Indiana University Athletics
Throwback Thursday - Cassie Wyckoff
10/30/2014 12:00:00 AM | Women's Water Polo
Oct. 30, 2014
Cassie Wyckoff of Los Altos, Calif. holds many major Hoosier goalkeeper records. During Wyckoff's career she totaled 1,108 saves - over 200 more than second place in the Indiana record books.
In her final two season as a Hoosier, Wyckoff earned Association of Collegiate Water Polo Coaches (ACWPC) All-American Honorable Mention. She was also named to two All-Eastern Championship - First Teams (2010, 2011), to two Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) All-Division Teams (2010, 2012), and a CWPA Eastern Championship Most Valuable Player in 2011.
During the 2011 season, Wyckoff had what was at the time a school record 348 saves (she broke her record the next season, which still stands). The same season she led Indiana to the second CWPA Championship and second NCAA Championship appearance in school history.
We caught up with Wyckoff recently to look back on her career and also catch up with her life after graduation. Here's what she had to say:
What are some of your best memories of your time at Indiana, whether it is with Water Polo or not?
WYCKOFF: "Some of my best memories at IU were mostly water polo oriented, but also the time I spent outside of the pool. The athletic BBQ at the beginning of the year is a fun hang out experience, which encourages athletes to meet one another and reunite after spending the summer away from each other. Tailgating during football season is one of the highlights at the beginning of the year. You get to enjoy the spirited atmosphere of the IU families, friends, and fans, as well as support your fellow football Hoosier athletes. Hoosier Hysteria is always a great time and something to look forward to. The Athletic Showcase is a great performance and show to see other talents the athletes have and the hard work they've put into their sports and education. It was especially fun to see my friends receive recognition as well as perform a dance or song. Within the water polo community, I have made memorable bonding experiences that I am extremely grateful for. We've supported each other through hard trainings, created fun activities such as the water polo bake off, the boat challenge, the T-shirt drawing contest, and other small events to enjoy some laughs and good times. When it came to big games we fought as hard as we could. Made some unexpected wins and lost some close matches. I can say I've made some life long friends with these girls and memories I will never forget."
Is there one game or moment in particular that sticks out for you?
WYCKOFF: "The biggest moment in my career at IU was in 2011 when we beat Michigan to win the Easterns conference. I received the MVP award for the tournament and made Barry King extremely proud. My friends and family all gathered around and hugged me after the match. Some even jumped in the pool as soon as the game was over. Later that summer I was called in by the USA squad to play in China for University games."
How did playing water polo at Indiana help you prepare for life after college?
WYCKOFF: "I think playing a sport in general develops a well-rounded individual. Being a D1 athlete is one of the most challenging jobs a student-athlete can have. It wasn't just water polo that has molded me into a disciplined person but the extremely great education IU offers to their students."
What are you doing now in terms of occupation, where do you live, family?
WYCKOFF: "I am currently continuing my professional water polo career in hopes of becoming the best I can be at my sport. Right now I play for the senior women's league in Hungary as the first goalie for the Eger water polo team."
Do you keep in contact with any of your teammates from your time at Indiana?
WYCKOFF: "Some of my good friends from the team are currently still playing at IU or play for a masters group. This summer I played with Maggie Hannon in the Masters USA Championship tournament. We had a great time playing in the games and hanging out afterwards. Not too far off from that time I was able to stay with Megan McCauley and her family in Newport Beach while training with the USA team. One of my former teammates, Katie Contrares, who is studying abroad in Milan, Italy came to visit me in Budapest last weekend. My sister, Lauren Wyckoff, is of course still in contact with me and my friend for life. I will be seeing her this next weekend as she is now in culinary school in Paris, France. Next year I hope to see my dear friend Kara Butler give her hand in marriage to her wonderful fiancé as they live in Napa Valley, California, just two hours north of where my parents live. As far as everyone I haven't seen in a while we still keep in touch through Facebook and text messaging."
Did you have a favorite "spot" on campus that you liked to go while you were here?
WYCKOFF: "All of IU's campus is beautiful and I miss it so much. In the fall when the trees turned I always loved walking through the middle of campus and next to Jordan River by the union. The beautiful flowers by the sample gates were also very heart warming. I wouldn't say there is one particular spot on campus that was my favorite but I did hang out a lot in and around the union and even near Jordan Hall."
Wyckoff also added:
"College was one of the greatest experiences I've had in my life. I've learned so much about myself in those four short years and I wouldn't change a thing. I'm so happy that even though in distance I am far from IU, some how I still find myself close at heart with the people I've met in Bloomington. I couldn't have asked for a better college to attend."
Awards/Accolades
• ACWPC All-America - Honorable Mention (2011, 2012)
• All-Eastern Championship - First Team (2010, 2011)
• CWPA All-Division - First Team (2012)
• CWPA All-Division - Second Team (2010)
• CWPA Eastern Championship MVP (2011)
School Records
• 1st most saves - career - 1,108
• 1st most saves - single season - 356 (2012)
• 2nd most saves - single season - 338 (2011)
• 1st most shots faced - career - 3,014
• 1st most shots faced - single season - 1,009 (2012)
• 2nd most shots faced - single season - 967 (2011)
Past Throwback Thursdays
October 2 - Kristin Stanford
September 25 - The 2006 Season
September 18 - Nicole Redder
September 11 - The 2005 Season
September 4 - Brooke Zimmerman
August 28 - The 2003 Season
August 21 - Jakie Köhli
August 14 - The 1998 Season
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Over the next couple months, we will take a look back at some of the players and teams from the Indiana Water Polo program that have made it the program that it is today - one of the best in the country. This week, we look back at the career of Cassie Wyckoff.
