Indiana University Athletics
IU Water Polo Signs Eight for 2012
12/2/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Water Polo
Dec. 2, 2010
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -
Head coach Barry King and the Indiana University women's water polo program announced the signing of eight student-athletes that will join the Hoosiers for the start of the 2012 season. The highly-regarded class is comprised of players from three states, along with two from Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
"We could not be more pleased with the student-athletes that comprise the class of 2015," said King. "Pat (Assistant Coach Pat Beemer) and I had quite a difficult task to replace the talented class that will be graduating this spring. However, we think that we have addressed all the performance areas needed."
The signing class includes Katherine Contreras (Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif./Palos Verdes), Summer Creighton (Winter Park, Fla./Winter Park), Nina Escobedo (San Diego, Calif./University City), Alexis Jones (Mundelein, Ill./Mundelein), Colleen McNaught (Dana Point, Calif./Dana Hills), Devon Peterson (Poway, Calif./Poway), Alynn Reade (Calgary, Alberta, Canada/Dr. EP Scarlett), and Shelby Taylor (Calgary, Alberta, Canada/St. Francis).
"This is an athletic and versatile class," said King. "Every member of this class can fill multiple roles on both ends of the pool. We tried to focus a little more on the offensive end and have filled the holes that will be created by graduation. They are all very good students with a high level of maturity. This class has a challenge in front of them to replace the class of 2011, which is arguably the most productive class of student-athletes we have ever had, both in and out of the pool. We are confident this group will rise to the occasion."
KATHERINE CONTRERAS (Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif./Palos Verdes HS)
5'4 • Utility
Contreras earned MVP honors for the varsity water polo team in 2008. She helped lead the squad to the CIF Division 2 title, to go along with Bay League championships from 2007-2010. Contreras played for coach Pat O'Brien at Palos Verdes. She also captained the varsity swim team. Katherine is the daughter of Alex and Laura Contreras, and she has one brother, Matthew. She plans to major in political science at Indiana.
Coach King on Contreras:
"In athletic terms, Katie has a non-stop motor. She has great speed and is a tenacious perimeter defender. She comes from one of the best club teams in the country and has been taught a very solid fundamental game. We are looking for her to defend hard and drive our counterattack. Although she may lack a little size, her skill set and speed, far and away, overcome those limitations."
SUMMER CREIGHTON (Winter Park, Fla./Winter Park HS)
5'8 1/2 • Utility
Creighton, a three-year varsity water polo letter winner, helped lead Winter Park High School to Metro, District, and Regional championships from 2008-2010. The team, coached by her father, Barry Creighton, finished in the state quarterfinals in 2008, third place in 2009, and runner-up in 2010. Creighton has amassed 230 goals, 147 assists, 294 steals, and 70 ejections drawn during her first three seasons at Winter Park. In 2009 and 2010, she earned the following honors: First Team NISCA All-American, First Team All-Central Florida, and First Team All-Metro Conference in water polo and swimming. She was also named Most Valuable Player in 2010 and Outstanding Offensive Player in 2009. Following her freshman campaign, she was named Rookie of the Year, as well as Second Team All-Central Florida and First Team All-Metro Conference. She is also a member of the National Honors Society. Summer is the daughter of Barry and Rosalie Creighton, and she has one brother, Trevor. Both of her parents are IU alumni, and her mother, Rosalie (Wicht) Creighton, was an All-American and three-time Big Ten champion in swimming for Indiana from 1983-86. She is currently undecided on a major.
Coach King on Creighton:
"Summer has all of the tools to be a big contributor. She has good ball skills, speed and defensive capabilities. She shoots the ball well and with pace. She is the quintessential utility player. We will be asking her to use her skills in multiple positions. As she gets more comfortable with her teammates and the system, she will blossom. She has deep ties to IU and will play with a passion for IU that was instilled in her very early on."
