Big Weekend on Tap as Wolverines Prepare for Action Globally

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The upcoming weekend will be a busy one for the University of Michigan water polo team as several returning team members and several incoming freshmen will be in action around the globe.

FINA World Championships

Michigan sophomore Maddy Steere has been named to the Aussie Stingers roster for the 2017 FINA World Championships beginning July 16 in Budapest, Hungary.

"Im so proud to have been announced as a member of the world champs team and given the opportunity to represent Australia at such a prestigious tournament," said Steere. "It's been a long road to get here but I'm excited to play on Margaret Island, essentially the home of water polo. The atmosphere is going to be unlike anything I've ever experienced and I can't wait to be able to suit up in the green and gold and play in front of such an enthusiastic crowd."

Steere has spent the summer with the national team. She was selected at the end of May to travel with the team to China for the Kunshan Cup, May 29-June 3 in Kunshan, and then the FINA World League Super Final, June 6-11, in Shanghai. She was a key reserve for the Stingers, scoring a goal to lead them to a win over Japan in the seventh-place game of the Super Final.

Steere had a few days at home before it was back in the water with her teammates on the national team. She once again impressed Australia's new head coach, Sakis Kechagias, and was chosen to the 15-member squad to go to Budapest. After playing a few games in the Vodafone Cup in Hungary, Steere was chosen to the squad for the world championships.

Competing on the international stage is something Steere is used to. She won a gold medal in South Korea at the 2015 World University Games and in 2014 at the World League Intercontinental Cup in Riverside, California. She captained Australia at the 2014 Youth World Championships in Madrid, Spain.

The Aussie Stingers will be in Group D for the World Championships alongside Russia, Kazakhstan and Greece. Steere will try to help the team get off to a good start when they open on July 16 against Kazakhstan.

EU Nations Cup

Incoming freshman Kathy Rogers will represent her country as a member of the England Senior National Team. She will travel with her teammates to Pilsen, Czech Republic, for the EU Nations Cup this weekend.

England will play out of Group B with games against Switzerland and the host Czech Republic on Friday. On Saturday, England will take on Scotland and Portugal before heading into Sunday's medal games.

Rogers plays for the London Otter club and played in the British Championships at the end of May.

US Open of Water Polo

Michigan will be well represented at the USA Water Polo US Opens this weekend at the Legends Aquatic Center and Spieker Aquatics Center in Berkeley, California.

Ten returners from the University of Michigan will gather together to play in the tournament. Dr. Marcelo Leonardi will lead the squad that will feature goalkeepers Heidi Ritner and Cameron Cordial as well as field players Christina O'Beck, Caroline Anderson, Delaney Cleveland, Julia Sellers, Laura Jimenez, Rachel Sodokoff, Skyler Pyle and Arija Walsh.

U-M will start with games against club teams SB 805 and 680 WP on Friday. The Wolverines will take on the 2017 national champions Stanford and Sunset SD on Saturday. Results from the first two days will determine matchups for Sunday.

Incoming freshmen Maddy Johnston, Maddie O'Reilly and Brittany Prentice will also play in the tournament. Johnston will play with the USA Junior National Team. O'Reilly and Prentice will face off against their future teammates on opening day. O'Reilly plays for 680 WP and Prentice for SB 805. O'Reilly helped lead 680 WP to a win at the Club Championships earlier this summer.

Former Michigan goalkeeper and two-time Olympic medalist Betsey Armstrong will also play for the New York Athletic Club.

• World Championships: Schedule | Results
• England Water Polo
• US Opens: Tournament Central | Schedule | Live Stats