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Two Water Polo Alumni to Represent Team Australia in Tokyo

May 25, 2021

AUSTRALIA- On Monday, the Australian Olympic Committee announced the team of 13 that would be representing Team Australia in the Tokyo Olympics. Two former Sun Devils, Rowie Webster and Lena Mihailovic, are on the Aussie Stingers advancing squad. 

Rowie Webster was named Captain of the Stingers and will be participating in her third career Olympic Games. She was a Sun Devil for just one year, but sure left her mark. During her freshman campaign in 2006, Webster scored 63 goals and tacked on 19 assists for 82 points on the year. Her 63 goals and 82 points top the freshman record books, and have yet to be touched since. She is also fourth all-time in single season goals scored, and that impressive season earned her a third-team All-American selection from the American Water Polo Coaches Association.  Her freshman accolades included being named to the MPSF All-Freshman Team, the All-MPSF Second Team and the MPSF All-Tournament team while ranking sixth in the nation in goals scored that season. 

This is the first career Olympic Games for Lena Mihailovic who spent four years with Arizona State from 2015-2018 where she recorded 131 career goals which sits at 11th all-time in program history. As a freshman, she was named to the All-Newcomer Team after posting the fourth highest goals on the team with 24, and recorded 17 assists and 16 steals that season. Mihailovic was one of the best academic players for the Sun Devils, earning consecutive MPSF All-Academic selections, and was just the second Sun Devil at the time to do so. During her junior season In 2017, she notched 45 goals and an All-MPSF Second-Team selection. She also competed on the Aussie Stingers during the 17th FINA World Championships. Mihailovic was named an ACWPC Academic All-American selection with superior distinction as a junior.

Mihaliovic is grateful for the opportunity to represent her country in the Olympics and noted, "Growing up and watching the Olympics, the Australian team was always my favourite. I feel very privileged to be part of this amazing team and represent the Aussie Stingers at the Olympics, it is a dream come true!"

She is one of many Olympians coached by Head Coach Todd Clapper during his tenure at ASU and recalls his impact during her career, "I am very thankful for everyone who has contributed to my journey and ASU was a big part of it! I'm very grateful for coach Todd Clapper and assistant coaches at the time; Marty Matthies and Jeff Colton."

The Stingers are set to kick off their play in Tokyo on July 24, 2021 competing in Pool A, against Spain, Canada, South Africa, and the Netherlands. 2021 Sun Devil Water Polo Graduate Bente Rogge will also play in Pool A for the Netherlands.