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Bucknell Women's Water Polo Adds Six Recruits
LEWISBURG, Pa. -- With a 61-37 record over the last three years, the Bucknell women’s water polo team is in the midst of one of the best stretches in program history. The Bison will look to continue that momentum in future years and the next recruiting class will be a major component of the team's upward swing. Head coach John Abdou recently announced the six members of the Class of 2014, which includes student-athletes from four different states, including three from Pennsylvania.
"I am very excited to welcome these six outstanding young women to Bucknell University," said Abdou. "Each of these student-athletes will add athleticism, enthusiasm, and character to our program. This group has the potential of being one of the best classes in the history of the program. They have very big shoes to fill with the departure of the historic Class of 2010, but the path has been well established for the Class of 2014 to begin a strong legacy here at Bucknell."
Bucknell lost just three seniors to graduation and will return 14 veterans from this past spring’s team that posted a 17-10 mark, won the Southern Championships title and placed fifth at the Eastern Championship. It was the program’s fifth above-.500 finish in the last six years.
Following is an alphabetical list of the six Bucknell women’s water polo recruits that comprise the Class of 2014:
- Samantha Deana – Lansdale, Pa./North Penn
- Mackenzie Ferry – Enola, Pa./Cumberland Valley
- Rena Heim – Mohnton, Pa./Governor Mifflin
- Stephanie Ovalle – Chicago, Ill./Fenwick
- Heather Smith – Redwood City, Calif./Sacred Heart Prep
- Julianne Valdes – Miami, Fla./Gulliver Prep
Class of 2014 Bios:
Samantha Deana (Lansdale, Pa./North Penn) – Samantha Lynn Deana … born April 4, 1992 in Philadelphia, Pa. … daughter of Al and Gail Deana … has one brother … earned three letters in water polo and four in swimming at North Penn High School … helped water polo team to three straight state titles … team captain and MVP as a senior in 2009 … First Team All-State as a senior and Third Team All-State as a junior … named team’s Most Improved Player in 2008 … swimming team captain as a senior … earned swimming Coaches Award as a junior in 2009 … claimed Richard Carroll Award in 2008 and Outstanding Freshman Award in 2007 … helped team to three Suburban One titles … all-league, all-district, all-state and All-American all four years … father played baseball at Villanova.
Mackenzie Ferry (Enola, Pa./Cumberland Valley) – Mackenzie Loren Ferry … born Feb. 5, 1992 in Harrisburg, Pa. … daughter of Charles and Diane Ferry … attended same high school as current Bison Amanda Skonezney, former Bison great Aubrey Rowe and former Bucknell head coach John Zeigler … member of both swimming and water polo teams at Cumberland Valley High School … four-time water polo all-state selection, including first team as a senior … team captain as a senior … member of 2009 Kingfish Junior Olympic Team … participated with the Northeast Zone Cadet Team and Northeast Zone Junior Team … two-time water polo academic award winner … helped team to 2007 state title … member of 2006 Pennsylvania All-Freshman Team … four-time all-district selection in swimming … two-time all-state choice … team captain as a senior.
Abdou on Ferry: "Mackenzie is an all around great athlete. She will help contribute immediately offensively as a post-up threat and as an attacker. I am excited to have her continue the legacy of strong Cumberland Valley High School student-athletes at Bucknell."
Rena Heim (Mohnton, Pa./Governor Mifflin) – Rena Anne Heim … born July 31, 1991 in Reading, Pa. … daughter of Jack and Robin Heim … four-time letterwinner in water polo, swimming and track at Governor Mifflin High School … two-time all-state selection in water polo … two-year team captain … holds school record for saves by a goalie (311) … swimming co-captain as a senior … member of school-record holding 400 free relay team … co-captain of track & field team as a senior … four-time district medalist in shot put and discus … earned academic awards for both water polo and swimming … father ran cross country at Messiah College … mother earned her bachelor’s degree from Bucknell in 1979 and her master’s in 1986 … maternal grandmother, Jesse Sheetz, earned a master’s degree from Bucknell in 1956.
Abdou on Heim: "We have been scouting Rena for several years at our annual Bison Water Polo Camp and we are very excited about finally having her on campus as a student-athlete. Rena possesses umatched potential at the goalie position. I am incredibly excited to have her start working with Coach Rave and incumbent goalie Brittany Connell."
Stephanie Ovalle (Chicago, Ill./Fenwick) – Stephanie Ovalle … born Feb. 2, 1992 in Chicago, Ill. … daughter of Faustino and Sylvia Ovalle … four-year member of water polo and swimming teams at Fenwick High School … four-year water polo starter … two-time Third Team All-America selection … two-time all-state and all-sectional first-team choice … helped team to a pair of state titles and one second-place showing … Metro Catholic Aquatic Conference Player of the Year as a senior … second-team all-state and Freshman State MVP in 2006 … four-time swimming All-American in the 200 and 400 free relays … four-time all-state selection, including first-team as a senior … finished as high as 13th in the state in the 100 free … helped team to third-place showing at state meet as a senior.
Abdou on Ovalle: "Stephanie is one of the best players to come out of Illinois this year and brings a winning attitude to the program. She has great athletic ability and has the potential to develop into a strong utility player at Bucknell. I am excited to continue to have the best players in the Midwest come to our programs."
Heather Smith (Redwood City, Calif./Sacred Heart Prep) – Heather Leigh Smith … born Aug. 12, 1992 in Redwood City, Calif. … daughter of Charles and Carol Smith … four-year swimming letterwinner and three-year water polo letterwinner at Sacred Heart Preparatory … first-team all-league water polo player in 2009 … helped team to three Central Coast Section Division II titles … first-team all-league selection … Central Coast Section Player of the Year in 2009 … member of NorCal Water Polo Club from 2007-10 … all-league in swimming five times (500 free as a sophomore, junior and senior; 200 free as a junior and senior) … finished second place overall among females at the 2009 Alcatraz Sharkfest Swim … age group champion at the 2009 Escape from Alcatraz Triathlon Swim.
Abdou on Smith: "Heather is a dynamic two-meter defender from a great water polo town. She will immediately help us position ally on defense and has the water polo IQ to play other positions as well. I am very excited about what Heather brings to the table as a student-athlete and asset to our program."
Julianne Valdes (Miami, Fla./Gulliver Prep – Julianne Elizabeth Valdes … born Sept. 6, 1991 in Miami, Fla. … daughter of Angel and Susan Valdes … four-year water polo and swimming letterwinner at Gulliver Preparatory School … three-time all-county selection in water polo … team captain as a sophomore and senior … four-time Junior Olympic All-American … USA Water Polo Academic All-American … USA Water Polo Junior National Training Team and Cadet Training Team member … Southeast Zone Team member … all-county selection in swimming as a senior … sister, Vanessa, is a member of the water polo club team at Central Florida.
Abdou on Valdes: "Julianne is a diamond in the rough. I am thrilled to have her in our program at Bucknell. She has the highest water polo IQ of any of the girls we recruited this year and will immediately make an impact. She can play any position in the pool and has the innate ability to make other players around her better. I am excited about what she brings to the program as a model student-athlete, and also as a future leader for this championship team."
Release courtesy
Bucknell Athletic Communications
