July 1, 2010
BERKELEY -
California's women's water polo program, fresh off a third-place national finish at the 2010 NCAA championship, had 13 student-athletes honored by the Association of Collegiate Water Polo Coaches for their academic achievements. A leading academic and athletic standout for the Golden Bears was sophomore goalie Stephanie Peckham, who is majoring in sociology and was placed in the Outstanding Class with a GPA between 3.71 and 4.00.
Cal had five athletes (junior Laura Wood, freshman Kirstin Mase, freshman Breda Vosters, senior Julie Oreglia, sophomore Emily Csikos) who were members of the Superior Class with GPA's between 3.41 and 3.70). In addition, seven Bears (senior Erin Scully, freshman Taylor Dodson, senior Stephanie Schnugg, senior Camille Hewko, senior Elizabeth Layton, freshman Jennifer Docto, sophomore Elizabeth McLaren) qualified for the Excellent Class with GPA's between 3.20 and 3.40.
In early May, senior captain Hewko and sophomore standout Csikos were named first-team All-Mountain Pacific Sports Federation, while Peckham and Schnugg were selected honorable mention all-conference. Peckham, from Coto de Caza and Santa Margarita High School, was stellar guarding the Bears' goal this year, tallying 311 saves in 35 matches. She has already recorded 616 saves in two years, third on the school's all-time career save list.
Hewko, who was named both NCAA All-Tournament and MPSF All-Tournament as well, concluded her Cal career with 112 goals. Csikos was the Bears' leading scorer this season with 69 goals and already has 134 goals in two seasons. Schnugg was second on the team with 41 goals this season and ended her career with 92 goals.
In arguably the best year in Cal women's water polo history, the Bears, directed by 1996 USA men's Olympic water polo coach Richard Corso, placed third in the nation after defeating Michigan, 12-8; falling to top-seed Stanford, 6-3; and defeating Loyola Marymount, 11-7, at the NCAA Tournament in San Diego. Cal concluded the 2010 campaign 26-9.
"This is what Cal water polo is all about - world-class performance," said Corso. "It is about success in the pool, but more importantly, it is about success in the classroom. Also impressive was that the all-academic list from the ACWPC did not include the accomplishments of senior Remy Champion, who earned a 4.0 GPA this spring in the graduate school of education."
