Kornacki: Record-Setting Anderson Followed Her Own Path to Michigan
5/10/2018 10:03:00 AM | Water Polo, Features
By Steve Kornacki
Caroline Anderson makes the University of Michigan water polo team's offense go. She's a left-handed attacker, playing a position that is part point guard and part quarterback, and all about creativity.
Anderson, a record-setting senior from Palo Alto, California, has returned to her home state with the Wolverines for their NCAA Tournament opener Friday (May 11) with Cal-Berkeley in Los Angeles. She's "excited" about that opportunity, and having plenty of family members in attendance.
"It's so nice being out in the sun and back at an outdoor pool," Anderson said in a phone interview. "My whole family's coming out – which I'm excited about. My parents, three sisters and my aunt will be there."
Anderson said that if it wasn't for her three water polo-playing older sisters, she would've stuck with soccer, where she was part of the Olympic Development Program for top teenage talents.
"First of all, we're all very competitive," said Anderson. "They always just pushed me to be better. But I was originally soccer-oriented. I played soccer all four years of high school (Palo Alto Gunn) and did soccer ODP. They all did water polo and slowly but surely convinced me to switch over.
"For a while I was doing both, but eventually I just committed all the way over to water polo. But if it weren't for them, I probably wouldn't be playing water polo."
Oldest sister Catherine played at Macalester College in St. Paul, Minnesota. Jenny chose nearby Santa Clara, and Elizabeth followed her there before playing professionally in Australia.
"Jenny and Elizabeth both really wanted me to come to Santa Clara to be the third Anderson to play with them," said Caroline, "and I was really close to doing that. But I wanted to step out and do my own thing, and make my own name for myself."
She's certainly done that.
Anderson set school records for assists (84) and points (129) this season, while also scoring 45 goals. She also owns Michigan's career marks with 279 assists and 464 points, and her 185 goals rank sixth.
When asked which of her records meant the most to her, Anderson said, "I really don't focus on points or records when I play. I play it because I love the game, and so while the records and accolades are nice, it's just never been my focus. But the one I am proud of is the assist record because I love setting up other people for goals. When someone else scores a goal, it brings me joy."
She plays her position unselfishly and with true flair.
"Caroline sees the game from the left-hander side of the pool," said Wolverine coach Dr. Marcelo Leonardi. "With (another) year under her belt she has taken her game to another level. Sees the pool very well, she knows when it is her shot and she is creative."
Anderson said, "I'm a left-handed attacker, and so a lot of the plays we run, the left-handers kind of have the vision of the pool, and what reads are open. It's about having vision and looking one step ahead when making passes and trying to set other people up for goals.
"I've always been a creative player, but we run very specific systems of play at Michigan. So, as the years went, I understood our system of play more and more, and that created creativity. It clicks in a better way. You know each player's tendencies by the end of the year, and so you can drill a pass almost with your eyes closed and know they will be there because you trust them."
This season has gone nicely for Anderson and her teammates. They're 32-8, won their third CWPA conference championship and earned a third NCAA berth over the last four years. Leonardi arrived at the same time as Anderson, and they spoke this week about the wonderful ride they've taken together.
However, Anderson nearly opted against playing this season.
"In my first three years at Michigan it was very winning-oriented," said Anderson. "We were focused on winning, focused on results. While I liked that as a naturally competitive person, there also was the aspect of fun and enjoying the love of the game that I was slowly starting to lose.
"And so me and Marcelo talked about that and what we could do for (this) year to make it more about the journey, more about the process, and how to enjoy it, and really focus on our team being closer than ever. So, I'm so proud of how it's gone this year. The feeling after winning the CWPA this year was a different kind of happiness. You felt this joy, and a communal appreciation, and a love for your teammates."
Did she feel more connected?
"Yeah," said Anderson. "There was a bigger focus on relationships and building them from within the team. We were close in past years, but there was more of premium on enjoying the year instead of just winning."
Leonardi made Pacific Ocean beach time for his team Tuesday (May 8) and they had dinner that night at the Orange County home of teammate Julia Sellers. There was a time of "enjoying" along with getting down to business and preparing and practicing for the Cal Bears.
"We're been working on our matchups left and right for the past week and a half," said Anderson. "They are a good team, and they've been playing in California against competitive, elite teams. And so we know they're going to give it their all, and that they're going to run a hard press and be physical. In prepping for them, we've been trying to rise our level of physicality."
That brutal part of the game is all but hidden from fans.
"There's a lot that goes on under water that you can't see from the stands," said Anderson. "It's definitely a physical sport. One of our girls broke her nose in the Princeton double-overtime, sudden-death game a couple weeks ago."
Leonardi and his assistant coaches are readying the team for the challenge, while also focusing on individual development.
"He's had a huge impact on me," said Anderson. "He's taught me so much about work ethic and accountability, and I've done a lot of reflection the last couple weeks. And, water polo-wise, he's taught me how to be a smarter player. He's so knowledgeable, and if you listen and apply what he's telling you, you will become a better player.
"His drive and pursuit to be the best inspires me to also have that same mentality in all aspects of life with family, loved ones, and in school, as well as in the pool. That drive to be the best is something I really admire."
 Anderson has graduated with a degree in biopsychology, cognition and neuroscience.
"I've also been taking classes in sales and marketing in the business school," said Anderson. "The interesting thing about my major is you understand how the brain works, how you make decisions and how we process things. You learn the scientific aspects behind it and the social aspects.
"So, I just want to use that knowledge in the work force. But I most likely will move back to San Francisco and do bio-tech or med-tech because I can use my neuroscience background. But I'd like to use it in the business world. I'm also seriously considering playing in Australia next year like my sister did."
So, Caroline might just follow Elizabeth Down Under, even if she went her own way to Michigan. To paraphrase poet Robert Frost, she took the road less traveled, and that has made all the difference.
