USA Water Polo Announces U.S. Olympic Teams

LOS ANGELES, California, June 30. USA Water Polo is proud to announce the U.S. Olympic Teams for Men's and Women's Water Polo that will compete at the upcoming Summer Olympic Games in Beijing, China starting August 8. The squads each qualified for the Olympics via Gold Medal victories at the 2007 Pan American Games and both are fresh off Silver Medal finishes at the 2008 FINA World League Super Final.

Leading the way for the women's team, the current FINA World Champions is captain Brenda Villa (Commerce, CA/Stanford) who is headed to her third Olympic Games. Joining her is another three-time Olympian in Heather Petri (Orinda, CA/Berkeley) and two-timer Natalie Golda (Fullerton, CA/UCLA). The rest of the squad is made up of 10 first time Olympians who despite the fact are rich with experience having all spent at least the last two years with the national team.

Moriah van Norman (San Diego, CA/USC), Lauren Wenger (Long Beach, CA), Patty Cardenas (Commerce, CA/USC), Brittany Hayes (Santa Ana, CA/USC), and Kami Craig (Santa Barbara, CA/USC) round out the Southern California contingent, as the five former college teammates will suit up for Team USA. Joining them are two of Michigan's finest in Alison Gregorka (Ann Arbor, MI/Stanford) and Bestey Armstrong (Ann Arbor, MI/Michigan) along with the other non-Californian in Elsie Windes (Portland, OR/Berkeley). Last but not least are a pair from Central and Northern California in Jaime Hipp (Fresno, CA/UCLA) and Jessica Steffens (Danville, CA/Stanford).

On the men's side two athletes also return for their Olympic Games in the form of team captain Tony Azevedo (Long Beach, CA/Stanford) and veteran center Ryan Bailey (Long Beach, CA/UC-Irvine). Joining those two are five returning Olympians including Layne Beaubien (Coronado, CA/Stanford), Adam Wright (Seal Beach, CA/UCLA), Jeff Powers (San Luis Obispo, CA/UC-Irvine), Jesse Smith (Coronado, CA/Pepperdine), and Brandon Brooks (Honolulu, HI/UCLA). Concluding the roster are six first timers including Rick Merlo (Fresno, CA/UC-Irvine), Merrill Moses (Palos Verdes, CA/Pepperdine), Peter Hudnut (Encino, CA/Stanford), Tim Hutten (Seal Beach, CA/UC-Irvine), Peter Varellas (Moraga, CA/Stanford), and JW Krumpholz (Santa Ana, CA/USC).

Alternates for the men's team are Brian Alexander (Cambria, CA/UCSB) and John Mann (Newport Beach, CA/Berkeley) while Erika Figge (Rancho Santa Margarita, CA/USC) will serve as the alternate for the women. The men's team begins competition August 10 against China while the women start August 11 also against China. To follow the team in Beijing and for more information visit www.usawaterpolo.org

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