NEW YORK, N.Y. — Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) Hall of Fame member and Olympic Gold Medalist Betsey Armstrong shared her journey in discovering her own vision & goals, while going through some tough road blocks along the way, in a video produced by RISE Athletes.
About Betsey Armstrong: A 2008 inductee to the CWPA Hall of Fame, Armstrong spent four seasons tending the cage for the University of Michigan Wolverines, leading the team to four divisional titles and two NCAA tournament appearances, including a sixth-place finish at the 2005 NCAA Championship. She wrapped up her U-M career as the program leader in blocks (1,267), minutes (3,329), goals against average (5.64) and save percentage (.654). She also holds the top four Michigan single-season blocks totals and three of the top five spots on the single-season save percentage and GAA lists.
During her career with the Maize and Blue, Armstrong racked up a pair of divisional Most Valuable Player accolades (2003-04) and four CWPA All-Division First Team honors (2002-05). Armstrong excelled at the Eastern Championship, earning two MVP honors (2003, ’05) as part of three All-Eastern Championship first team nominations (2002, 2004-05). On the national level, she earned All-America recognition in each season, making the second team in 2004, third team in 2005 and honorable mention in her first two campaigns at Michigan.
“To be able to do it was just wonderful because you want the best for your players and you want them to follow their dream and that’s what Betsey (Armstrong) has done. It was a very very special moment, ” noted University of Michigan Head Coach Matt Anderson, who presented Armstrong for induction into the Hall of Fame.
In May 2006, she earned a spot on the USA National Team following an open tryout. In just under two years with the squad, Armstrong has led Team USA to a gold medal at the XV Pan American Games — securing the country’s spot at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China — and gold medal victories in both the FINA World League and FINA World Championships. At the World Championships, Armstrong was recognized as the tournament’s Most Outstanding Goalkeeper.
At the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, she guided Team U.S.A. to the gold medal game against the Netherlands as the team captured the silver medal.
In October 2008, she joined the Arizona State University women’s water polo varsity coaching staff and competing during the men’s collegiate club season for the Sun Devils. More recently, she served as an assistant coach at Michigan and is married to Marist College head coach Chris Vidale.
A product of Ann Arbor Huron High School, Armstrong was the Michigan water polo program’s first in-state recruit.
