Happy Holidays!!

The women's team would like to wish you all Happy Holidays and a Happy New Year!
We are looking forward to 2012, and all the good things to come next year!!

Thank you for all your love and support in 2011!!

December athlete of the month: Monika Eggens

Monika Eggens

Birth date: December 25th 1990

Position: Utility 

Height: 6’2 Handedness: Right

Hometown: Pitt Meadows B.C. 

Education: University of Hawaii, 2nd year

Years on the National Team: 2

Check her out on YouTube

Monika started with competitive swimming and then made the switch to Water polo after her mom introduced both her sister and her to it. That was at age six and she has been playing ever since.

Monika represented Canada for the first time at the 2007 Junior World Championships and made her senior debut alongside her sister at the 2009 World League Super Final. Also in the summer of 2009, Monika competed at the FISU Games, a first for women's water polo.

Monika has just completed her second year of NCAA Water Polo playing for the Universtiy of Hawaii.  She dreams to one day play for Canada at the Olympics.

Her hobbies include all sports as she enjoys being active. For her education she has completed her second year at the University of Hawaii, and is hoping to graduate with a degree in Kinesiology and or Education.

Career Highlights:

DOMESTIC:

2004 – Cadet National Championship – 1st

2005 – Cadet National Championship – 1st

2007 – Youth National Championship – 1st

2008 – Youth National Championship – 1st

NATIONAL TEAM:

Youth National team 2006/2007

Junior Worlds 2007 – 10th

Senior development team 2008

FINA World League Super Final 2009 – 2nd

FISU Games 2009

World Championships 2011 - 8th

Pan-American Games 2011 - 2nd

November Athlete of the Month: Rosanna Tomiuk

Rosanna Tomiuk

Birth date: October 1st, 1984 

Position: Driver 

Height: 5’9” 

Handedness: Right

Canadian Club: Dollard Water Polo Club

Hometown: Beaconsfield, QC

Education: Undergraduate Degree from Loyola Marymount University

Years on the National Team: 5

Check out her video on YouTube

Rosanna started playing water polo over 10 years ago. She began just for fun at Windermere Pool in the summer and started playing at the club level in Dollard, Quebec at age 13. She made the Quebec team at age 15 and made the Junior National Team at 17. Rosanna eventually became a part of the Senior National team at age 20.

Rosanna started her international water polo career on the right foot with a gold medal at the 2003 Junior World Championships in Calgary, Alberta. As one of the five players selected for the shoot out in the gold medal game versus the USA, Rosanna has showed her ability to perform under pressure. That goal is definitely one of the highlights of her career.

There have been many highlights since then, but the one in most recent memory is the silver medal at the World Championships in Rome in 2009.

When she isn't training, Rosanna enjoys singing, playing her guitar, reading, writing, watching good movies, going on adventures with great friends, and thinking of ways that she can change the world.

Rosanna obtained her Bachelors of Science in Biology with a minor in Music at Loyola Marymount University, and has started a Master of Liberal Studies at the University of Southern California.

DOMESTIC:

Several National Championship titles as a member of the Dollard Water Polo Club.

2001 Junior National Championships – 1st

2002 Youth National Championships – 1st

2002 Junior National Championships – 1st

2004 Senior National Championship – 1st

2007 Senior National Championship – 1st

NATIONAL TEAM:

2nd Junior Pan Ams - 2002

1st Junior World Championships - 2003

1st at Commonwealth Games in 2006

2nd at Pan American Games in 2007

4th at Olympic Qualifications in 2008

4th at World League in 2008

2nd World League Super Final in 2009

2nd FINA World Aquatic Championships in 2009

September Athlete of the Month: Whitney Genoway

Whitney Genoway

Birth date: 13/03/1986

Position: Driver

Height: 5’7’’

Handedness: Right

Canadian Club: Regina

Hometown: Regina, Saskatchewan

Current Residence: Montreal, Quebec

Current Club: CAMO

Education: Current student in Materials Engineering at McGill University.

Years on the National Team: 5

Check her out on YouTube

Whitney started playing water polo at 11 years old, after speed swimming for 6 years. Her older sister Leslie played at the same pool as she swam. She became more and more curious about how much fun it would be to be swimming with a ball instead of just in between two lane ropes.

Coming up through the Regina Club system, Whitney played for Canada at the 2005 Junior World Championships and debuted with the senior team at the 2006 Commonwealth Games. Most recently, Whitney helped her team to a silver medal at the 2009 FINA World Aquatic Championships.

