Men's Team
- Brian Alexander, Defender
- Tony Azevedo, Attacker
- Ryan Bailey, Center
- Layne Beaubien, Defender
- Juan Delgadillo, Attacker
- Thomas Hopkins, Attacker
- Tim Hutten, Defender
- Justin Johnson, Center
- Genai Kerr, Goalkeeper
- JW Krumpholz, Center
- John Mann, Center
- Merrill Moses, Goalkeeper
- Jeff Powers, Utility
- Jesse Smith, Utility
- Jeff Tyrrell, Defender
- Peter Varellas, Attacker
- Adam Wright, Attacker
- Terry Schroeder, Head Coach
- Robert Lynn, Asst. Coach
- Ryan Brown, Asst. Coach
- Rick McKee, Team Leader
- Betsey Armstrong, Goalkeeper
- Kami Craig, Center
- Annika Dries, Center
- Emily Feher, Goalkeeper
- Erika Figge, Attacker
- Alison Gregorka, Defender
- Tanya Gandy, Attacker
- Brittany Hayes, Attacker
- Jaime Komer, Goalkeeper
- Jillian Kraus, Utility
- Courtney Mathewson, Attacker
- Heather Petri, Attacker
- Kelly Rulon, Attacker
- Lauren Silver, Attacker
- Michelle Stein, Attacker
- Jessica Steffens, Utility
- Moriah van Norman, Center
- Brenda Villa, Attacker
- Lauren Wenger, Utility
- Elsie Windes, Defender
- Adam Krkorian, Head Coach
- Brandon Brooks, Asst. Coach
- Coralie Simmons, Asst. Coach
- Aaron Chaney, Asst. Coach
- Serela Kay, Team Leader
Water Polo World Championships: 19 July - 1 August
- Schedule: Water Polo 2009 World Championships
- Team Roster: USA Water Polo 2009 World Championships
- Men's Results: Water Polo 2009 World Championships
- Women's Results: Water Polo 2009 World Championships
- About Swimming: Water Polo World Championships Central
- Results from Omega Timing
- Swimming World Championships Central
- 2009 Swimming World Championships On-line Video and TV Schedule
"A Return to the Podium" became Terry Schroeder's mantra shortly after he took the reigns as head coach of the Men's Senior National Team in the summer of 2007. At the time - with his team saddled in a ninth-place world ranking - few beyond the team itself believed such a proclamation was possible. But all Schroeder did from that point on was guide the men through an amazing 2008 run that saw improvement at every turn.
Heads were officially turned with an exhibition victory over then top-ranked Croatia on May 31. More eyes opened with a first-ever trip to the medal round of the World League Super as the squad claimed the Silver. Their run came to completion on a podium in Beijing as Team USA was awarded Silver Medals following a hard-fought loss in a Gold Medal match with the Hungarians. It was the men's first Olympic medal of any color in 20 years.
But Schroeder and Co. enter 2009 intent on making sure that another 20 years don't go by before another medal is won. The team and coaching staff returns largely intact. Schroeder, tactical assistant Robert Lynn, goalkeeping expert Ryan Brown, and team leader Rick McKee are all back. (Courtesy of USA Water Polo)
Women's Team Outlook:
Nearing a year after yet another Olympics and a third medal, an unprecedented feat, the USA Women's Senior National Team entered 2009 in the midst of their first great change in more than a decade. For the first time since 1998, Guy Baker is not at the helm of the ship that earned the status of the most successful women's program in the new millennium. Turning in his whistle to lead USA Water Polo's Olympic Development Program, Baker was replaced by Adam Krikorian in March 2009.
Gone as well are assistant coaches and stalwarts of the Baker regime, a trio of Olympians in Kyle Kopp, Heather Moody, and Bernice Orwig, replaced by 2004 and 2008 Olympian Brandon Brooks, 2000 Olympian Coralie Simmons, and longtime referee and Corona del Mar High School Coach Aaron Chaney. Former UCLA standout Serela Kay joins the group as Team Leader. But among the players, 2009 marks the third year together for what's become a core group of talent to don the red, white, and blue. Following a disappointing 4th-place finish at the 2006 FINA World Cup, the team came back in 2007 and set the course for what proved to be the best year in the history of USA Women's Water Polo. The team won an unprecedented three titles and went undefeated throughout the entire year. Title #1 came at the FINA World Championships in Melbourne, Australia, in March.
The second title came at the World League Super Final in Montreal in early July, followed quickly by the third title at the Pan American Games later that month in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, qualifying the squad for the 2008 Olympic Games. The team record following the end of the 2006 FINA World Cup and through the 2007 Pan American Games was an astounding 35-0-1. (The last loss was to Russia in the bronze medal game at the 2006 FINA World Cup, with the tie coming against Australia in a Pre-World Championship tournament in Sydney.) An undefeated year is almost unheard of in international water polo-only five of the last 10 major championship teams in the Olympic Games, FINA World Championships, and FINA World Cups have gone undefeated during a major tournament. The FINA World Championship title was the second for Team USA (2003, 2007) tying them with Italy (1998, 2001) and Hungary (1994, 2005) for the most FINA World Championship titles.
The FINA final was USA's third consecutive final, and the Gold Medal placed USA at the top of the list for most medals won in the history of the Women's FINA World Championships (five). Next are Italy and the Netherlands with four, followed by Australia, Canada, and Hungary with three, and Russia with two. The FINA World League title was the USA's third in four years (2004, 2006, 2007), and the event proved excellent preparation for the 2007 Pan American Games.
In addition to a Silver Medal in Beijing, the U.S. women once again advanced to the medal round of the FINA World League Super Final, capturing Silver in 2008.
While the coaches have changed, the team itself returns a near mirror image of the squad that donned Silver in Beijing, only losing two-time Olympian Natalie Benson (formerly Natalie Golda). Team captain and international water polo superstar Brenda Villa returns to anchor the team that helped win the last World Championships in 2007. (Courtesy of USA Water Polo)
