Arizona Wildcats freshman Sherlyn Popelka moved to the United States from her native Switzerland when she was in the eighth grade.
Her father, Frank, a real estate developer, wanted to move the family for business purposes, and Sherlyn wanted to play golf in the United States.
She landed at one of the premier golf schools - the Annika Academy - in Reunion, Fla.
As the first UA player to train at the academy, Popelka worked with former Wildcat great Annika Sorenstam's coaches, Henri Reis and Kai Fusser, during her junior and senior years of high school. Popelka also met Sorenstam.
"It was amazing, because I look up to her," Popelka said. "She's accomplished so many great things."
Because of her experience at the academy, Popelka boasts valuable maturity, UA assistant coach Laura Myerscough said. (Head coach Shelly Haywood has been on personal leave since before the Pac-10 Championships.)
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Popelka, 18, recently earned honorable mention All-Pac-10 honors when the Cats won the conference title. Arizona will compete at the NCAA West Regional starting today in Stanford, Calif.
"She's very independent," Myerscough said. "She's not very needy. She doesn't need a lot from us as coaches. She knows how to play the game.
"She's going to keep developing and getting stronger. Compared to the fall, she's probably gained five to seven pounds of muscle."
A native of Zurich, Popelka speaks German, French and English and is working on her Spanish. Here are three other facts about her:
• She has played in numerous countries, including Holland, France, Finland, Scotland and Wales. She listed Sweden and Spain as favorites.
"In Switzerland, it's always pouring. In Spain, it's always been nice," she said.
• Popelka's dad is from the Czech Republic, and her mom, Aysha, is from Maldives, a country of 1,192 coral islands in the Indian Ocean southwest of Sri Lanka.
"It's really tiny, but it's beautiful there," Popelka said. "It's flat, beachy, crowded, with outlying resorts. You take a boat from island to island."
• Popelka said her swing and consistency at striking the ball began to improve at the Annika Academy. She said she keeps in touch with the coaches.
The training has led to success. Popelka tied for 14th at the Pac-10s and posted back-to-back rounds of 69 to win the individual title at the Las Vegas Collegiate Showdown in November.
"It's impressive," said teammate Margarita Ramos, who earned first-team All-Pac-10 honors. "Balancing school and golf, it's a lot on her plate, being away from her family and doing well in everything."
Up next
• What: NCAA regional women's golf tournament
• When: Today through Saturday
• Where: Stanford, Calif.
