Wolverines Past and Present Invited to National Tryouts
5/31/2006 12:00:00 AM | Water Polo
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Two current, two incoming and one former University of Michigan women's water polo players have been invited to the U.S. National Team tryout camp to take place this coming weekend (June 2-4) in Los Alamitos, Calif.
Junior Shana Welch (Larksville, Pa./Wyoming West Valley) and incoming recruit Leah Robertson (Newport, Calif./Newport Harbor) were each among those previously invited to camp without having to go through preliminary tryouts. Welch and former Wolverine All-American Betsey Armstrong (2002-05) will aim for a national team spot, while Robertson and freshman Carrie Frost (Saline, Mich./Saline) will be seeking a junior (20-and-under) national team cap. Armstrong and Frost earned a tryout invitation following strong previous performances at the May 20-21 open tryouts. Another incoming player, Terri Bukofzer (Vernon Hills, Ill./Stevenson), earned a seat on the national youth (18-and-under) team.
"This weekend coming up is a great opportunity for these five players because in our sport the ultimate goal is to reach the national and Olympic level," said Michigan head coach Matt Anderson, who is also an assistant on the U.S. Men's Cadet (16-and-under) team. "Part of why for the last eight years I have been a member of the men's national team staff is you get excited to be able to give these players the opportunity to reach their Olympic team.
"For Shana and Betsey, they are identified as two of the top 35 players in the nation. Leah and Carrie have been identified as two of the top players 20-and-under, while Terri has been recognized as one of the top young players in nation 18-and-under. This all goes to what we are trying to do here at Michigan, which is to instill pride in your sport and with that trying to reach the Olympic level. It bodes well for Michigan to have four of our current players and a graduated player earning this opportunity to follow their dreams."
Current players Welch and Frost played an important role on this season's CWPA Western Division champion squad. Welch, the Wolverines' leading scorer in 2006 with 102 points on a team-high 75 goals and 27 helpers, has previous national team experience, playing on the U.S. water polo national youth team in 2001 and 2002 and trying out for the junior national team in 2003. The junior captain also participated in the 2005 Speedo Top 40 Tournament last November. Her stellar play in 2006 earned her a second straight CWPA Western Division MVP award.
Frost, who recorded 44 points (27 g, 17 a) in 38 games in her first collegiate season, played for the 2004 national youth team. The Saline native also forced 28 steals for the Wolverines.
Robertson was one of only four high school players to play in the 2005 Top 40 Tournament. She tallied 49 goals, 42 assists and 66 steals while helping her team to a Division I championship, earning her Division I player of the year honors and Sea View League co-MVP.
Bukofzer is captain of her Stevenson High School team that finished 30-2 and third place in the state this past spring. The Illinois native, who scored 112 regular-season goals, played for the 2005 National Youth team.
A two-time All-American and two-time honorable mention All-American in her four years at Michigan, Armstrong looks to add to her already impressive credentials. She was the starting goalkeeper on the junior national team in 2000 and 2001 in addition to her numerous MVP and all-conference collegiate awards. The Ann Arbor native holds all five Michigan water polo goalkeeping records.
The June 2-4 training camp will decide the Senior National A team, the Senior National B team and the Junior National team. Junior national team members may also be selected to the Senior National A or B rosters.
USA Water Polo Site
Contact: Matt Baumer (734) 763-4423
