BRIDGEPORT, Pa. — Former University of Michigan standout and Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) Hall of Fame member Betsey Armstrong was among a seven-member group inducted into the USA Water Polo Hall of Fame on Friday, June 7, DoubleTree Hilton Pleasanton in Pleasanton, Calif.
Olympic Gold and Silver medalists Armstrong, Jessica Steffens, and Lauren Wenger joined Olympic Silver medalists Ryan Bailey, Jeff Powers, and Adam Wright as the athletes inducted this year. The six athletes were joined by six-time NCAA championship-winning head coach John Tanner of Stanford University.
A 2018 inductee into the University of Michigan Hall of Honor – becoming the inaugural water polo student-athlete to garner the laurel – Armstrong finished her tenure at Michigan as one of the most decorated players in the program’s 18-year history.
She earned four All-America honors from 2002-05, including second team honors that led to her becoming a finalist for the Peter J. Cutino Award as the nation’s top water polo player in 2004.
A 2008 inductee into the Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) Hall of Fame, she was named to the All-CWPA first team all four years and earned two CWPA MVP honors.
She holds U-M career records for saves (1,267), save percentage (.654) and wins (85). She also owns the top three season saves totals with the record 350 in 2004, as well as single-season records for save percentage (.734) and goals-against average (4.45), also set in 2004.
Armstrong led Michigan to four CWPA division titles and two NCAA appearances prior to graduating in 2005 with an English language and literature degree.
She was a member of the U.S. women’s national team from 2006-12 and competed in two Olympic Games, earning a gold medal in London in 2012 and a silver medal in Beijing in 2008.
In addition, she competed in men’s collegiate club water polo with Arizona State University during the 2008 season helping the Sun Devils to the Men’s National Collegiate Club Championship tournament.