Her future goals include playing in the 2012 Olympics in London, and graduating from McGill in Materials Engineering

Career Highlights:

DOMESTIC

Silver Medal in 2007 Sr National Championships

Gold Medal in 2006 Sr National Championships

Silver Medal in 2006 Jr National Championships

Gold Medal in 2005 Jr National Championships

NATIONAL TEAM

Alternate for the 2003 Jr National Championship Gold Medalists.

2004 Junior Pan Am Championships – 2nd

2005 Junior World Championships – 6th

2005 World League Super Final – 6th

2006 Commonwealth Games – 2nd

2009 World League Super Finals – 2nd

2009 FINA World Aquatic Championships – 2nd

CTV Photo/Video Shoot

We did a really fun photo/video shoot for CTV yesterday, shooting stock footage for the London Olympic coverage. Thanks CTV!

We're back!

Hey everyone. We took a little break after World Championships to regroup and refocus. But now we're back! And we're training hard and kicking butt! Thank you all for your support over the summer - the best is yet to come!

June athlete of the month: Emily Csikos

Emily Csikos

Birth date: July 29,1988

Position: Utility, Driver

Height: 5’9”

Handedness: Right

Canadian Club: Calgary Renegades

Hometown: Calgary AB

Current Residence: Berkeley California

Current Club: Calgary Renegades, UC Berkeley University

Education: Attending University Years on the National Team: 3

Check out her video on YouTube!

Emily got her start with the Calgary Renegades and didn't waste much time making her first Youth National Team. Since then she was part of the Youth National Team for three years,

the Junior National Team for one year, and the Senior National Team for three years. During the summer of 2009, Emily helped Canada win silver at the FINA World Aquatic Championships. She now spends winters as a standout player for UC Berkley in the NCAA.  Emily’s main strength is her shot and is a threat from almost anywhere in the pool. She is also known for her vision and ability to set up her team mates.  She aspires to first qualify then win a medal at the London 2012 Olympic Games.  When not in the pool, Emily enjoys playing volleyball, basketball, reading, and cooking. She is currently enrolled at UC Berkeley University and will be choosing a major within the social sciences.

Career Highlights

DOMESTIC:

Silver medal cadet nationals - 2004

Bronze medal youth nationals

Selected to National Championship all-star team 2002 to 2006

NATIONAL TEAM:

2007 – FINA World Championship – 6th

2007 - Pan American Games – 2nd

2007 – Junior World Championships – 10th

2008 - Olympic Qualification Tournament – 5th

2008 – World League Super Final - 2nd

2009 – World League Super Final

2009 – FINA World Aquatic Championships - 2nd

Canada finishes 6th at the World League Superfinals

Canada finished in 6th place at the World League Super Finals in Tianjin, China when they fell 14-9 to Russia. Read about it here: Water Polo Canada

Water Polo Canada suspends Vancouver athlete following riot

https://www.waterpolo.ca/News1906.aspx

Canada wins against Greece!

Canada beats Greece 13-9 at the FINA World League Super Finals in Tianjin, China. They will now play for 5th place. Way to go girls!

Canada loses to the USA

Canada loses to the USA (8-6). They will now battle with Greece to get a spot in the 5th place game.
Read about it here: CBC Sports

Interview with Radio Canada

Check out this recent interview with Christine Robinson and Radio Canada:
YouTube

Canada loses third consecutive game at the Super Final

Canada loses their third game against Spain (10-9) at the World League Super Final in Tianjin, China. Canada will face the USA in the quarterfinals tomorrow.
Read more here:
Montreal Gazette

Canada Loses to Australia 10-8

Canada loses to Australia 10-8 in their second game at the FINA World League Super Finals in Tianjin, China. Read about the game in this report from The Gazette

The women's next game is against Spain.

Canada Loses it's first World League Super Final Game

Canada loses 9-8 in it's first game against Russia at the World League Super Final in Tianjin, China. Their next game will be against Australia.

New Staff!!

So we have had a couple of great new additions to our staff recently. I would like to introduce Shaunna Taylor, and Beth Mansfield. 


Elizabeth (Beth) Mansfield, MSc, RD
Registered Dietitian & Exercise Physiologist
www.peakperformance.ca


Shaunna Taylor, PhD (cand.), CCC, University of Ottawa
Athlete and Performance Counselling Services
Ottawa High Performance Center
www.ohpc.ca


They have taught us a lot in a very short period of time, and are helping us be the best female athletes we can be! We really appreciate all their help, and their wonderful contribution to our team. Thanks for joining our team Shaunna and Beth!!


