From California to Serbia, Maya Mladjan ‘25 has spent the last decade of her life playing water polo all over the world. While her water polo career began at Lyons Aquatics, Mladjan has played on multiple competitive teams, including the Futures USA Water Polo team and the  Navy AG Water Polo Club where she participated in the Junior Olympics.

“I really liked playing on those teams because it helped me grow as a person and as a player,” Mladjan said. “It really helped broaden my view of the game and meet new people from outside of Illinois because water polo is a small sport. I actually got to meet new people from around the country and some of those people are actually my closest friends now.”

One of her proudest accomplishments is winning 10th place in the nation in the Junior Olympics while playing on the Navy team. The achievement was especially notable as it was the first time a team from outside of California had placed that high before.

“I love the team aspect,” she said. “You really can’t do anything by yourself. You can swim by yourself, you can press by yourself, but you’re constantly passing and constantly talking in the pool. Being surrounded by your teammates, you really build a bond, and I think that’s the team aspect I really love.”

Mladjan’s impressive skills are not only reflected in her athletic history, but by her high school coach Megan Jacobs.

“In 2020, I remember coming into club water polo practice one day, my jaw dropping to the floor when I saw one single girl five strokes ahead of the 11 boys in the water, leaving them all in her dust,” Jacobs said. “That was [Mladjan], she used to practice with the boys team as a seventh and eighth grader for better competition, and would still crush it. Fast forward five years and she is the best girls water polo player in the state with an athletic scholarship to play at the University of Michigan next year with her older sister Emilia.”

Mladjan’s dedication and competitive spirit make her an intimidating opponent in the water, Jacobs said. But out of the water, she is a funny and supportive teammate.

While her opportunity to play water polo at the University of Michigan came as a result of her hard work and skills, there were multiple factors that contributed to her ultimate decision.

“I chose Michigan because it’s a really good school, and I wanted to prioritize my academics,” Mladjan said. “But also because my sister goes there, and we’ve always been on the same team since I started in fourth grade. Same club team, same high school team, and now we’re going to be on the same college team.”

One of Mladjan’s biggest supporters is her sister, Emilia Mladjan ‘23, who will be a rising junior at Michigan next year. 

“I really look up to [Emilia],” she said. “She’s kind of like an idol and a mentor to me. Whenever I have a question I can always turn to her. She’s always giving me advice after games, and it’s not that she’s criticising me, it’s that she really wants to see me improve.”

Ultimately, Mladjan is looking forward to a strong finish in her high school water polo career and reuniting with her sister next year at the University of Michigan. 

The girls water polo team’s next game will be at home against Naperville North on Tuesday, April 29, at 6 p.m.