NINA ESCOBEDO (San Diego, Calif./University City HS)
5'8 • Attacker
Escobedo, a four-year varsity letter winner at University City High School, captained her squad to the CIF quarterfinals in 2009-10. The team, coached by Ty Lackey, also advanced to the CIF qualifier in 2008-09 and the CIF semifinals in 2007-08. She was named Team MVP following both the 2008-09 and 2009-10 seasons. Escobedo was named First Team All-Eastern League as a junior and Second Team All-Western League as a sophomore. She was also twice named to the All-Tournament team at the Winter Classic, as well as earning a spot on the 2009-10 East County Invite All-Tournament team. Escobedo holds the school record for most goals scored in a season with 109 in 2009-10 and most steals in a game (9). She also earned four varsity letters in both volleyball and swimming. Nina is the daughter of Al and Kelly Escobedo, and she has one sister, Sara, and one brother, Mark. She plans to major in human biology at Indiana.
Coach King on Escobedo:
"Nina is the personification of what we were looking for overall in the class, a fantastic athlete with a huge upside. She has a hard and accurate shot. She lacks a little of the higher level experience, but will be a quick study. Nina is the kind of student-athlete that will really benefit from the pre-season training. She will be an offensive force as she grows into her career here."
ALEXIS JONES (Mundelein, Ill./Mundelein HS)
5'11 • Utility
Jones is a four-year varsity letter winner at Mundelein High School in both water polo and swimming. She helped lead her team to conference and sectional titles, as well as an Elite Eight appearance in 2010. Her team, coached by Drew Schneider, was ranked in the top 20 in the state of Illinois during all four seasons. As a sophomore and junior, Jones was named All-Sectional, All-State, and team captain. She also earned All-American and All-Academic honors following her junior season. In 2008, she was named Most Outstanding Newcomer and also earned All-Conference honorable mention. Jones led her team in goals (149), assists (79), steals (128), and kickouts drawn (36) in her junior year at Mundelein. Jones also holds the school record in the 200 freestyle relay (1:40:23). Alexis is the daughter of Barry and Cynthia Jones, and has one brother, Ethan. She plans to major in psychology at Indiana.
Coach King on Jones:
"Alexis has great length and a great nose for the ball. When her offensive skills catch up to her defensive abilities, she will be a tremendous challenge for opposing teams. She can defend anywhere in the pool and will contribute in the counterattack with her speed. She also lacks some high level competitive experience, but the few times she has been challenged by elite players of her age, she has responded. That is what attracted her to us in the first place. She has a big upside and clearly, the determination to reach her maximum potential."
COLLEEN MCNAUGHT (Dana Point, Calif./Dana Hills HS)
5'5 • Attacker
McNaught has lettered four years in both water polo and swimming at Dana Hills High School. Her team, coached by Matt Rosa, finished second in the South Coast League in the 2009-10 season and advanced to the quarterfinals of the CIF. McNaught, a team captain, was named the varsity team MVP and earned First Team All-League honors in the South Coast following the 2009-10 season. She was named to the Second Team All-CIF that year, while also finishing in the top five in scoring, assists, and steals in the CIF. McNaught earned Third Team All-Orange County honors in 2009-10 as well. She set the school record for most goals scored in one season with 102 in her junior campaign. McNaught was also a member of the SET club team with Bradley Schumacher that traveled and played in Budapest, Hungary during the summer of 2008. Colleen is the daughter of Lori and Kevin Patrick McNaught, and she has one brother, Connor Patrick. She plans to major in journalism at Indiana.
Coach King on McNaught:
"Initially, we were attracted to Colleen because she is left-handed and offensively gifted. However, the more times we saw her play, we became more impressed with her leadership abilities. She has great game sense and communicates very well with her teammates. It is a role that she clearly cherishes. She has a vast quantity of high level experience and has been coached by the best. Colleen's ability to score the ball is way above average. She will provide a much needed weapon in the right side of the attack."