This video on YouTube is a video put together by Shaunna. It features a number of amazingly talented female athletes (our team included) - and shows how beautiful it is to be a female athlete in Canada. 
Check it out here: Gold Guns Girls

Here is a second video where she used some of our workout footage:
Check it out here: Workout Women

Last but not least....here is a picture that Shaunna's daughter, Zoe drew for us a little while ago. I thought it was too adorable not to post...Thanks ZOE!!!

May Athlete of the Month: Joelle Bekhazi

Joelle Bekhazi

Birth date: April 27, 1987

Position: driver 

Height: 5’7’’ 

Handedness: Right handed

Canadian Club:

Dollard des Ormeaux (DDO)

Hometown: Pointe-Claire, Quebec

Education: currently enrolled at the University of Southern California (USC) in Biological Sciences.

Years on the National Team: 4

Watch her video on YouTube

Joelle began her Water Polo career at the outdoor pools in her community and participated in the summer league for a few years before joining DDO Water Polo in 2001. She’s been playing competitive water polo since the age of 13. Joelle made the Junior National Team at the age of 16 and represented Canada at two Junior World Championships. She’s been on the Senior National Team for 4 years. This past summer, Joelle played in her second FINA World Aquatic Championships helping her team come home with a silver medal.

In her spare time Joelle loves shopping and spending time with friends. Other sports she loves playing are volleyball, flag football and soccer. She is currently studying Biological Sciences at USC.

DOMESTIC

2007: 

-Senior Nationals, 1st

 -unior Nationals, 1st

2006: 

-Junior Nationals, 1st 

-Senior Nationals, 2nd

2005: 

-Youth Nationals, 1st 

-Junior Nationals, 2nd

 -Senior Nationals, 3rd 

2004: 

-Youth Nationals, 1st 

-Junior Nationals, 2nd

 - Senior Nationals, 1st 

INTERNATIONAL

2009: 

-World League Super Finals, 2nd

␣- FINA World Aquatic Championships - 2nd

2008:

 -World League Super Finals, 4th

2007: 

-World Championship - 6th 

-4 Nations Cup - 3rd

 -Pan American Games - 2nd 

-Junior World Championships - 10th

2006: 

-Commonwealth Games, 2nd

2005: 

-Junior World Championships - 6th 

-World League Super Finals, 6th

2004:

-Junior Pan American Games - 2nd

Loss to the US in shoot-out

Hey everyone!
We ended up tying the USA 8-8 in regulation time, and then lost 12-10 in a shootout. The scorers for canada were: Emily Csikos, Tara Campbell, Dominique Perreault (3), Anna Yelizarova (3) and Rosanna Tomiuk (2).
Check out our second game this afternoon at 4pm Western Time! The link is in the post below or on www.waterpolo.ca

Live Stream

Hey everyone!

We have our first game of the FINA World League Preliminaries tonight at 6pm Western time.
If you would like to watch the game you can stream it online here:
http://www.ustream.tv/usawp

Thanks for watching!

April Athlete of the Month: Katrina Monton

Katrina Monton

Birth date: September 23, 1987

Position: Hole Set

Height: 5’8

Handedness: Right

Hometown: Dorval, Quebec

Current Club: Dollard Water Polo Club

Education: Currently a student at the University of California Berkeley

Years on the National Team: 4


Check out her video on YouTube

Katie began playing at her local community pool in Dorval at the age of 9. When she was 13 she got recruited to play at the Dollard-Des-Ormeaux Club. She was then selected to the Quebec team at the age of 15, and shortly after began to play with the national team program. She played with the Youth team for one year, the Junior National team for 2 cycles and is now a prominent member of the Senior Women’s National Team.

Katie’s strengths include drawing kick outs, spinning in the hole and her swimming speed.  Her goal is to attend the 2012 Olympics in London and bring home a medal for Canada.

In her free time, Katie enjoys watching movies, hanging out with friends and being outdoors. She is currently attending school at the University of California Berkeley on an athletic scholarship.

