June 15, 2012
Official List of 2012 Sun Devil Olympians (as of June 15, 2012)
Desiree Davila (marathon/USA)
Kelsey Campbell (wrestling/USA)
Alison Williamson (archery/Great Britain)
Amy LePeilbet (soccer/USA)
Riley McCormick (diving/Canada)
Micky Benedetti (diving/Italy)
Rowie Webster (water polo/Australia)
TEMPE - Former Arizona State University water polo standout Rowie Webster has been named to the Australian Senior National Team that will compete at the 2012 Summer Olympic Games in London, as announced by Australian Water Polo Inc. earlier this week.
The Australian Women's National Team - or "Stingers" as they are know Down Under - is entering just its fourth Olympics after its debut at the Sydney Games in 2000. In that time though, the squad has made its mark, taking gold in Sydney and bronze in Beijing in 2008. They will be expected to be a medal favorite entering this year's Games as well.
Webster, a native of Melbourne, Victoria in Australia, will be making her Olympic debut with the team and has been a member of the Senior National Team for the past four years. In that time, Webster has been an admirable defender for the Stingers and helped the squad to silver medal performances at the FINA World League Finals and the FINA World Cup in 2010 and a first-place finish at the Pan Pacific Championships in Australia earlier this year.
Webster competed for only one year as a Sun Devil, but it was an impressive one. Webster scored 63 goals as a freshman in 2006 and added 19 assists to that for 82 points on the year. Both were freshman records and both marks have not come close to being touched since her departure. Her 63 goals rank fourth all-time in single-season goals scored for the Sun Devils and was selected as a third-team All-American by the American Water Polo Coaches Association. She was named the MPSF All-Freshmen Team, the All-MPSF Second Team and the MPSF All-Tournament team while ranking sixth in the nation in goals scored.
Webster chose to pursue her professional career in the sport following her freshman season, playing a season for a professional team in Greece before returning to Australia to focus on making the Senior National Team. Webster has developed a reputation as one of the game's elite defenders during her time with the Stingers and she will be a vital part of the team's medal chances. Webster has since gone on to earn a Bachelor of Physical Education in Secondary Teaching from Deakin University.
The Olympic women's water polo competition is set to begin July 30 at the Water Polo Arena in London. The Australians will begin with group play and have drawn Italy, Great Britain and Russia in Group B.
Webster's addition to the Olympic roster brings the total number of current or former Sun Devils represented at this year's Summer Games to seven. Several positions on numerous Olympic team are still up for grabs in the coming weeks. Be sure to stay tuned to www.TheSunDevils.com for continued coverage of current and former Sun Devils and their paths to the 2012 Olympic Games in London.
Official List of 2012 Sun Devil Olympians
Desiree Davila (marathon/USA)
Kelsey Campbell (wrestling/USA)
Alison Williamson (archery/Great Britain)
Amy LePeilbet (soccer/USA)
Riley McCormick (diving/Canada)
Micky Benedetti (diving/Italy)
Rowie Webster (water polo/Australia)