Annika Dries, a 2009 Laguna Beach High School graduate and Stanford University sophomore, this past week won the prestigious Cutino Award, the highest college award for water polo and the equivalent of the Heisman Trophy in football.
Stanford won the 2011 NCAA title and Dries, who scored 58 goals to lead the Cardinal team, won NCAA MVP and the MPSF player of the year. Her parents, Eric Dries and Pam Madsen, traveled to San Francisco to accept the award on their daughter’s behalf since she was on the road competing with the U.S. national water polo team at Olympic qualifying games.
Their daughter will get a few weeks at home before heading next month to Shanghai for the FINA World Games.
Laguna Beach waterpolo team mates followed Dries on the road this year, coming to Stanford games in both northern and southern California to support her, said Madsen. “What a great honor to have them there all along the way.”