DEVON PETERSON (Poway, Calif./Poway HS)
5'7 • Attacker
Peterson is a four year letter winner in water polo, as well as swimming at Poway High School. She competed for coach Chad Aronen at Poway and helped lead their squad to a second place finish in the Palomar League in 2009-10, as well as CIF quarterfinals appearances in both 2009-10 and 2008-09. In 2007-2008, her team advanced to the CIF semifinals. Peterson posted totals of 28 goals, 34 assists, 54 steals, and 14 ejections drawn during her junior year, including a 45 percent scoring accuracy. She was named Third Team All-Palomar League and was also on the Union Tribune All-Academic team in 2009-10. She set the school record for most steals in a game and most shot blocks by a non-goalie in a season at Poway. Peterson also competed in a large amount of games with her club team, North Coast San Diego/Carlsbad, including events such as the Junior Olympics, Senior Nationals, and the Olympic Development Program Championships. Peterson has collected numerous awards for her work outside of the pool, including the Pursue Victory with Honor Character Counts Award and the Poway High School Student Government Leader of the Month Award. She is also a member of the National Society of High School Scholars. Devon is the daughter of Lyle and Angela Peterson, and she has one sister, Carlyn. She plans to double major in business and communications at Indiana.
Coach King on Peterson:
"The first things that strike you about Devon are her presence and maturity. These attributes translate to her play. She has a very level head and plays with a confidence that is rare in her peer group. She is a true utility player, filling whatever role is necessary for her team to be successful. She doesn't lack skills in any area and will add depth at every position except goalkeeper for us."
ALYNN READE (Calgary, Alberta, Canada/Dr. EP Scarlett HS)
5'4 • Utility
Reade has competed in a wide-range of national competition in Canada for the Calgary Renegades, coached by John Csikos. She helped her team win gold at the 2010 Canadian Select League, and also earned a silver medal at the 2010 Youth Nationals in Hungary. Reade also medaled at the 2010 Canadian U18 (Gold) and U22 (Bronze) Nationals. In 2009, she earned a gold medal at the U16 Canadian Nationals and a bronze at the U18 event. Reade helped the Renegades achieve status as the 2009 U16 Alberta Team of the Year. She also set provincial records in the 200 meter freestyle and 200 meter IM. Alynn is the daughter of Harold and Donna Reade, and she has one brother, Bryce. She plans to major in exercise science at Indiana.
Coach King on Reade:
"Alynn's incredibly pleasant personality hides a fierce competitiveness. She has the ability to score from a lot of different positions, including the center. More importantly, she makes her teammates better. She plays on a very talented club and is a true unsung hero in the group. She is very strong and swims extremely well. She has great legs and can finish when called upon. She will have a very positive effect on her teammates."
SHELBY TAYLOR (Calgary, Alberta, Canada/St. Francis HS)
5'10 • 2M Guard
Taylor, like Reade, also played for John Csikos and the Calgary Renegades. She competed on a number of gold medal winning teams throughout 2008-2010, including such events as the Alberta Open, Valentines Open, and Saskatchewan Open. Taylor helped lead her team to a 2010 Pan American Championship with the Junior National team, and she also earned a 2010 U18 National Championship while being named MVP at that event. She was named to the All-Star team at the Valentines Open in 2010, as well as the BC Open in 2009 and 2010. Taylor was also a member of the 2009 U16 Nationals All-Star team. She is a four-time winner of the Calgary Renegades Best Defensive Player award. Shelby is the daughter of Keith and Diane Taylor, and she has one sister, Meagan. She plans to major in kinesiology at Indiana.
Coach King on Taylor:
"Shelby is a world-class center defender. While that will be her primary role here, we will be asking her to expand her skill set, especially offensively. She has a very hard and accurate shot that hasn't been utilized to its fullest extent. She is an extremely effective communicator to her teammates from her position. She has a long international resumé and will make an immediate impact for us."
