Maggie Ugelstad '16 Recruiting Profile

I would like to play water polo at the collegiate level, because I have a genuine love for the game. When I am passionate about something, I fully commit to it and persevere through the challenges it brings. I have good sportsmanship and work well with others in any environment. I try to help each of my teammates train hard so that we can play at our highest potential as a team.

I have always been a strong swimmer, having swam in club swim team since I was 5. I believe my strength, competitiveness, and endurance makes me a good candidate. I love the aggressiveness and physicality of the game. When I am in the water, my competitive drive takes over. I use my endurance and strength when 2M defending, as I find it my personal goal to prevent the set from scoring. I love that I am able to set the tone for the defense.
I am a leader on Bellevue High water polo, because I am a co-founder and captain of the girls’ team. To create a new team, I talked with the Athletic Director at my school and raised money for the self-funded team. I also went out into the community to recruit athletes so that we could get enough players for a full team.
As a captain, I put together fun events for team bonding. I believe it is important to bring respect and community to the team, for people work best when they are able to connect with their peers.  Over the summer, I took my teammates camping and hiking near Mount St. Helens. Although it was initially out of the comfort zone for some girls, I brought them to hike the lava caves of the mountain. In the end, they all enjoyed their new experiences and found friends where they would not have otherwise looked.

My ideal school is one with strong academics and a water polo team.