Five members of the California Golden Bears women’s water polo team, along with head coach Coralie Simmons, have been selected to participate in the 2025 U20 World Championships in Salvador, Brazil. The event is scheduled for August 10-16 at the Salvador Aquatic Arena.
Junior Julia Bonaguidi will represent the United States, while sophomores Eszter Varro and Holly Dunn will play for Hungary and New Zealand, respectively. All three also competed at the 2025 World Aquatics Championships earlier this month in Singapore. Sophomore Rosalie Hassett (USA) and freshman Despoina Drakotou (Greece) are also set to compete. Simmons will serve as an assistant coach for the U.S. team.
Varro contributed to Hungary’s silver medal finish at the recent World Aquatics Championships. Bonaguidi and alumna Isabel Williams narrowly missed a podium spot after losing to Spain 13-12 in the bronze-medal match. Dunn and her New Zealand teammates finished tenth.
Both Varro and Dunn played in last year’s U20 World Championships, with Varro earning another silver medal. Bonaguidi, Hassett, and Drakotou each have experience at the U18 World Championships; Drakotou won a silver medal there last year.
Simmons has held various coaching roles within USA Water Polo, including two stints as head coach of the U.S Junior National Team. She led that squad to a gold medal at the U20 World Championship in 2015 and has also served as an assistant for multiple national teams.
“She’s twice been the head coach of the U.S Junior National Team and won the U20 World Championship gold medal in 2015. She’s also been an assistant for the senior, junior and youth national teams for the United States.”
For updates on Cal women’s water polo, follow their social media accounts on X/Twitter (@CalWWPolo), Instagram (@calwwpolo), and Facebook (CalWomensWaterPolo).
