Frost Looks to Take Important Role for Wolverines
12/14/2006 12:00:00 AM | Water Polo
By Matthew Baumer, U-M Athletic Media Relations Intern
To say that sophomore water polo player Carrie Frost had an eventful summer is an understatement. The Saline, Mich., native traveled first in July to the Pythia Cup (July 20-22) in Athens, Greece, where she and the rest of the U.S. Junior National team, which features the top players 20-and-under in the nation, earned a second-place finish. She then traveled to Italy for more national competition and then finished in November as one of three Michigan players ever to be invited to the Speedo Top 40 Tournament.
"The Pythia Cup was a warm-up for the tournament in Italy," says Frost, who netted a goal against Germany in game three. "We lost to Australia by one in the first game. We had a lot of jet lag and it was a rough flight going over there."
The team rebounded in Italy at the Liguria Trophy Tournament (27-30), however, winning all games to reach the finals, including defeating Australia by four goals. A final-round loss, this time to Russia, garnered the squad a second-place trophy once again.
With the ultimate goal of winning a World Championship this summer in Portugal, Frost and the U.S. did not match last season's gold medal finish, but they did accomplish other goals.
"We wanted to maintain the level of being the best in the world because the theory in Europe is that if you are not a native of Europe, you cannot play water polo," Frost says. "We wanted to go in there and prove that is not true."
As a player, Frost also climbed another hurdle in her play, maturing as an athlete both mentally and physically.
"Everything came together for me," Frost says. "I played to the best of my ability and did not get down on myself when I was in the water. I was in the right mindset the entire time in Europe, getting over mistakes and bouncing back to play my best, which was hard for me to do last season."
Frost, playing on her first junior national team, also made her mark in others ways, displaying her Michigan accent as the only non-California based representative on the team, but fitting right in.
"Every time I talked, people knew I was from Michigan. They would say, 'Say goggles again'. They all thought my accent was funny," she laughs. "With (my teammates), I was skeptical initially because a lot of them are well-known players and have been on national teams in the past, and I am this little girl from Michigan. Once I made the team, I recognized I could stay with them and hang with them, and they were very accepting."
Later in the summer, Frost went to compete in the Speedo Top 40 Tournament, a three-day event (Nov. 3-5) in Los Alamitos, Calif., that showcases the top 40 women's water polo players from the United States. The purpose of the Tournament is to evaluate players before the rosters are chosen for the Holiday Cup and World Championship teams.
The 40 participants were divided into four teams. Frost, a member of Kosmic Khaos, helped her squad to a championship final after a 2-1 round-robin record. Her effort was highlighted by a hat trick in game three that helped the Kosmic Khaos into the finals. As a result, she hopes to combine her junior national experience with her success at the Top 40 to earn a spot on the summer travel roster for the junior national team. She also articulates the importance of the talent that surrounds her as a member of the Maize and Blue.
"I played well at the Top 40," she explained. "That helped my position. But nothing is a guarantee until that tryout next summer. I felt privileged to play with a really good group of players. It also goes to show that my teammates at Michigan have helped me become the player I am today and helped me earn the invitation. Julie Hyrne, Mary Chatigny, Sharayah Hernandez and Kelsey Haley, and other players have been pushing me and giving me tips. Having that good chemistry here has allowed me to reach the next level in my career."
Frost is proud of where she comes from and takes pride in proving to the country that she is yet another elite player to break the California-only stigma in U.S. water polo, joining former U-M standout and starting national team goalkeeper Betsey Armstrong as well as the program's all-time leading scorer, Shana Welch, who participated in the Top 40 Tournament two straight seasons.
"It is a sign for people who play at the University of Michigan and are not from California that it really doesn't matter where you come from, you are just as good as anybody," she says. "I would not want to be anywhere else, and I take a lot of pride being from Michigan."
Head coach Matt Anderson also speaks volumes about his current and former players succeeding on the national level in part due to the fact that they can play right away as a Wolverine rather than waiting their turn at West Coast schools.
"It shows that for athletes to obtain their goals, they have to be given the opportunity," Anderson said. "All three of those players were given the opportunity here. They have the facilities, the coaching and support they needed, but more importantly they were able to play right away at a high level for a lot of minutes. They did not have to sit back and wait, and they took advantage of the opportunity they were given."
"I would not want to be anywhere else, and I take a lot of pride being from Michigan."
Frost trusts her national success can translate into better play at the college level for her and the Wolverines as a whole.
"Our team is a lot faster this season, so I spent the summer improving my speed defending and attacking," she explains. "I especially improved on 6-on-5s. I know how to read the post and know where to pass the ball. Matt was a bit hesitant and put other players there last season, but now that is something I am better at and I will help us finish 6-on-5s."
She can also eliminate a fear or intimidation of certain players against whom she may have had less confidence playing last season.
"I have played against every person in the country that in the past I would have been worried to play against," she says. "That awareness and me knowing I can handle them has allowed my confidence level to increase tremendously."
In addition, Anderson recognizes the steps Frost has made in working on her weaknesses as a freshman and attributes her progress to her modesty.
"Her approach has been tremendous," Anderson says. "The biggest reason for her improvement is because of her internal drive. She knows what she wants to try and achieve, and she is willing to listen to what the suggestions are for her to achieve that."
Both Frost and Anderson recognize a small adjustment will have to be made as she moves away from the physical national style back to the tighter-called college game.
"There is a different style of play at the national team compared to college," Anderson comments. "She needs to understand the differences in the game and help lead the team, and I believe she will be able to do that. She has the physical skills and is gaining the mental skills to become a leader. I expect her to be one of the main heartbeats of the team this season."
Frost adds, "In Europe, it is more physical and I am a physical player. In practice, Matt will call a kickout on me and remind me that I am not in Europe so I cannot play as physically. College water polo is much more fun for me, and I do not have a scared-for-my-life attitude."
Still, Frost looks back on this summer and puts it into perspective where she started and where she can end up.
"Going into the summer, I didn't have any idea I would be playing overseas," she recalls. "I went into the first tryout with many other things to do if I did not get on the team. I got through it and the next two tryouts I played well despite the amount of competition.
"My goal is to make the junior team next summer. To have an opportunity to try and defend a world championship is an incredible opportunity," she says, explaining her southpaw shot could benefit her. "I want to find myself improving and better myself so they want to put me in a spot in their system. I need to prove they need a lefty because first, I am a better reader, and second, I will score the goal."
With Frost being one of six 20-goal scorers from last season returning for U-M, she will play a vital role for a team that looks to outduel CWPA foes and return to the NCAA Championship.
