Women's Olympic Team Goalie Betsey Armstrong Named To Arizona State Staff
10/15/2008 12:00:00 AM
TEMPE,
Ariz. – October 14 - Todd Clapper, the head coach of the
Arizona State University water polo program, has announced the addition of both
Betsey Armstrong and Mark Lawrence to the Sun Devil coaching staff for the 2009
season. Armstrong, who led the United States women’s national team to a silver
medal at the Beijing Olympics over the summer, will serve as the team’s Director
of Water Polo Operations while Lawrence, a three-year player in the Australian
National League, will serve as a volunteer assistant
coach.
“I am excited
to be able to add two very talented players to our coaching staff as we continue
to work toward the goal of establishing Arizona State as one of the top teams in
the nation,” Clapper said. “Both Betsey and Mark bring a lot of knowledge, skill
and enthusiasm to the program and I am confident their abilities will help this
program continue to improve and climb both the MPSF and NCAA rankings in the
years to come.”
Armstrong’s
duties as Director of Water Polo Operations will consist of running the
day-to-day operations of the program, including meetings, travel and practice
set up.
Lawrence will also assist with practices and other training sessions throughout
the year.
A volunteer
coach for the Sun Devils in 2006 before earning a place on the U.S. National
Team roster, Armstrong returns to Tempe this year after helping U.S. Women’s
National Team to the Silver Medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. In the Summer
Games, Armstrong led the Americans to a 2-0-1 record in the preliminary rounds
as she halted 27 shots, including 10 each in a 9-9 tie with Italy and 12-7
defeat of Russia. She then stopped eight shots in USA’s 9-8 defeat of Australia
in the semifinals. In the gold medal game, she halted 14 shots, but the
Americans were edged, 9-8, by the Netherlands.
In her three
years with the American side, Armstrong has played a pivotal role in keeping her
team at or near the top of the world rankings and world tournament standings. In
the past three FINA World League Super Finals, Armstrong was named the MVP
Goalkeeper in 2008 while helping the Americans to a silver medal after leading
the team to gold medals in both 2006 and 2007. She also was selected as the MVP
Goalkeeper at the 2007 FINA World Championships as she led the Americans to the
gold medal before the U.S. won gold at the Pan-Am Games. Following her World
Championship effort, she also was named the March 2007 runner-up for the U.S.
Olympic Committee’s Female Athlete of the Month
award.
Prior to her
senior team international play, Armstrong was a four-year starter in the cage
for the University of Michigan and earned All-America recognition all four years
she played (2002, 2003, 2004 and 2005). A 2005 Big Ten Scholar Athlete and
two-time Michigan Academic Achievement Award recipient (2002, 2005), Armstrong
also was one of three finalists for the 2004 Pete Cutino Player of the Year
Award, which is annually given to the top female collegiate water polo player in
the nation. She graduated from UM in April of 2005 with her B.A. in English.
Prior to her collegiate days, she was a two-year member of the U.S. Junior
National Team (2000-01) and was the starting goalie at the 2000 Junior Pan-Am
Games.
Armstrong has
been and continues to remain active in the water polo community, both in and out
of the pool. She is currently a ‘Right to Play’ Ambassador as well as a PACE
Clinic Coach for USA Water Polo (since 2006). A member of three USA Top 40
Festivals (2004, 2006, 2007) that brings together the top talent in the nation,
Armstrong spent three years serving as a volunteer at the Motts Children’s
Hospital.
Women's National Team