STANFORD, Calif. – Winners of four out of the past five NCAA Championships, the Cardinal added to its already impressive core of student-athletes on Wednesday as head coach John Tanner announced the signings of five decorated prep stars to National Letters of Intent.
Lauren Bywater (Riverside Poly/Riverside, Calif.), Kayla Constandse (Mater Dei/Santa Ana, Calif.), Emalia Eichelberger (Punahou/Honolulu, Hawaii), Malaika Koshy (Sacred Heart Prep/Atherton, Calif.) and Hannah Shabb (Lakeside School/Seattle, Wash.)will enroll at Stanford for the 2016-17 academic year and join the Cardinal for the 2017 season.
“The Stanford women’s water polo class of 2020 has terrific skill, balance and tenacity,” Tanner explained. “It’s a group that will bring talent, energy and leadership to our program. Above all, they’ve been resolute in pursuing greatness in the classroom and pool. We are extremely excited to have them join us on The Farm next September.”
Lauren Bywater • Riverside Poly • Riverside, Calif.
Bywater, a driver from Riverside Poly High School, has helped the Bears to three straight CIF-Southern Section finals, including a CIF-SS Division V championship in 2014. As a junior in 2015, Bywater poured in 136 goals – the second-highest total in the Inland area – and was named Inland Empire Player of the Year.
A three-time All-CIF honoree, Bywater is also an accomplished pianist. She has qualified for honors recitals and competitions through the Music Teachers’ Association of California’s Certificate of Merit Program, which provides a standard of curriculum that requires students to strive for focused musical excellence in performance, technique, ear training, sight reading/singing and music theory.
“We are thrilled to add someone of Lauren’s caliber to our program,” Tanner said. “She’s aggressive and relentless on defense and a clever, clinical finisher at the other end of the pool.”
Kayla Constandse • Mater Dei • Santa Ana, Calif.
A 2M/D from Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana, Calif, Constandse is a USA Water Polo veteran and a current member of the Youth National Team. She won gold with Team USA at the 2013 UANA Youth Pan American Championships in Buenos Aires, Argentina along with current Cardinal Kat Klass. An All-Trinity League first team pick in 2014 and 2015, Constandse is also a National Hispanic Recognition Program Scholar and was a 2015 USA Water Polo Outstanding Academic All-American.
“Kayla is consistently poised in the pool and always alert, traits which are essential for someone at her position,” Tanner commented. “She is a great defender, both 1-on-1 and within the team system, and her humility makes her a natural leader.”
Emalia Eichelberger • Punahou • Honolulu, Hawaii
Another recruit to represent the United States abroad, goalkeeper Emalia Eichelberger has won a number of golds for her country, including at the 2015 FINA Junior World Championships in Volos, Greece alongside Stanford junior Jamie Neushul and sophomore Jordan Raney, the 2014 UANA Junior Pan American Championships in Riverside, Calif. with Raney and the UANA Youth Pan American Championships in Argentina with Constandse and Klass.
At Punahou School in Honolulu, Hawaii, Eichelberger was an All-ILH first teamer in 2014 and followed that up in 2015 with her selection as the Most Outstanding Player at the state tournament. She has been a member of four state championship squads at a school which has claimed eight straight Hawaii crowns. Eichelberger also won state titles in both varsity girls and mixed paddling on Maui in December.
“Emalia has a solid temperament and possesses a commanding presence in goal,” Tanner added. “Athletically, she understands angles and positioning so well. She’ll fit right in on The Farm and we’re excited to have her.”
Malaika Koshy • Sacred Heart Prep • Atherton, Calif.
A local product from Sacred Heart Prep in Atherton, Malaika Koshy scored 88 goals in 29 matches as a junior with one quarter coming in the final five games – West Catholic Athletic League and Central Coast Section playoffs. She was named San Jose Mercury News Player of the Year following that stellar campaign in addition to being tabbed the Central Coast Section (CCS) Girls Player of the Year, the first for SHP since Stanford alumnae Pallavi Menon and Vee Dunlevie in 2007 and 2008.
Koshy was also named to the First Team on the 2014-15 National Interscholastic Swim Coaches Association/Speedo All-American squad, one of just four junior on the elite, 14-member team that also included Stanford freshman Kat Klass and 2014 signee Makenzie Fischer.
She is an active member of the Sacred Heart Robotics program and received an award from the Rotary Club of Menlo Park for academic excellence in her geometry honors class.
“A fantastic shutdown defender, Malaika is long, tenacious and tough in front of goal,” Tanner said. “She’s persistent in the classroom and in the sport of water polo and her diligence shows in everything she does.”
Hannah Shabb • Lakeside School • Seattle, Wash.
Yet another national team veteran is Hannah Shabb from Lakeside School in Seattle, Wash. She was on the USA Women’s Youth National Team in 2015 and the Cadet National Team in 2014, which included a training session in Hungary. Shabb is also among the top 10 in the nation in the 400 IM and represented the Pacific Northwest in the North American Challenge Cup and All-Star International Swim Meets from 2010-12.
Hannah’s parents, Sam Shabb and Mary Ruckelshaus are both Stanford graduates. Her father played water polo for the Cardinal in the early 1980s, winning a pair of national championships in 1980 and 1981.
“Hannah is an extremely energetic player,” Tanner commented. “Her speed and multi-position skills make her a very versatile and welcome addition to our team.”