Michigan Water Polo Announces Signing Class
11/9/2017 12:06:00 PM | Water Polo
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- University of Michigan water polo head coach Dr. Marcelo Leonardi announced on Wednesday (Nov. 8) that four student-athletes have signed to join the program and continue school in Ann Arbor.
The signing class includes Kayla Barone (Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania), Rylee Brower (Naperville, Illinois), Ava Morrant (Maple Ridge, British Columbia) and Erin Neustrom (Moraga, California).
"I look at this class and it is by far one of the most athletic classes collectively we have had, and we have had some really good classes," said Leonardi. "They are all fast, they are all athletic and they are versatile, too. They continue our growing list of bringing versatile, two-way players to Michigan. We are not starting from scratch now. We are now reloading instead of rebuilding. They are all coming in with a purpose."
Here is more information on each signee:
- Competes with Greenwich Aquatics
- Attends Cumberland Valley High School
- USA Cadet National Team in 2015-16
- Third team NISCA/Speedo All-American in 2017 and honorable mention in 2016
- 2017 Pennsylvania Player of the Year
- Four-time All-State selection, earning first team honors three straight years
- Placed in the top three at the state championships each of the last two years
- Competed at the Junior Olympics three years, finishing as high as eighth
- Also on the swim team, qualifying for state as a junior
Leonardi on Barone: "Kayla is the fastest recruit I think I have recruited at Michigan. Her swim times are extremely fast and her speed translates to water polo. She has great size as an attacker and can be a lockdown perimeter defender. Her game matches what we are trying to do."
- Competes with West Suburban Water Polo
- Attends Naperville Central High School
- Two-year captain and leading scorer
- Three-year member of the swim team and played basketball as a freshman
- Second place at the State Championships each of the last two years
- Named to All-State, All-Sectional and All-Conference teams as a junior
- Tallied 119 goals and 44 assists her junior year after posting 25 goals and 18 assists as a sophomore
- Two-time Academic All-Conference for water polo and three times for swimming
Leonardi on Brower: "Rylee is a 5-foot-10 center defender. She can also play the 2-meter position. She brings good size and speed and a maturity in the water. She is untapped in terms of her potential at the next level. She has a very good outside shot and is strong and physical in the trenches."
- Joined Santa Clara Water Polo Club in 2017 after competing with Fraser Valley Water Polo from 2012-2017
- Attends Maple Ridge Secondary School
- Bronze medal with the Canadian 17U National Team at the 2017 Pan American Games
- Played in the National Championship League with Fraser Valley from 2014-17, earning gold in 2015 and 2016 and silver in 2017
- Three-year team captain
- Won gold at the BCSSA Provincial Championships in 2016 and silver in 2015
- BCSSA Regional MVP for the U16 division in 2016
- Two-time 2016 Alberta Open All-Star and a BC Open All-Star
- U14 Haney Neptunes MVP and Regionals MVP in 2015
- Silver medal at the 2015 18U Youth Cup
Leonardi on Morrant: "Ava is super athletic and can play both sides of the pool. She is fast, is a matchup perimeter defender but is also a scorer. She has a great feel for the game with a lot of international experience as the captain of the Youth National Team. There is another level she is going to reach because of the training she will have here. That will help her reach her international hopes and dreams with Water Polo Canada. She is going to be a big help to us coming in next year."
- Competes with Lamorinda Water Polo Club after two years at 680 Water Polo
- Attends Campolindo High School
- Placed second at the JO National Championships with 680 Water Polo in 2016
- Named to the Diablo Athletic League second team in 2016 and honorable mention in 2015
- Won the Norcal, NCS and DFAL Championships in 2014
- 2015 North Coast section second place as a team
- Also on the swim team
Leonardi on Neustrom: "Erin is strong, physical and athletic for the center position. She is going to come in early on and help us. I felt from day one she was a natural fit for our program. She comes from a program coached by our former national team coach so she has tactical proficiencies similar to what we apply in our style of play here. She is going to be a great addition."
