DENVER — Denver Academy is celebrating a rare milestone: Its first Division I athlete in 15 years. Senior Schuyler Parker is headed to Iona University to play water polo in 2026, breaking through in a sport that’s still growing in Colorado.

“I think in third grade, one of my friends was like, 'You should actually start playing water polo,'” Parker said. “And so ever since third grade, I've been playing for 10 years. Swimming was probably the force behind that.”

Because Denver Academy doesn’t have a water polo team, Parker built her career through club programs, using her swimming background to meet the sport’s intense physical demands. “You have to swim, you have to tread, you have to shoot, you have to tread,” she said.

At 5 feet, 4 inches tall, she often heard doubts about her size in

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