Sue Kolczak (Bow) began her collegiate water polo career as a sophomore on Slippery Rock University’s women’s water polo team and played for three years as an undergraduate and one additional year as a graduate student. She enjoyed immediate success, earning All-America honors four times in her career, three times at Indoor Nationals and once at Outdoor Nationals.

However, Kolczak’s athletic endeavors at Slippery Rock were not limited to water polo, she played junior varsity basketball her freshman year and was a member of the swim team for three years. She also served as an assistant coach for the Slippery Rock men’s water polo team during her final year as a player.

Along with CWPA Hall of Fame member Lynn Kachmarik (Comer), Kolczak became one of the first two women from the East to earn a roster spot on the United States Women’s National Team. That team went on to achieve unprecedented success, becoming the first United States National Team to win the FINA World Cup competition. For her part in the success, Kolzcak received All-World honors.

She graduated cum laude in 1977 after her undergraduate studies and went on to earn her masters degree from Slippery Rock in 1982.

Sue Kolczak still lives an athletic lifestyle: she plays in two golf leagues, enjoys running and weight training and served a physical education teacher at Willowcreek Middle School in Portage, Indiana. She and her husband live in Valparaiso, Indiana.

Kolczak was the fourth individual inducted into the CWPA Hall of Fame with ties to Slippery Rock University, joining Richard Hunkler (2002), Lynn Kachmarik (2003) and John Barrett (2004).