USA WATER POLO ANNOUNCES 2012 U.S. OLYMPIC WOMEN'S WATER POLO TEAM
USA WATER POLO ANNOUNCES 2012 U.S. OLYMPIC WOMEN'S WATER POLO TEAM
Huntington Beach, Calif.– May 17, 2012— Adam Krikorian, Head Coach for the U.S. Olympic Women's Water Polo Team, today announced the 13 athletes that will compete at the 2012 Olympic Games this summer in London, England at a press conference at the LA84 Foundation in Los Angeles, CA. Featuring seven returners from the 2008 team that won the Silver Medal, and eight athletes overall with Olympic Games experience, the team clinched a berth to the 2012 Olympic Games by winning Gold at the 2011 Pan American Games in Guadalajara, Mexico.
Led by Team Captain Brenda Villa (Commerce, CA/Stanford/Olympic Club) the U.S. Olympic Women's Water Polo Team is one of the most successful programs in international water polo history over the last twelve years. The only nation to win an Olympic Medal at every Olympic Games offering women's water polo, a tally that includes two Silver Medals (2000 and 2008) and a Bronze (2004), the program has also won three World Championships and one World Cup title during that span.
Villa is joined on the team by Heather Petri (Orinda, CA/California/NYAC); both will be the first U.S. women to compete in four Olympic Games in water polo.
2012 U.S. Olympic Women's Water Polo Team (Hometown/College/Club)
1. Betsey Armstrong - Goalkeeper (Ann Arbor, MI/Michigan/NYAC)*
2. Heather Petri - Attacker (Orinda, CA/California/NYAC)#%*
3. Melissa Seidemann - Defender (Walnut Creek, CA/Stanford/Stanford)
4. Brenda Villa - Attacker (Commerce, CA/Stanford/Olympic Club)#%*
5. Lauren Wenger - All-Around (Long Beach, CA/USC/NYAC)*
6. Maggie Steffens - Defender (Danville, CA/Stanford/Diablo)
7. Courtney Mathewson - Attacker (Anaheim Hills, CA/UCLA/NYAC)
8. Jessica Steffens - Defender (Danville, CA/Stanford/NYAC)*
9. Elsie Windes - Defender (Portland, OR/California/Tualatin Hills WP)*
10. Kelly Rulon - Attacker (San Diego, CA/UCLA/NYAC)%
11. Annika Dries - Center (Laguna Beach, CA/Stanford/SET)
12. Kami Craig - Center (Santa Barbara, CA/USC/Santa Barbara WPF)*
13. Tumua Anae - Goalkeeper (Newport Beach, CA/USC/SOCAL)
#2000 Olympian
%2004 Olympian
*2008 Olympian
The U.S. Olympic Women's Water Polo Team will open competition at the 2012 Olympic Games against Hungary on July 30. That is followed by a match against Spain on August 1, and China on August 3, to close out preliminary play in Group A. The quarterfinals are set for August 5, followed by the semifinals on August 7, and the medal round on August 9.
For more information on the team, including individual bio information visit USAWaterPolo.org by clicking here.
Press Conference Quotes
Chris Ramsey, CEO, USA Water Polo- Water polo demands as much will and strength in any sport...and we do it for the love of the game
Anita DeFranz, President, LA84 Foundation/IOC Member- Uniforms are a big deal, you don't have your Olympic uniform yet...but when you get that uniform that's a big deal
Thank you for deciding to give all the hours and representing the United States for all those who came before and more importantly who come after
Adam Krikorian, Head Coach, U.S. Olympic Women's Water Polo Team- Today is a great day, it's been a long time coming, it's been an emotional week but today is a great day
This is an opportunity to reflect on where we've come since 2009 and an opportunity to look forward, to opening ceremonies
..time to reflect time to celebrate time to look forward
Experience is the word that stands out in 2009
Word I think of in 2010 is competition
This group started with 60 players that were all in the mix
You try to create the most competitive environment you possibly can, and the great thing about the United States of America is that everyone is really competitive...that's what makes it the best country in the world. So when you get 50, 60 athletes, the best are going to rise to the top
We had a combo of 24 players participate in 7 major championship games
These 13 athletes in the room had to step up their game to make this cut
2011 the word that comes to mind is adversity
Winning a gold in the Pan Am final that will go down as one of the best games ever played taught us how to handle adversity
2012 is about competitive greatness, which is about bringing your best when your best is needed, phase 1 was about playing games...where we played 30+ games
They've been challenged physically, mentally, emotionally, and every time they're faced with these challenges they rise as individuals and as a team so they can represent the United States of America
My staff is the best in the world, talk about having the best team in the world it starts with the best staff
It's very humbling to be up here, and it's an honor and privilege to announce each player
Brenda Villa, Captain, U.S. Olympic Women's Water Polo Team- I think our chances look really good. We've been training really hard for the past four years. We're training and not taking anything for granted so we want to come out on top
Adam Krikorian- There's a 12.5% chance of being on top at the Olympic games...you can see at the last qualifier the teams that didn't make it are the defending gold medalist...and the #1 ranked team in the world
Our 2 strengths are, number 1 defense, we have the best defenders in the world anchored by Betsey Armstrong our goalkeeper. And we're pretty tough to beat in that respect. Number 2, we're very deep, we don't rely on one or two players, we have 13 that can step up and beat you. It makes it very difficult to prepare for us
Brenda Villa- We have focused on becoming a team in and out of the water which will help us at the tournament in London. We have a great mix of older and younger players that will help us as well.
Enjoy it (the Olympics) all but it's just about playing water polo...it's about passing the ball and making great saves
We're excited to be at home and put in the work and gain confidence from that so when we get to London we're ready to go
We just have to play great at the end of the tournament...it could be any team on any given day so we have to prepare for every opponent
We're not going to show all our moves and tricks, but we always save a little for the end, right?
