school and club programs. Four of the student-athletes stand at 5-foot-7 or taller.
Photo Gallery | Video Introduction
The members of the Bears' Class of 2023 include attacker Katie Dvonch (Seal Beach, Calif.), attacker Bryn Gioffredi (Laguna Beach, Calif.), utility Linnea Kelly (Newport Beach, Calif.), utility Zoe King (Almaden, Calif.), utility Claire Pisani (Redwood City, Calif.), and utility Lily Weiser (Long Beach, Calif.).
Katie Dvonch
Position: Attacker
Height: 5-foot-4
Hometown: Seal Beach, Calif.
High School: Los Alamitos
Club Team: Huntington Beach Water Polo Club
Prep Accolades: Earned All-Orange County honors as a senior … Gained All-CIF Southern Section accolades as a junior … Collected All-Sunset League laurels all four years … Selected to the 2017 Long Beach Press-Telegram Dream Team … Earned program's Player of the Year Award … Gained team's Offensive Player of the Year award twice … Helped lead team to three Sunset League titles and to the Division II State Regional in 2018 … Served water polo and swimming teams as a captain as a senior … Totaled 226 goals, 107 assists, 303 steals, and 104 ejections drawn over her career … Posted 73 goals, 27 assists, and 69 steals as a senior … Tallied 61 goals, 35 assists, and 108 steals as a junior … Played for head coach Dave Carlson … Also competed in swimming for Coach Carlson; qualified for the state regional finals in the 100 and 500 freestyle … Competed on the club level for Huntington Beach Water Polo Club from 2015-18 … Selected for the USA Water Polo Developmental National Team in 2015 … An AP Scholar … Earned Sunset League All-Academic Team and high school Scholar-Athlete honors all four years.
Why Brown? "I have always known that I wanted to go to school on the East Coast. I chose Brown because it is a beautiful school with incredible academics and a strong, competitive water polo program. I look forward to exploring the open curriculum and taking advantage of all of the amazing programs and opportunities that Brown has to offer."
Bryn Gioffredi
Position: Attacker
Height: 5-foot-6
Hometown: Laguna Beach, Calif.
High School: Laguna Beach
Club Team: Saddleback El Toro (SET) Water Polo Club
Prep Accolades: Helped lead team to two CIF-SS Division I championships in 2017 and 2019 … Reached CIF-SS Division I semifinals in 2016 and came in fifth place in 2018 … Won the Sunset League in 2019 and the Orange Coast League in 2017 … Helped propel team to tournament wins at the 2018 and 2017 Holiday Cup, 2018 Irvine Tournament, 2018 and 2017 State Invitational, 2018 and 2017 Santa Barbara Tournament … Won team's Rookie of the Year, Coaches Award, and John Wooden Award … Played for head coach Ethan Damato … Competed on the club level for Saddleback El Toro (SET) Water Polo Club … Won a championship at the club level in 2018 and competed at the Junior Olympic Regional Qualifier … Also competed in swimming for head coach Kari Damato … Earned USA Water Polo Academic All-American, Orange Coast League Scholar-Athlete, and Sunset League Scholar-Athlete honors … An AP Scholar.
Why Brown? "I chose Brown not only because of its striking and beautiful campus but also because of the welcoming and caring atmosphere it possessed. I loved the close-knit community on campus and how every student there seemed genuinely happy and academically and athletically engaged."
Linnea Kelly
Position: Utility
Height: 5-foot-9
Hometown: Newport Beach, Calif.
High School: Newport Harbor
Club Team: SOCAL Water Polo Club
Prep Accolades: Helped lead team to a CIF-SS Division II championship and to a Sunset League title … Won the team's Coaches Award … Played for head coach Ross Sinclair … Also competed in swimming for Coach Sinclair … Competed on the club level for SOCAL Water Polo Club … Won the Platinum Junior National Championship and California Cup Championship in 2018 … Gained Scholar-Athlete accolades … An AP Scholar.
Why Brown? "I chose Brown because it allowed me the ability to play the sport that I love while also pursuing my academic interest without boundaries."
Zoe King
Position: Utility
Height: 5-foot-8
Hometown: Almaden, Calif.
High School: Leland
Club Teams: San Jose Almaden Water Polo Club; Stanford Water Polo Club
Prep Accolades: Earned All-America honors as a senior … Gained BVAL Junior of the Year … Garnered First Team BVAL All-League honors twice … Gained a spot on the CCS Division I Second Team … Played for coaches Tony Samson and Eric Rise … Competed on the club level for San Jose Almaden Water Polo Club and Stanford Water Polo Club … Served as an alternate on the 2017-18 Pacific Zone ODP Youth Team … Also competed in swimming.
Why Brown? "What I love about Brown is that, due to the concentration system, I can explore subjects I didn't even know existed. On my official visit to Brown, while meeting the water polo team, I talked to many of the students about what they liked best about Brown. They all talked about how easy it was to figure out what path to take to have a career in something they'd enjoy. A student who thinks she wants to study pre-med is able to take classes in Latin studies and dream science. Opportunities are endless, and I am free to try a variety of classes to discover what strikes my passion."
Claire Pisani
Position: Utility
Height: 5-foot-7
Hometown: Redwood City, Calif.
High School: Castilleja School
Club Team: Stanford Water Polo Club
Prep Accolades: Earned Peninsula Athletic League MVP honors in 2018 … Gained First Team Peninsula Athletic League honors in 2017 … Played for head coach Brenda Villa … Also competed in basketball, swimming, and lacrosse … Competed on the club level for Stanford Water Polo Club … Gained USA Water Polo Academic All-America honors all four years … Earned the President's Volunteer Service Award.
Why Brown? "However cheesy it sounds, for me Brown is a dream come true. Only here can I play Division I water polo while also being a part of a program that allows me the flexibility to study my wide range of interests and also be prepared for medical school. The open curriculum ensures that I'm surrounded by classmates that are genuinely thrilled about the classes they're taking and will come to each class from different backgrounds and perspectives. And, most importantly, I was drawn to the compassionate and supportive community here at Brown, something that I see reflected in both the students and professors here, and of course my future team!"
Lily Weiser
Position: Utility
Height: 5-foot-8
Hometown: Long Beach, Calif.
High School: Los Alamitos
Club Team: Los Alamitos
Prep Accolades: Earned Scholar-Athlete honors all four years … Gained All-Academic Team accolades three times … Played for coaches Dave Carlson, Sean Little, and Jason Mills as a left-handed utility.
Why Brown? "I chose Brown for the excellent academics and the Division I water polo program. I am looking forward to the open curriculum, as it gives students a chance to find what they are truly passionate about before choosing a major. Additionally, I chose Brown for the beautiful campus and location."
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