CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – The Friends of Harvard Water Polo Head Coach, The James Herscot '58 Coach of Excellence Ted Minnis officially released the women's water polo incoming class of first-years on Wednesday. The Harvard women's water polo class consists of five incoming student-athletes and draws both domestically and internationally.
 
"I am very excited for this group of talented young women to join our program," began Minnis. "They will add depth to our team and will help us right away. We have had a lot of success over the last few years and this class will help us continue to compete at a high level and hopefully continue to win championships."
 
The class includes utility player Bethany King (Santa Barbara, Calif.), defender Eloise Kytle (Fresno, Calif.), attacker Synnove Robinson (Honolulu, Hawai'i), utility Sierra Verma (Los Altos, Calif.) and attacker Sophie Vickers (Cape Town, South Africa). Overall, there are two attackers, two utility players and one defender, while three players arrive from California, one from Hawai'i and one from South Africa.
 
Harvard women's water polo is coming off back-to-back CWPA Championships and appearances in the NCAA Tournament with a program-record 26 wins.
 
Bethany King
Utility • Santa Barbara, Calif. • San Marcos
 
Four-year water polo player and four-year swimmer at San Marcos High School… three-time All-Channel League selection from 2024-26 and two-time All-CIF pick in 2025 and 2026… led team to four Channel League Championships in water polo and four in swimming… two-time Junior Olympic champion… daughter of Sheryl and Brian King.
 
Minnis on King: "Bethany is not only a very talented water polo player, but she is a leader in everything she does. She will play a unique role for us as a utility player. She will split time in the goal and in the field. Bethany is very athletic and can literally play anywhere in the pool."
 
Eloise Kytle
Defender • Fresno, Calif. • Edison
 
Played four years of varsity water polo at Edison High School… named County Metro Athletic Conference MBP as a senior in 2026… played with the USA Water Polo Academy Team in 2025 and 2026 as well as the USA Water Polo Cadet National Team in 2024… All-CIF Honorable Mention in 2025… participated in the Olympic Development Program with the Central Zone A Team as a junior and senior… played with the USA Water Polo Futures International Team as a sophomore… competed with Bulldog Water Polo Club from 2021-26 and Diablo Water Polo Club in 2026… swam at San Marcos as a freshman and junior… daughter of Blain Roberts and Ethan Kytle.
 
Minnis on Kytle: "Eloise is the type of defender that fits perfectly into our system. She can defend big and athletic centers and contain them as she buys time for the perimeter to crash. What separates Eloise from most defenders is her ability to counter the center up the pool, where she is an immediate scoring threat."
 
Synnove Robinson
Attacker • Honolulu, Hawai'i • Punahou
 
Competed for four years in water polo, four years in swimming and two years in cross-country at Punahou High School… three-time first-team Hawai'i State All-Tournament Team selection… earned Interscholastic League of Honolulu All-Conference honors each year from 2024-26… ILH leading scorer in 2024 and 2025… named the ILH Player of the Year in 2025 and state championship Player of the Tournament… played for Oahu Water Polo Club from 2016-24 and Long Beach Vikings from 2024-26… participated with the USA Water Polo Youth Team from 2025-26 and USA Water Polo Cadet Team in 2024… 2024 and 2025 USA Water Polo Academic All-American… daughter of Sarah and Chris Robinson.
 
Minnis on Robinson: "Synnove is an attacker that can score on her legs from the perimeter or with her speed in transition. She is a very good perimeter defensive player, who is a true threat on both sides of the pool."
 
Sierra Verma
Utility • Los Altos Hills, Calif. • Castilleja School
 
Four-year letterwinner in water polo and swimming at Castilleja… captained the team for two seasons… first-team all-league selection as a junior and honorable mention as a sophomore… named a California/Hawai'i All-America Team honorable mention in 2025… scored a career-high 149 goals as a junior before missing senior season due to injury… three-time USA Water Polo Academic All-American… competed for four years with Stanford Girls Water Polo Club… finished third at Futures, fourth at Cal Cup and nine at Junior Olympics… daughter of Karen and Raj Verma.
 
Minnis on Verma: "Sierra is a utility player that can play on either side of the pool on the perimeter. What I really like about her play is how she can finish off a drive by posting up. She has a lot of tools that she will be able to use for us here at Harvard."
 
Sophie Vickers
Attacker • Cape Town, South Africa • Herschel Girls School
 
Played two and a half years of varsity water polo and swam for four years at Herschel Girls School… selected an all-star tournament team performer at the 2025 Women's Club Western Province League Games… all-tournament team honors at the 2024 St. Peter's National Tournament… helped Herschel to a No. 1 national ranking in South Africa in 2024… captained Western Province Water Polo in 2021… led all scorer at the 2022 Polo Premier League in 2022 and claimed a gold medal… top goal scorer at u16A Inter Provincial Tournament in 2023, where team won bronze… three-time South Africa Junior and Senior National Qualifying swimming times participant… daughter of Deanne Gordon and Allan Vickers.
 
Minnis on Vickers: "Sophie is a fast and athletic attacker, who uses her speed to gain advantages in transition. She has a good shot and is a threat to score as she receives the ball. She will add speed and athleticism to our team."