Female Athlete Profile: Sofia Flierl, Water Polo

For sophomore Sofia Flierl, being in the water has been non-negotiable since she was just five years old.

Flierl swam recreationally for years before eventually joining a club program. However, after eighth grade, Flierl wasn’t interested in swimming anymore, and water polo arose as a more exhilarating alternative. “I was bored,” she said. Flierl no longer wanted to swim competitively but looked to remain in the water. 

Swimming also didn’t have the team aspect that she was craving. “You have a swim team, but you’re not working together. It just felt so individual,” she said. With seven girls in the pool at once and plenty on the bench, water polo is very much a team sport. Flierl enjoys the feeling of working together with her teammates and appreciates the memories she has made. 

While her decision to change to water polo wasn’t easy, Flierl feels very supported by her family. “They put in a lot of effort so that I can play my sport,” she said.  

Flierl has become a very talented and skilled water polo player at Menlo. She played on the varsity girls water polo team last year as a freshman, and garnered multiple awards this year as a sophomore. Menlo girls water polo competed in the West Catholic Athletic League championship for the first time in program history and qualified for the Central Coast Section’s prestigious Open Division. Individually, Flierl earned all-WCAL Second Team and was recognized as a CCS honorable mention. 

Flierl’s success as an underclassman has sparked her interest in playing at the next level. While Flierl currently doesn’t know for sure if she wants to play college sports or not, she is sure to keep a “school-first” mentality and prioritize her academics if she does play in college.