BROOKLYN HEIGHTS, NY – St. Francis College Brooklyn women's water polo Head Coach
Alana Burgess announced the additions of Sofia Kolovou, Gabriela Kostka, Hanna Kruppi, Mia Leto, Anja Miskovic, Elsah Nijdam, and Megan Stafford. All seven student-athletes are set to join the Terriers' women's water polo team for the 2021 season.
"I am very excited about the incoming freshmen class. We are bringing in a very diverse group of student-athletes with a lot of experience. I am looking forward to watching them contribute and continue to help the Terriers compete at a competitive level," said Coach Burgess.
Sofia Kolovou | Center | Athens, Greece
Kolovou is a 5-foot-6, center from Athens, Greece. She attended Xenopoulos Schools and played water polo for the Vouliagmeni Nautical Club. Between 2016-19, she played for the U15, U17, and U19 teams. Through the years, her teams never finished lower than third-place in the Greek Championship. In 2016, her team finished in first-place in the U15 Greek Championship. She intends to major in Chemistry and chose to attend SFC because she believes that it is an ideal place of growth for herself.
Gabriela Kostka | Driver | Chicago, IL
Kostka is a 5-foot-4, driver from Chicago, IL, and will be a two-sport student-athletes at St. Francis as she will also join the women's swimming and diving team. She attended John F. Kennedy High School where she was a member of both the water polo and swimming team for four years. She was a two-year water polo team Captain and earned MVP honors in both water polo and swimming twice each. Academically, she earned High Honor Roll honors, Distinguished Honor Roll honors, and was a Top 10 student. She intends to major in Biology because she would like get involved with healthcare. She chose St. Francis because of the opportunity to compete at the collegiate level. Additionally, Kostka was offered a spot in the honors program and will be a McGuire Scholar.
Hanna Kruppi | Driver | Regina, Saskatchewan
Kruppi is a 6-foot-0, driver/utility from Regina, Saskatchewan. She spent her high school career at Martin Collegiate and played club water polo for Team Sask. Additionally, she competed on her Provincial team all throughout high school. In 2020, her team won the Crossover Championship and in 2019, her team earned a Silver National Medal. In the classroom, she was named to the Honor Roll in each of her four years of high school. She intends to major in Biology and chose St. Francis for the diverse water polo team and sense of community.
Mia Leto | Utility | Hollywood, FL
Leto is a 5-foot-6, utility from Hollywood, FL and is the sister of current Terrier
Emma Leto. She previously attended South Broward High School and played club water polo for South Florida Water Polo. While at South Broward, she was a four-year member of the varsity water polo team and collected a number of accolades. She was named MVP three times and earned First Team honors four years in a row. Leto intends to major in Criminal Justice and chose St. Francis because of its location in New York City and she had a strong connection with the team.
Anja Miskovic | Utility | Belgrade, Serbia
Miskovic is a 5-foot-5, utility from Belgrade, Serbia. She previously attended Sports Gymnasium for high school and played club water polo for Red Star. In 2019-20, she earned a Senior CUP Gold medal and Junior CUP U19 Gold medal. She intends to major in Information Technology and chose St. Francis because of its strong reputation.
Elsah Nijdam | Goalie | Friesland, Netherlands
Nijdam is a 6-foot-0, goalie from Friesland, Netherlands. She attended Friesland College and played club water polo for Swol1894. She has played water polo her entire life and collected Championships in 2016, 2017, and 2018. In 2019, she earned Promotion in her final season before coming to St. Francis. She intends to major in Communication Arts and chose SFC because of its location and for the opportunity to play Division I water polo.
Megan Stafford | Utility | Diego, Trinidad and Tobago
Stafford is a 5-foot-5, utility from Diego, Trinidad and Tobago. She previously attended St. Joseph's Convent POS and Bishop Anstey High School. Stafford played club water polo for Royhil Seal Water Polo Club. She participated in water polo, swimming, and track and field throughout her high school years. In her final season in 2019, she was named team Captain and scored 15 goals in five games and was the second-highest goal scorer. Stafford earned a plethora of honors which included Certificate of Achievement for having represented Trinidad and Tobago in Water Polo, Certificate for Participation with the water polo team, Achievement of Honor for National Team attainment at CCCAN, Most Improved Senior Female Player (2016), Most Valuable Senior Female Player (2017, 2018), and the Sports and Academics Award (2018). Academically, she earned the General Proficiency Certificate and Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination Diploma. She intends to major in Economics and chose SFC because of its academic and athletic excellence.