DOMESTIC Highlights:

2004

Senior Tier II Club Nationals – Silver – all star team

Junior Club Nationals – Silver – all star team

Juvenile Club Nationals – Gold

2005

Canadian Youth Cup – QC team – Gold – all star team, MVP and top scorer

Tier II Club Nationals – Silver – all star team

Junior Club Nationals – Silver – all star team

Juvenile Club Nationals – Gold – all star team

2006

Junior Pan Ams – Jr – Silver

Senior Club Nationals – Silver – all star team

Junior Club Nationals – Gold – all star team, MVP

2007

Canadian National Junior Club Champoinships - 1st

2009

22 & Under Canadian Club Nationals – 1st – All Star Team

NATIONAL TEAM Highlights:

2004 Junior Pan Ams – 2nd

2005 Junior World Championships – 6th

2006 Junior Pan Ams – 2nd

2006 Commonwealth Games – 2nd

2007 Junior World Championships – 10th

2007 FINA World Championships – 6th

2008 World League Super Finals – 4th

2009 FINA World League Super Finals – 2nd

2009 FINA World Aquatic Championships – 2nd   

World Championships - Draw Results

The draw for World Championships is up! We are in a group with Australia, New Zealand, and Uzbekistan. We will be playing Australia first, which is familiar for us as we played them first last time (and look how well we did! It's a good omen...)

For more information on FINA World Championships 2011 please visit: www.shanghai-fina2011.com/en 

For the complete results of the draw please visit: https://www.waterpolo.ca/News1812.aspx

Working Out!

Check out how the Women's Team is getting physically ready for the months to come...
Big thanks to all of our trainers....Actiforme...and Interboxe...for kicking our butts! Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S2GdXk2jgSU

March Athlete of the Month: Tara Campbell

Tara Campbell

 

Birth date: July 21, 1983

Position: 2m Guard

Height: 6’0Weight:170lbs

Handedness: Right

Canadian Club: DDO

Hometown: Baie D’Urfe, Quebec

Current Residence: Montreal, Quebec

Education: Bachelors Degree - Business Administration, Finance

Years on the National Team: 5

Check her video out on: YouTube

A dominating center defence with a powerful shot, Tara first represented Canada at the 2001 World Junior Championships in Perth, Australia where the team finished eighth. Not satisfied with that result, Tara tried again two years later and this time she help Canada earn the gold medal at the 2003 Junior World Championships in Calgary, Alberta.

Tara made her debut with the senior team at the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester, England and has been a fixture in the lineup since the World Championship bronze medal performance in Montreal in 2005.

After winning the Junior Worlds, Tara decided to focus more on school and played for CSU Long Beach in California. She earned her degree in Business Administration with a major in Finance.

When not in the pool, Tara’s favorite pastime is shopping.

DOMESTIC:

2000 – Youth National Championship – 1st

2001 – Youth National Championship – 1st

2001 – Junior National Championship – 1st

2002 – Junior National Championship – 1st

2004 – Senior National Championship – 1st

2007 – Senior National Championship – 1st

MVP – 2002 Junior National Championships

NATIONAL TEAM:

2002 Commonwealth Games (Manchester, England) - 2nd

2003 Junior FINA World Aquatic Championships (Calgary, Alberta) -1st

2005 FINA World Aquatic Championships (Montreal, Quebec) - 3rd

2006 Commonwealth Games (Perth, Australia) - 2nd

2007 FINA World Aquatic Championships (Melbourne, Australia) - 6th

2009 FINA World League Super Finals (Kirishi, Russia) - 2nd

2009 FINA World Aquatic Championships (Rome, Italy) - 2nd 

Hawaii Camp

Hawaii was a blast! We got in some good/hard training and scrimmages, and were able to get a bit of sun! Here is a picture of us after our kayaking adventure! Thanks to the University of Hawaii for hosting us!

Eat Well, Train Well!

On Friday our team attended "Eat Well, Train Well!!" We learned how to make quick, easy, delicious and healthy meals to make sure we stay fit and healthy. Big thanks to Loblaws in Kirkland, and to Martin Patenaude who led the class.

Florida Training Camp!

We just got back from a week-long training camp in Pompano Beach, Florida. Our coaches and trainers kicked our butts! But we got some great weather and got in some great workouts! Check out the "Florida Camp 2011" album on facebook for a few shots of the trip!

February's Athlete of the Month: Krystina Alogbo

KRYSTINA ALOGBO

Position: Center Forward

Height: 165cm

Canadian Club: Camo

Hometown: Riviere Des Prairie, Quebec

Current Residence: Montreal, Quebec

Current Club: Camo

Education: Concordia University student

Years on the National Team: 6

Check out her video on YouTube 

Krystina burst onto the international water polo scene by scoring all three of Canada’s regulation goals and the shootout winner in the gold medal game versus the USA at the 2003 World Junior Championships in Calgary.  She finished in the top 10 in scoring with 16 goals and was named to the tournament all-star team. She once again made the all-star team two years later at her second world junior championships making her the only player to do this twice.

