Terp Recruits Earn Honors From USA Water Polo
6/2/2005 8:00:00 AM | Water Polo
June 2, 2005
COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Blaise Stanicic and Christen Vagts, two incoming water polo recruits, were honored by USA Water Polo over Memorial Day weekend. In several locations throughout the country, the best young water polo players competed for spots on U.S. National teams in their respective age groups. Stanicic was named to the Women's Junior National Team while Vagts was named one of the top five defenders in the country.
"I am very pleased for Blaise and Christen," Maryland head water polo coach Carl Salyer said. "They certainly have earned these honors through their hard work."
Stanicic joins a Women's Junior National Team that won the Junior World Championships in January 2005. Many of the athletes will be competing for spots on the next senior team. By being selected to the squad, Stanicic will begin training to prepare for top international events such as Junior Pan American Games and Junior World Championships.
"Blaise has expanded her game from a top defender to one of the best overall players in the country at her age group," Salyer said. "Blaise is going to have a great experience competing and training with the national team as well as gaining valuable international experience that will translate directly to the Terrapin water polo program in terms of her level of play, the competitiveness of the team and exposure of the Terrapin program nationally."
Vagts, meanwhile was given the distinction of being named one of the top five defenders in the country.
"Christen has dramatically improved her overall game, not only being one of the top defenders in the country, but by becoming an opportunistic goal scorer as well. Christen's experience will help bring the whole Maryland program to a higher competitive level," Salyer said.