Cassie Wyckoff of Los Altos, Calif. holds many major Hoosier goalkeeper records. During Wyckoff's career she totaled 1,108 saves - over 200 more than second place in the Indiana record books.
In her final two season as a Hoosier, Wyckoff earned Association of Collegiate Water Polo Coaches (ACWPC) All-American Honorable Mention. She was also named to two All-Eastern Championship - First Teams (2010, 2011), to two Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) All-Division Teams (2010, 2012), and a CWPA Eastern Championship Most Valuable Player in 2011.
During the 2011 season, Wyckoff had what was at the time a school record 348 saves (she broke her record the next season, which still stands). The same season she led Indiana to the second CWPA Championship and second NCAA Championship appearance in school history.
We caught up with Wyckoff recently to look back on her career and also catch up with her life after graduation. Here's what she had to say:
What are some of your best memories of your time at Indiana, whether it is with Water Polo or not?
WYCKOFF: "Some of my best memories at IU were mostly water polo oriented, but also the time I spent outside of the pool. The athletic BBQ at the beginning of the year is a fun hang out experience, which encourages athletes to meet one another and reunite after spending the summer away from each other. Tailgating during football season is one of the highlights at the beginning of the year. You get to enjoy the spirited atmosphere of the IU families, friends, and fans, as well as support your fellow football Hoosier athletes. Hoosier Hysteria is always a great time and something to look forward to. The Athletic Showcase is a great performance and show to see other talents the athletes have and the hard work they've put into their sports and education. It was especially fun to see my friends receive recognition as well as perform a dance or song. Within the water polo community, I have made memorable bonding experiences that I am extremely grateful for. We've supported each other through hard trainings, created fun activities such as the water polo bake off, the boat challenge, the T-shirt drawing contest, and other small events to enjoy some laughs and good times. When it came to big games we fought as hard as we could. Made some unexpected wins and lost some close matches. I can say I've made some life long friends with these girls and memories I will never forget."
Is there one game or moment in particular that sticks out for you?
WYCKOFF: "The biggest moment in my career at IU was in 2011 when we beat Michigan to win the Easterns conference. I received the MVP award for the tournament and made Barry King extremely proud. My friends and family all gathered around and hugged me after the match. Some even jumped in the pool as soon as the game was over. Later that summer I was called in by the USA squad to play in China for University games."
How did playing water polo at Indiana help you prepare for life after college?
WYCKOFF: "I think playing a sport in general develops a well-rounded individual. Being a D1 athlete is one of the most challenging jobs a student-athlete can have. It wasn't just water polo that has molded me into a disciplined person but the extremely great education IU offers to their students."
What are you doing now in terms of occupation, where do you live, family?
WYCKOFF: "I am currently continuing my professional water polo career in hopes of becoming the best I can be at my sport. Right now I play for the senior women's league in Hungary as the first goalie for the Eger water polo team."
Do you keep in contact with any of your teammates from your time at Indiana?
WYCKOFF: "Some of my good friends from the team are currently still playing at IU or play for a masters group. This summer I played with Maggie Hannon in the Masters USA Championship tournament. We had a great time playing in the games and hanging out afterwards. Not too far off from that time I was able to stay with Megan McCauley and her family in Newport Beach while training with the USA team. One of my former teammates, Katie Contrares, who is studying abroad in Milan, Italy came to visit me in Budapest last weekend. My sister, Lauren Wyckoff, is of course still in contact with me and my friend for life. I will be seeing her this next weekend as she is now in culinary school in Paris, France. Next year I hope to see my dear friend Kara Butler give her hand in marriage to her wonderful fiancé as they live in Napa Valley, California, just two hours north of where my parents live. As far as everyone I haven't seen in a while we still keep in touch through Facebook and text messaging."
Did you have a favorite "spot" on campus that you liked to go while you were here?
WYCKOFF: "All of IU's campus is beautiful and I miss it so much. In the fall when the trees turned I always loved walking through the middle of campus and next to Jordan River by the union. The beautiful flowers by the sample gates were also very heart warming. I wouldn't say there is one particular spot on campus that was my favorite but I did hang out a lot in and around the union and even near Jordan Hall."
Wyckoff also added:
"College was one of the greatest experiences I've had in my life. I've learned so much about myself in those four short years and I wouldn't change a thing. I'm so happy that even though in distance I am far from IU, some how I still find myself close at heart with the people I've met in Bloomington. I couldn't have asked for a better college to attend."
Awards/Accolades
• ACWPC All-America - Honorable Mention (2011, 2012)
• All-Eastern Championship - First Team (2010, 2011)
• CWPA All-Division - First Team (2012)
• CWPA All-Division - Second Team (2010)
• CWPA Eastern Championship MVP (2011)
School Records
• 1st most saves - career - 1,108
• 1st most saves - single season - 356 (2012)
• 2nd most saves - single season - 338 (2011)
• 1st most shots faced - career - 3,014
• 1st most shots faced - single season - 1,009 (2012)
• 2nd most shots faced - single season - 967 (2011)
Past Throwback Thursdays
October 2 - Kristin Stanford
September 25 - The 2006 Season
September 18 - Nicole Redder
September 11 - The 2005 Season
September 4 - Brooke Zimmerman
August 28 - The 2003 Season
August 21 - Jakie Köhli
August 14 - The 1998 Season
FB: Nico Radicic - Spring Practice No. 11
Tuesday, April 21
FB: Drew Evans - Spring Practice No. 11
Tuesday, April 21
FB: Bray Lynch - Spring Practice No. 11
Tuesday, April 21
FB: Spring Practice - Curt Cignetti Press Conference
Thursday, April 16