Newcomer Pontré Fitting in with Michigan Water Polo
1/16/2018 9:34:00 AM | Water Polo, Features
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Joining a team mid-year can be difficult, but the University of Michigan water polo team has made newcomer Sofie Pontré feel more than welcome in her first two weeks in Ann Arbor.
"When I got here I realized everyone on the team was approachable," said Pontré. "I thought to myself, 'What have I done to deserve this welcome?' They have been driving me around and making sure I am getting where I need to go. It is like having 18 other moms."
Pontré enrolled at Michigan in January after moving from Perth, Western Australia. The first time she stepped foot in the United States was when she arrived to begin school.
Plans fell through for a recruiting visit last fall, but Pontré had a good source of information as she knew a fellow Australian, sophomore Maddy Steere, from playing together in the Water Polo Australia pipeline.
"Maddy and I went to Japan together in 2015," said Pontré. "I knew Michigan had great academics and a great team because she told me great things. I wanted to have a training base that was consistent and play with a group of girls at a higher level than me to push me to be better."
Michigan head coach Dr. Marcelo Leonardi continues to try and help both American and international water polo players work toward reaching their Olympic dreams while also making sure his student-athletes are making the most of their Michigan experience and working toward their degree.
Pontré played on the Australia Junior National Team at the 2017 FINA Junior World Championship last fall in Greece. She has her eye on the Olympics but first just wants to become a more well-rounded player.
"My forefront goal is improving myself as a player on offense," said Pontré. "Marcelo explained to me the goals he had and how he wanted to help me achieve my goals. I have always been a guard and am comfortable with that. I want to branch out and become a player who could play anywhere. I feel like I will be pushed to become that here."
Just two weeks into training, Pontré has made a lot of progress in picking up Leonardi's system. She is further along than any other mid-year enrollee Leonardi has had at Michigan.
"Her transition to Michigan water polo has been seamless," said Leonardi. "She has picked things up very quickly. Her ability to listen, retain, learn and apply is very good. She is a great kid. She is sincere, genuine and possesses several characteristics we have in our pillars. The team has embraced her, and I think she is going to do really well."
Pontré's outgoing personality helped her bond with the team right away. She joked about taking an English class with fellow freshman Kathy Rogers, who is from England, saying, "It is kind of the blind leading the blind but it is great."
Outside of the pool, the winter weather is something Pontré has had to adjust to as well, coming from Australia where it is currently summer. She had only seen snow one other time in her life.
"I love the snow," said Pontré. "It is amazing. I saw it once before in Sweden, but it is different living and walking around in it."
Pontré and the rest of the Michigan water polo team will open the 2018 season this weekend at the UCSB Invitational in Santa Barbara, California.
