CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – Coming off its first trip to the NCAA tournament in program history, Ted Minnis, the Friends of Harvard Water Polo Head Coach, has announced the addition of four new first-years from the class of 2029 today.

The newcomers include two student-athletes from the United States, one from Australia, and one from Budapest. They join a veteran group that will look to defend its CWPA title next year. 

"Coming off our first championship, this class will add depth to our team, which is already deep at all positions," Minnis said. "They will help us right away in the pool and add speed, scoring, and a defensive presence to our program.  They will be able to come in and fit right into our program, in and out of the pool.'

Veterans Ruby Hodge, Maya O'Dea, Emma Gilbert, Heidi Heffelfinger, and Ella Schneider, along with rising sophomores Orli Cooper and CWPA Rookie of the Year Niki Piovan, are also set to return in 2026 as the Crimson looks to build upon its most successful season in program history. After capturing its first CWPA Championship and earning a subsequent trip to the NCAA tournament, Harvard set a new record for the most wins in a single season with 26.

LUCY LEVENBERG-PENKLINS | SYDNEY, AUSTRILLIA | MERIDEN SCHOOL | UTILITY  

Played three years of varsity water polo at Meriden School and eight years with Sydney University Water Polo Club as a right driver/utility … Member of the Sydney University Lions Australian Water Polo League Squad (2023–2025), Super League Team (2024), and U22 Team (2024–2025) … Represented New South Wales Blues U16 and U17 Teams, captaining the latter in 2023 … Vice-captain of the Australian Cadet Team at the 2022 World Championships and a member of the Australian Squad Barbarians for national tournaments … Captained the Sydney University Lions U18 Team in 2024 and Meriden School Water Polo in 2023–2024 … Helped lead teams to numerous podium finishes, including gold at the 2023 Australian Water Polo League Championships and 2018 Club Nationals, silver at the 2025 AWL Championships and 2025 Fluida Cup, and multiple state and metro titles…Earned Sydney University Water Polo Club's Junior Player of the Year (2022) and U16 MVP (2021) honors … Named MVP of the 2022 Australian Interstate Championships … Received the Premier's Award for All-round Excellence in the NSW Higher School Certificate (2025), the Commonwealth Parliamentarian's Merit Award (2023), and Strathfield Council's Youth Achievement Award (2023) … Also honored with Meriden School Colors, Highest Achievement Award, and AICES Colors for Sporting Excellence … Enjoys reading, gaming, baking, crochet, and any ball sport.… Daughter of Jill Levenberg and Pauline Penklis.

FROM COACH MINNIS:

"There are a lot of words that I could use to describe Lucy as a water polo player. I would use strength, speed, and mobility as three words just for a start. Lucy is an attacker who has speed and can play on either side of the pool. She is long and uses her length to her advantage on both offense and defense." 

SOFIA WANG | GREENWICH, CT. | GREENWICH HIGH SCHOOL | CENTER DEFENDER

Played water polo at Greenwich High School and competed for Greenwich Aquatics from 2010 to 2025, starting as a center defender since joining the travel team in 2018 … Spent the 2022–2023 season in Spain as a starter for CN Sant Feliu in Barcelona … Selected to the USA Cadet National Team (2022), USA Youth National Team (2024), and USA Youth Academy (2023–2024); participated in USA Futures Team trips to Greece … Earned Junior Olympic All-American honors in 2021 (14U) and 2024 (18U), and named 14U Girls MVP at the 2021 Junior Olympics … Helped Team USA earn a silver medal at the 2022 Maccabi Games in Israel…Also a standout swimmer for Greenwich High School, contributing to FCIAC, Class LL, and Connecticut Open titles in 2021 and 2023 … Two-time All-FCIAC First Team selection and NYSCA All-American in two events in 2023 … Set school and FCIAC records in the 200 Medley Relay, and school record in the 200 Free Relay … Placed second in the 100 Free at the 2023 CT State Open (51.58) and ranks second all-time in the 50 Free (23.86) at Greenwich … Daughter of Kim Tierney-Wang and Eric Wang; Kim played water polo and swam at Bucknell.

FROM COACH MINNIS:

"Sofie just does all the little things that you love to see in a player. She does not need the glory of scoring a goal, but she defiantly shoots the ball well. But it is her tenacity on defense, the way she takes pride in stopping the other team's best player. We will be able to use Sofie's ability to play anywhere in the pool."

BEATRICE HEAREY | ORINDA, CALIF. | MIRAMONTE HIGH SCHOOL | ATTACKER

Four-year varsity letter winner in water polo (2021–2024) and swimming (2022–2025) at Miramonte High School … Played for Lamorinda Water Polo Club from 2018 to 2025 … Earned numerous honors including 2nd Team All-American at the USA Water Polo Junior Olympics in 2022, Honorable Mention All-American in 2023, and DAL All-League Water Polo 2nd Team in 2024 … Recognized as DAL All-League Honorable Mention in water polo (2023) and swimming (2023, 2024) … Captured CIF NorCal State Water Polo Championships (2021, 2022, 2023), NCS Championships (2021–2023), and 18U Australian Youth National Water Polo Championship in 2024 … Silver medalist at the 18U USA Water Polo Junior Olympics in 2024 and bronze medalist at the 14U Junior Olympics in 2022…Named a USA Water Polo Outstanding Academic All-American from 2022 to 2025 … Honored as a CIF North Coast Section Scholar Athlete and President's List recipient from 2022 to 2025 … National Merit Commended Scholar (2024) and AP Scholar with Honor (2024) …Mother Deborah Hearey (Class of 1996, rowing), father, Raymond Hearey (Class of 1995, soccer), and grandfather, David Kozloff (Class of 1963, football) all attended Harvard.

FROM COACH MINNIS:

"Bea has a tremendous skill set that starts with the way she approaches the game. She is always thinking about playing defense first and how she can help her team by stopping the biggest scoring threat in the pool. Her awareness in the pool is something that you just cannot teach."

PETRA KLEMM | BUDAPEST, HUNGARY | ELTE APÁCZAI CSERE JÁNOS GYAKORLÓ GIMNÁZIUM ÉS KOLLÉGIUM | CENTER

Competed for UVSE in Hungary from 2021 to 2025, playing center in both the Hungarian Youth and Adult National Leagues … Played for Foothill Club in the U.S. during the 2023 Junior Olympics … Helped lead UVSE to multiple national titles, including first-place finishes in the U17 and U19 Nationals in 2023 and 2024, and the Adult Hungarian Cup and OB I. National Championship in 2024 … Also placed second in the OB I./B Adult League in 2023 and 2024 and earned international experience at the 2023 US Club Championships and Junior Olympics…Posted standout statistics across multiple seasons, including a 72% shooting percentage with 42 goals in 23 U17 games in 2023, and an 80% shooting mark with 45 goals in 19 games in 2024 … Collected a combined 57 steals and over 180 points across three seasons of U15 and U17 national play … Ranked among Hungary's top youth performers in scoring efficiency and consistency at center … Enjoys listening to music, watching movies, traveling, exploring new cities and cultures, and spending time with friends and family … Daughter of Laszlo Klemm and Erzsebet Szucs.

FROM COACH MINNIS:

"The intangibles that you look for in a center position are size, speed, and they are able to finish when they get the ball passed to them. Petra is a 6-foot center who holds position very well and is explosive when she has the ball in her hands. She is also dynamic and able to play on the perimeter. She will add a layer to our offense next season and solidify our team strength up the middle of the pool."