Krystina made the jump to the senior national team in 2005 as part of the bronze medal winning team at the FINA World Aquatic Championships and hasn’t looked back since.  Now the captain of the Women’s National Team, Krystina lead her team to back to back silver medal performances during the summer of 2009 at the World League Super Final and the FINA World Aquatic Championships earning MVP honours in the later.

When not in the pool, Krystina likes to hang out with loved ones and spends as much time as she can with friends and family. She is currently enrolled at Concorida University as an independent student.

NATIONAL TEAM

• Junior World Aquatic Championships 2003- 1st (All Star Team)

• Junior Pan-American Games 2004 – 2nd

• Junior World Aquatic Championships 2005 – 6th (All Star Team)

• FINA World Aquatic Championships 2005- 3rd

• FINA World League Super Final – 6th

• FINA World Aquatic Championships 2007- 6th

• Pan-American Games 2007 – 2nd

• FINA World League Super Final – 2nd

• FINA World Aquatic Championships 2009 – 2nd (MVP)

DOMESTIC

• 2003 Youth National Championship – 1st

• 2003 Junior National Championship – 1st

• 2004 Youth National Championship – 3rd

• 2004 Junior National Championship – 1st

• 2005 Junior National Championship – 1st

• 2005 Senior National Championship – 1st

• 2006 Senior National Championship – 1st

Radio-Canada Coverage

Radio-Canada interviews Patrick Oaten, Krystina Alogbo, and Christine Robinson about their Olympic journey.

http://www.radio-canada.ca/emissions/tellement_sport/2010-2011/Reportage.asp?idDoc=130891

They also show clips of the Women's Water Polo Team giving back to their community when they spend an afternoon with the young athletes of the St. Michel Water Polo Club in Montreal.

http://www.radio-canada.ca/emissions/tellement_sport/2010-2011/Reportage.asp?idDoc=130892

Thank you Radio-Canada for your coverage. And thanks to the St. Michel Water Polo Club for hosting us. They are a talented young group to watch out for in the future...

Training in California & Arizona!

We recently had training camps in California and Arizona. We were hosted by a number of teams that treated us very well. Including: Stanford, Arizona State University, San Jose State, and Berkeley. A big thanks goes out to all these teams for their hospitality.  Here is a picture of us with Arizona State University (the man jumping in front of the camera is assistant coach Andrew Robinson - he decided to join in on the fun that day). 

Here is a picture of us at the top of a small mountain after a short hike in Arizona:

Thanks again to all our hosts!!

Next trip......FLORIDA!!

Christine Robinson - January's Athlete of the Month!

Hey, so we know we are a day late with this one - we hope you will let it slide for this month! We had a busy 10 ten days doing a University tour. Stay tuned for an update on that. 

Meet Christine Robinson:

Birth date: May 17, 1984

Position: Center Forward/ Center Guard

Height: 6’0”

Current Residence: Lachine, Quebec

Current Club: Dollard Water Polo Club

Education: McGill University - Degree in Physiology

Years on the National Team: 8

Christine started playing water polo when she was 12.  And she did not wait long to make a name for herself in the Canadian Water Polo community. She made the junior national team in 1999 after only three years of water polo experience and has been playing internationally for Canada ever since. She captained the 2003 Junior National Team to Canada’s first Gold Medal performance at a World Championship since 1981. At the event she finished in the top ten in scoring with an impressive 16 goals and excelled in the center forward position for her team.  Christine made her debut with the senior team in the 2004 qualification tournament for the Olympic Games. Her play at that event secured her a spot on the roster for the 2004 Athens Olympics, fulfilling a lifelong dream.  Christine’s most recent accomplishment was a silver medal at the FINA World Aquatic Championships this past summer in Rome.  Her future goals include winning a gold medal at the FINA World Aquatic Championships this summer in Shanghai, China, and qualifying for the 2012 Olympic Games by winning the Pan-American Games this October, in Guadalajara, Mexico. 

DOMESTIC ACHIEVEMENTS:

2007: 1^st at Senior National Championships

2007: MVP at Senior Nationals

2008: MVP at CSL Championship

2010: 1^st at Senior National Championships

INTERNATIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS:

2003: Gold at FINA Junior World Aquatic Championships (Calgary, Alberta)

2004: 7^th at Olympic Games (Athens, Greece)

2005: Bronze at FINA World Aquatic Championships (Montreal, Quebec)

2007: Silver at Pan-American Games (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil)

2007: 6^th at FINA World Aquatic Championships (Melbourne, Australia)

2009: Silver at the World League Super Finals (Kirishi, Russia)

2009 - Silver at the FINA World Aquatic Championships (Rome, Italy)


Check out some clips of her here on YouTube!!