STANFORD, Calif. – Stanford's Dunlevie Family Director of Women's Water Polo John Tanner announced the signings of seven decorated prep stars to National Letters of Intent on Wednesday.
Maya Avital, Christina Hicks, Skyler Jones, Megan Peterson, Jewel Roemer, Celeste Wijnbelt and Talie Wilmans will enroll at Stanford for the 2020-21 academic year and join the Cardinal for the 2021 campaign.
"We are extremely excited about the Stanford women's water polo class of 2024," Tanner said. "They have built brilliant athletic and academic resumes by virtue of their daily commitment to teamwork and constant improvement. Their water polo passion, intellectual curiosity, personal integrity and engagement with their school, club and local communities has made them inspiring role models. They have been great teammates, optimistic bridge builders while pursuing excellence with their high school, club and national teams. We are eager for these students to arrive and begin contributing to our program, the athletics department and the entire Stanford community."
Maya Avital • Corona del Mar High School • Newport Beach, Calif.
- Won a gold medal with the United States at the UANA Youth Pan American Games in Trinidad and Tobago in August 2019
- Named the tournament's top goalkeeper
- Team captain
- Also won gold at the 2017 UANA Youth Pan American Games in Lima, Peru
- 2019 CIF-SS Division I and Junior Olympic 18U finalist
- All-Orange County and Southern California Player of the Year in 2019
- Volunteers at the Orange County Food Bank
Christina Hicks • Punahou School • Honolulu, Hawaii
- Won a gold medal with the United States at the UANA Youth Pan American Games in Trinidad and Tobago in August 2019
- Also took home a bronze medal at the 2018 UANA Junior Pan American Games in Clearwater, Fla.
- Has an undefeated record an Punahou School, including three state championships and the continuation of the program's 12 consecutive years without a loss
- Two-time Most Outstanding Player at the state championship tournament (2018 and 2019)
- Recipient of the McEldowney-Matthias Memorial Award, given to one female and one male student displaying contributions in citizenship, scholarship and athletics in the junior class
Skyler Jones • San Ramon Valley High School • Danville, Calif.
- A member of the 2018 USA Water Polo Youth National Team that placed seventh at the Youth World Championship in Serbia
- Won a gold medal with the United States at the UANA Youth Pan American Games in Lima, Peru in 2017
- 2019 East Bay Athletic League Most Valuable Player
- Awarded San Ramon Valley High School's Leader of the Pack Award, which is given to a student who is a leader and role model in the San Ramon Valley community
- Helped manage an event for Together We Rise with Community Presbyterian Church, securing 100 bikes and duffel bags for children in foster care in Northern California
- Also has taught swim lessons for the past six year to children with Down syndrome as part of Del Amigo Swim Team's "All-Stars" for the Down Syndrome Connection of Contra Costa County
Megan Peterson • Corona del Mar High School • Newport Beach, Calif.
- 2019 CIF-SS Division I finalist and varsity captain
- All-CIF second team
- Selected for the USA Water Polo ODP Girls Futures International Roster that trained and competed in Budapest, Hungary in August 2018
- Recipient of the Sea King Pride Award, a schoolwide award selected by the teachers to honor CdM's top role model
- Also won the Presidential Service Award and the Captains' Award (2018)
- National Honor Society member
Jewel Roemer • Acalanes High School • Lafayette, Calif.
- Summer of 2019 included a beach gold medal at the FINA World Championships, a Junior Olympics gold medal and MVP award and a title at the FINA Junior World Championship
- Won the inaugural beach water polo title at the FINA World Championships in Gwangju, South Korea in July 2019 alongside Cardinal alumnae Jamie Neushul, Jordan Raney and Gabby Stone
- Also took home gold with the USA Water Polo Senior Women's National Team at the FINA Women's Intercontinental Tournament in Perth, Australia in March 2019
- Second-leading scorer for the United States at the FINA Junior World Championship in Funchal Portugal this past summer
- Scored 15 goals, including two game winners against Australia and Hungary
- Has led her high school team to an undefeated record since her sophomore year
- Acalanes went 27-0 in 2018 and was CIF-NCS champions
- Volunteered at swim events for Northern California Special Olympics for the past 12 years
Celeste Wijnbelt • Foothill High School • Santa Ana, Calif.
- Took home silver at the 2019 Junior Olympics with her 18U SoCal Water Polo Club team
- High school team has finished in the top five of CIF in each of her three seasons thus far
- Two-time USA Water Polo All-American (2016 and 2018) while representing SoCal Water Polo at the Junior Olympics
- Has coached SoCal Water Polo's swim conditioning program for the past three years, helping athletes ages 9-14 improve their swimming
Talie Wilmans • Polytechnic High School • Pasadena, Calif.
- Medaled at Junior Olympics and was an All-American in each of 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018 with Rose Bowl Water Polo Club
- 2017 CIF-SS Division V champion with Polytechnic High School
- Three-time All-CIF-SS selection (2017, 2018, 2019)
- Two-time Prep League Most Valuable Player (2018 and 2019)
- Owns the school record for goals in a season (134)
- Volunteered at Outreach360 in Nicaragua, teaching English to kids in the community of Jinotega
- As a freshman, took part in a preceptorship at USC's Keck Medical Center, shadowing general doctors and specialists as they worked in the ambulatory and inpatient units