GW Women's Water Polo Announces Incoming Class
6/21/2016 12:00:00 AM | Women's Water Polo
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June 21, 2016
WASHINGTON -- George Washington head women's water polo coach Adam Foley has announced that six student-athletes will join the Colonials for the 2017 season.
"One thing I really like about this class is the balance with which it contributes to our roster," said Coach Foley. "We have centers, center defenders, attackers, utility players and goalies within this group. This class will come in and inject some competition, depth and vigor to our program at all of those positions. Furthermore, all of these women have the mindset and attitude that we will continue to identify in all of our future student-athletes. I am very excited to work with them for their collegiate careers."
The incoming class includes Kira Bruno (La Jolla, Calif.), Allison DeCicco (Windermere, Fla.), Ally Jochim (Laguna Beach, Calif.), Geena Peyton (Chicago, Ill.), Samantha Runyon (San Diego, Calif.) and Emma Shaffer (Pittsburg, Pa.).
Kira Bruno
Attack
La Jolla, Calif.
La Jolla High School/La Jolla Water Polo Club
Bruno earned second-team all-county and All-CIF honors during both her junior and senior seasons, and she paced La Jolla High School in scoring as a junior. In addition, the attacker led the Vikings to three CIF title contests. A two-time Union-Tribune All-Academic Team selection, she was also named a USA Water Polo Outstanding Academic Achiever three times.
Coach Foley's Take: "Kira is a very creative and tenacious right-handed attacker who will immediately impact our rotation of core players. We look forward to Kira joining us and are expecting her to have an exciting career here at GW."
Allison DeCicco
Utility
Windermere, Fla.
Olympia High School/Orlando Thunder
An All-Metro Conference and All-Area selection in 2016, DeCicco paced her Olympia High School with 47 assists while adding 37 goals and 57 steals and also set the program record for field blocks in a season. The Academic All-American led the Titans to three straight district and regional titles and to the state championship game her senior year. In addition, DeCicco, who also competes for the Orlando Thunder club team, was the captain of the Southeast Zone ODP team.
Coach Foley's Take: "Allison is a very savvy defender with great athletic upside. She is already a very solid player, but I think she can take her game to a new level when given the opportunity. I look forward to watching her play for the next four years."
Ally Jochim
Utility
Laguna Beach, Calif.
Laguna Beach High School/SET Water Polo Club
An Academic All-American, Jochim led Laguna Beach High School to CIF Division I titles in 2014 and 2015 and to three straight league championships. In addition, she was an honorable mention All-American at the 2015 USA Water Polo Junior Olympics as her SET Water Polo Club squad won the title.
Coach Foley's Take: "Ally plays for some great coaches at both Laguna Beach High School and SET. She is a very feisty utility player who can both defend center or post up and play on the perimeter. I think she will have an immediate impact on our roster and a fantastic career here at GW."
Geena Peyton
Goalkeeper
Chicago, Ill.
Mother McAuley Liberal Arts High School/Chicago Park District Water Polo Club
Peyton allowed just 4.33 goals per game while recording 252 saves as a senior, when she earned third-team all-state honors. The three-time all-conference goalkeeper led the Mighty Macs to the sectional title and fourth place in the state in 2016 for the second time in three seasons.
Coach Foley's Take: "I am very excited to see what Geena can do with some college-level training and experience. She is extremely athletic and has tremendous upside. With her work ethic, she will be a very good collegiate-level goalie."
Samantha Runyon
Goalkeeper
San Diego, Calif.
Scripps Ranch High School/San Diego Shores Water Polo Club
Runyon is the two-time team MVP for 2016 Eastern League co-champion and CIF runner-up Scripps Ranch High School. An All-Academic Team selection, she has also competed in the Junior Olympics with the San Diego Shores Water Polo Club for the last two summers.
Coach Foley's Take: "Sam is a true competitor. I fully expect her to come in and immediately push her teammates while raising the level of practice and performance for all our goalies. I am very eager to see what Sam can do at this level."
Emma Shaffer
Center
Pittsburgh, Pa.
North Allegheny Senior High School/Tiger Water Polo
Shaffer was the top scorer for her North Allegheny High School team, which placed second in the Western Conference and seventh at the state championship. A Pennsylvania All-State Second Team selection, Shaffer is also a USA Water Polo Academic All-American.
Coach Foley's Take: "Emma is a fundamentally sound center and utility player and a very tough competitor. She will immediately fill a void at the center position, and I expect her to have a great four years playing here at GW."
