Wolverine Spirit: Unleashing the Heart of University of Michigan Athletics

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — The No. 14-ranked University of Michigan water polo team (0-0) will commence its 2025 season as it heads to Fresno, California, for Polo-Palooza. The Wolverines are set to compete against the No. 9 Fresno State at 5 p.m. PST on Friday (Jan. 17) and will face No. 18 San Jose State at 1:30 p.m. PST on Saturday (Jan. 18). U-M will conclude the weekend with an exhibition contest against Pacific at 9 a.m. PST on Sunday (Jan. 19).

Notes

• The Wolverines are entering the opening weekend with a 14th-place ranking in the preseason version of the CWPA Top 25 poll. After finishing as the runner-up to Princeton in the 2024 CWPA Championship, the team is anticipated to finish second in the conference once more.

• U-M has 16 players returning who participated in games during 2024, including fifth-year Kasey Umlauf, who brings significant experience to the Wolverines. She aims to enhance both offensive and defensive aspects, building on her previous 17-point season, where she recorded 10 goals and seven assists.

• Michigan sophomore Emma Gustafsson seeks to improve upon her remarkable offensive display from last season, ranking as the team’s second-leading scorer and earning CWPA Rookie of the Week accolades twice. Gustafsson scored 42 goals and provided 30 assists during her 72-point season.

• Kaia Levenfeld accumulated 44 points in the 2024 season, ranking second among returning players. She exhibited a strong offensive performance, achieving a career-high of four goals to assist U-M in securing a win against Iona.

• Hailing from San Diego, California, Lulu Hirschfield strengthens the Wolverines with a wealth of experience, having accrued 37 points in 2024, including a career-high of five against Saint Francis. Hirschfield’s average of 1.23 points per game contributes to consistent offensive output.

• Michigan welcomes four newcomers to the team who are eager to make an immediate impression on Team 25. Ari Karampetsou joins the team with international credentials, having led Team Greece to a silver medal at the 18U World Championship, where she was also honored as MVP.

• Joining the Wolverines this season is transfer Maiken Pardon, who spent the last three seasons at San Jose State. During her tenure with the Spartans, Pardon amassed a career total of 60 goals along with 25 assists.

• The Maize and Blue adds former student-athlete Maddie O’Reilly to its coaching staff as an assistant. O’Reilly comes aboard the Wolverines after competing for two European clubs, where she clinched the 2022-23 French League Championships and advanced to the Euro Cup quarterfinals.