Meet Your Freshmen Terps
1/25/2007 7:00:00 AM | Water Polo
Jan. 25, 2007
Q: What attracted you to the University of Maryland and the Terps' water polo program?
Shannon Simerly: The team is really young and I wanted to be a part of a new team that I can grow with over the years.
Sarah Ivry: I knew about Maryland because Marissa Corwin, one of the captains on the team, is from my hometown, and we played on Golden Bear water polo together. Maryland was the first recruiting trip that I went on and I fell in love with the school and the team.
Q: How did you get your start in water polo?
SS: I joined the swim team at my school in the fifth grade, and one day the water polo coach asked if I wanted to come to a water polo practice and throw the ball around. A couple of my friends and I went to check out this sport we had never heard of before. We watched the older kids playing this crazy game and I just fell in love with it.
SI: My dad is a swimmer and a swim coach, so I started swimming at a very young age. In sixth grade I started playing for Golden Bear water polo with some of my friends. I continued playing for Golden Bear throughout high school as well as playing for my high school team.
Q: What has been the biggest adjustment since entering college?
SS: I'd have to say the cooking. I am no Martha Stewart, so it is hard to get veggies in my diet when my mom isn't cooking every night.
SI: The cold weather. Brrr!
Q: Which of your teammates do you look up to? Why?
SI: I look up to all of my teammates. I could tell you a positive attribute about each of them! I especially look up to the captains on the team. Allie and Marissa are great leaders. They lead by example, and they do an amazing job of motivating the team.
Q: Which games are you most looking forward to this season?
SS: I don't really know what to expect, but I hear that the Bucknell and Princeton games should be real nail-biters.
SI: I'm looking forward to the games against Princeton and Bucknell. I'm also excited for the games we have scheduled during spring break. We're going to Northern California, and I'm excited for my family and friends to come watch!
Q: What are your personal goals for the upcoming season?
SS: I want to score goals, make some good assists, and get some steals in so I can help my team be successful this year.
SI: I want to make a difference and help my team win.
Q: How is your experience as a freshman on the team different from that of the veterans?
SS: I have never played a NCAA Division I college game, so I don't really know what to expect. I have played some international water polo, but that's it.
SI: Everything is new and exciting for me.
Q: How do you enjoy spending your time outside of water polo?
SS: I like to hang out with friends, the usual stuff.
SI: I enjoy hanging out with my family and friends. During the summer I coach swimming at a local club that I grew up at.
Q: Which other Maryland sports teams do you enjoy supporting?
SS: I support all the teams. I have been to a swim meet, some basketball games, football games, and a gymnastics competition. I just hope that they will all come out and support us.
SI: I love going to the football and basketball games. As a team we have gone to support the swim team and the gymnastics team. I also want to go to a track meet because my roommates are on the team. But I support all Maryland sports teams-- 27 sports, one team.
Q: What is something people wouldn't know about you from your bio?
SS: I am very into music. I play the piano and I was in the chorus, string ensemble, and orchestra all the way through high school.
SI: Considering I went across the country to go to school, people probably wouldn't expect me to be a homebody, but I am. I love spending time at home with my family.
