BRIDGEPORT, Pa. — The Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) looks back at the outstanding athletes, referees and coaches who have made Hall of Fame caliber marks on the league.
Indiana University alumnus, former Harvard University assistant coach and CWPA collegiate club official Dr. Kristin Stanford became the 21st inductee to the Hall of Fame upon her induction in the Spring of 2012.
The first honoree from either Indiana or Harvard selected for induction, she became only the second official selected for induction joining Paul Barren.
A three-time Association of Collegiate Water Polo Coaches (ACWPC) All-America selection at Indiana by garnering honorable mention (2001), third team (2002) and second team (2003) accolades, she received the Big Ten Conference Medal of Honor in 2003 and was named to the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) All-Tournament Second Team the same season after leading the Hoosiers to the CWPA Eastern Championship.
The all-time leading goal scorer in the history of the Hoosiers’ program with 246 markers and 94 assists for 340 points in 135 games to average 1.82 goals, 0.69 assists and 2.51 points per game, she dominated league play during her tenure with Indiana earning All-CWPA First Team honors in her last three seasons of competition.
She began her collegiate career in 2000 earning All-Midwest Region Second Team accolades and All-Big Ten Tournament Honorable Mention notice for a season in which she posted 51 goals, 20 assists and 37 steals in 31 games in helping the Hoosiers to a 20-11 record, 13-2 in Big Ten Division play.
Her sophomore season saw her notch 57 goals, 24 assists and 31 steals in 31 games in helping Indiana to an 18-12 mark with a 6-2 record in CWPA Southern Division play. Stanford added to her legacy with All-Southern Division and All-Eastern Championship First Team laurels prior to garnering ACWPC All-America Third Team honors to become the first All-America selection in the history of the Hoosiers.
She repeated her All-Southern Division and Eastern Championship First Team honors in a 21-14, 7-1 CWPA Southern Division, 2002 campaign as she posted 66 goals, 30 assists and 51 steals over 36 games to finish as an ACWPC All-America Third Team.
Her best season came in 2003 as she led the Hoosiers to a 26-11 record, including a 7-1 mark in CWPA Southern Division action, while notching a single season record 73 goals, 20 assists and 55 steals in 37 games to repeat as an All-Southern Division and All-Eastern Championship First Team pick. Her performance helped Indiana claim the program’s first CWPA Eastern Championship and advance to the NCAA Championship Final Four in La Jolla, Calif. Following the season, she earned an ACWPC All-America Second Team nod to rate as the only player outside of the state of California represented on the first, second or third teams.
A three-time ACWPC and CWPA Scholar-Athlete (2001-03) earning Superior (3.41-3.7) honors in 2001 and 2002 with Excellent (3.2-3.4) notice in 2003, the Cincinnati, Ohio native’s performance out of the water is equaled by only her scholastic success as she completed her Ph.D. in biomedical science from the University of California-San Diego in 2009. She earned a Master of Science in Exercise Physiology in 2004 and completed her Bachelor of Science in Exercise Physiology in 2002 at Indiana.
A former volunteer assistant coach at Harvard while serving a Postdoctoral Fellowship in the Joslin Diabetes Center at Harvard Medical School, Stanford is currently a member of the faculty at The Ohio State University College of Medicine in Columbus, Ohio, with specialty in Physiology and Cell Biology.
Stanford and former Indiana University/current George Washington University head coach Barry King
Kristin Stanford with 2012 Harvard University Women’s Water Polo Team
