Bukofzer, Chatigny Selected for Speedo Top 40 Festival
10/17/2007 12:00:00 AM | Water Polo
LOS ALAMITOS, Calif. -- U.S. National Team head coach Guy Baker announced Wednesday (Oct. 17) that a pair of University of Michigan women's water polo players have been invited to the 2007 Speedo Top 40 on Nov. 2-4. Junior driver Mary Chatigny (Palm Springs, Calif./Palm Springs) and sophomore two-meter defender Terri Bukofzer (Vernon Hills, Ill./Stevenson) earned the invitation to the three-day festival at an open tryout held Oct. 7 at Canham Natatorium.
The 40 players will split into four teams, giving the selected players an opportunity to show their talent and ability against the best women's water polo athletes around the nation. The 2007 Speedo Top 40 will take place at the National Training Center in Los Alamitos, Calif.
In addition to participating in this elite competition, the two Wolverines will make a bid to join former Michigan goalkeeper Betsey Armstrong (2002-05) on the U.S. National Team. The national squad has already secured a spot in the 2008 Olympics Games in Beijing, China, thanks to a gold medal at the XV Pan American Games.
Chatigny, who will serve as a quad-captain in 2008, posted the second highest assists total in a season for a Wolverine last season with 43 helpers. One of four players to see time in all 40 games, she finished tied for the team lead in assists and ranked third in points.
As a freshman last season, Bukofzer also appeared in all 40 games, tallying 14 goals, 17 assists and 48 steals. She was a member of the 2005 and 2006 women's National Youth Team, earning honorable mention at the 2005 20-and-under National Championships.
Armstrong is quickly becoming a mainstay on the U.S. National Team. She has played a majority of the time in goal for a triumvirate of gold medal runs at the XV Pan American Games, FINA World League and FINA World Championships.
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