BRIDGEPORT, Pa. — Incoming University of Michigan recruit Maddy Johnston (Menlo Park, Calif./Sacred Heard Preparatory) was named an alternate on the United States Women’s Junior National Team roster for the 2017 FINA Junior World Championship in Volos, Greece on September 3-9. In addition, former Michigan goalie/assistant coach/Arizona State University collegiate club goalie/Olympic Gold Medalist/Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) Hall of Fame member Betsey Armstrong will serve as an assistant coach for Team USA at the event.
The United States is in Group D for the tournament alongside Croatia, New Zealand and Spain. Team USA opens play against on Croatia on September 3 at a time to be announced.
The Most Valuable Player at the US Club Championship in the 18-and-under division for leading 680 Water Polo to the tournament title alongside future Wolverines’ teammate
Maddie O’Reilly (Villanova, Pa./The Episcopal Academy), Johnston was a member of the USA Youth National Team in both 2015 and 2016. She won a gold medal at the 2015 Youth Pan American Games in Jamaica and was a member of the USA Cadet National Team in 2013 and 2014. Further, she garnered Junior Olympics second team honors in 2016 after leading her team to a third place finish and was part of the 18U Junior Olympics champions in 2015.
Led by head coach Coralie Simmons, the United States Junior World Championship roster has another Michigan connection as Armstrong will serve as an assistant coach.
An eight-year veteran of the U.S. Women’s National Team, Armstrong backstopped Team USA to Olympic gold at the London Games as she was in the cage for every s
econd of Team USA’s six Olympic victories, earning 53 saves and a .525 save percentage for the tournament. She grew stronger in subsequent rounds, stopping 31-of-51 shots (.608) in the final-round games, including 8-of-13 against Spain in the gold-medal match.
The gold medal was the first for the United States in Olympic competition. The U.S. has medaled at every Olympic Games since women’s water polo was added in 2000, earning two gold, two silvers and one bronze. Armstrong previously earned silver as goalkeeper for the U.S. team at the 2008 Beijing Games.
A member of the USA National Team from 2006-to-2014, Armstrong has also contributed to gold-medal performances at the Pan American Games (2007, ’11), FINA World League Super Final (2010, ’11, ‘ 12), 2009 FINA World Championships and 2010 FINA World Cup. She was twice named the Top Goalkeeper at the FINA World League Super Final (2008, ’10) and earned Most Outstanding Goalkeeper accolades at the 2007 World Championships.
Regarded among the top goalkeepers in the world, Armstrong was named Female Water Polo Player of the Year by Swimming World Magazine (2009) and FINA Aquatics World Magazine (2010).
As a Wolverines’ student-athlete (2002-05), Armstrong was a four-time All-America selection in net, earning second team honors as a junior and third team accola
des as a senior after claiming All-America honorable mention her first two seasons in Ann Arbor. A 2008 Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) Hall of Fame inductee, Armstrong was a finalist for the Cutino Award as the nation’s top player during the 2004 season. She established program records in blocks (1,267), minutes (3,329), goals-against average (5.64) and save percentage (.654).
A 2005 graduate of the University of Michigan with a bachelor’s degree in English language and literature, she also competed in the men’s collegiate club ranks with Arizona State University in 2008.
She returned to her alma mater to serve as an assistant coach for a Wolverines’ team which finished second at the 2012 CWPA Championship. It marked her second assistant coaching position as she previously served as an assistant coach at Arizona State University during the 2008-09 academic year.
2017 FINA Women’s Junior World Championship Roster (Hometown/School/USAWP Club)
GK – Amanda Longan (Moorpark, Calif./Universtiy of Southern California)
GK – Carlee Kapana (Newport Beach, Calif./University of California-Los Angeles)
A – Paige Hauschild (Santa Barbara, Calif./San Marcos High School)
C – Ava Johnson (Walnut Creek, Calif./Las Lomas High School)
C – Abbi Hill (Santa Barbara, Calif./Dos Pueblos High School)
D – Bayley Weber (Los Alamitos, Calif./Los Alamitos High School)
D – Rachel Whitelegge (Newport Beach, Calif./University of California-Los Angeles)
U – Ryann Neushul (Goleta, Calif./Dos Pueblos High School)
A – Sarah Klass (Danville, Calif./San Ramon Valley High School)
A – Lexi Liebowitz (Danville, Calif./San Ramon Valley High School)
U -Denise Mammolito (Rancho Cucamongo, Calif./University of Southern California)
A -Chloe Harbilas (Newport Beach, Calif./Newport High School)
A -Val Ayala (Santa Ana, Calif./Foothill High School)
Alternates:
Maddie Johnston (Menlo Park, Calif./Sacred Heart Prep)
Maddie Tagg (Orinda, Calif./University of California)
Jewel Roemer (Santa Barbara, Calif./Dos Pueblos High School)
Head Coach: Coralie Simmons
Assistant Coaches: Natalie Benson and Betsey Armstrong
Team Manager: Jen Gudmundsson
2017 FINA Women’s Junior World Championship Schedule (subject to change)
September 3 vs Croatia – TBD
September 4 vs New Zealand – TBD
September 5 vs Spain – TBD
September 6 vs TBD (Prelims)
September 7 vs TBD (Quarterfinals)
September 8 vs TBD (Semifinals)
September 9 vs TBD (Finals)
