Indiana University Athletics
Throwback Thursday - The 1998 Season
8/14/2014 12:00:00 AM | Women's Water Polo
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 1998 season.
The 1998 season was the inaugural season for Indiana Women's Water Polo as a Varsity program. The Hoosier's spent the previous four years as a club team.
The '98 Hoosiers were quite successful - defeated top ten ranked teams, were runners-up in the Big Ten Championship, and were Midwest Regional Champions. Winning the Regional Championship earned them a trip to the National Championships held at the University of Southern California (the NCAA did not sponsor a Women's Water Polo Championship until 2001). At the Championships, the team posted a 12th place finish.
Among team accomplishments, the '98 Hoosiers earned many individual accolades. Five players were awarded All-Big Ten honors - three of which were also named Midwest Regional All-Tournament Team. Taking home the title of Midwest Regional Most Valuable Player, was Deb Simone.
Team Accomplishments:
• 26-9-1 overall record (13-3-1 Big Ten)
• Big Ten Championships - Runners-up
• Midwest Regional Championships - Champions
• National Championships - 12th place
Individual Awards:
• Deb Simone - First-Team All-Big Ten, Midwest Regional First-Team All-Tournament, Midwest Regional Most Valuable Player
• Kate Toole - Second-Team All-Big Ten, Midwest Regional First-Team All-Tournament
• Meredith Cravens - Second-Team All-Big Ten, Midwest Regional Second-Team All-Tournament
• Megan Morgan - Second-Team All-Big Ten
• Amy Pankoke - Honorable Mention All-Big Ten
