Betsey Armstrong '05 Listed Among Michigan's Best from Home State
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Betsey Armstrong '05 is listed among the honorable mentions for the state of Michigan as the University of Michigan completed its Leaders and Best in 50 States, a comprehensive list of the best athletes to wear the Maize & Blue from each of the 50 states, plus the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.
A 2008 inductee to the Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) Hall of Fame to become the youngest individual in the history of the league to receive the honor, she is currently the goalkeeper for the United States National Team.
She spent four seasons tending the
cage for the University of Michigan Wolverines, leading the team to
four divisional titles and two NCAA tournament appearances,
including a sixth-place finish at the 2005 NCAA Championship. She
wrapped up her U-M career as the program leader in blocks (1,267),
minutes (3,329), goals against average (5.64) and save percentage
(.654). She also holds the top four Michigan single-season blocks
totals and three of the top five spots on the single-season save
percentage and GAA lists.
During her career with the Maize and Blue, Armstrong racked up a
pair of divisional Most Valuable Player accolades (2003-04) and
four CWPA All-Division First Team honors (2002-05). Armstrong
excelled at the Eastern Championship, earning two MVP honors (2003,
'05) as part of three All-Eastern Championship first team
nominations (2002, 2004-05). On the national level, she earned
All-America recognition in each season, making the second team in
2004, third team in 2005 and honorable mention in her first two
campaigns at Michigan.
In May 2006, she earned a spot on the USA National Team following an open tryout. Since then she has consistently ranked among the world's premier netminders in any sport helping the United States to gold medal victories in both the FINA World League and FINA World Championships. At the World Championships, Armstrong was recognized as the tournament’s Most Outstanding Goalkeeper.
At the 2008 Olympics in Beijing,
she guided Team U.S.A. to the gold medal game against the
Netherlands as the team captured the silver medal.
A product of Ann Arbor Huron High School, Armstrong was the
Michigan water polo program's first in-state recruit.