Newest CWPA Hall of Famer Hyrne Talks Induction, Experience at U-M
2/7/2020 2:29:00 PM | Water Polo, Features
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Julie Hyrne will become the third University of Michigan water polo student-athlete to be enshrined in the Collegiate Water Polo Association Hall of Fame.
Hyrne will join Shana Welch (2016 inductee) and Betsey Armstrong (2008 inductee) and will be honored at the 2020 CWPA Championship in Ann Arbor from April 24-26.
Over the course of her career (2006-09), Hyrne led the Wolverines to back-to-back CWPA championships and NCAA appearances in 2008 and 2009, her junior and senior years. She was a third team AWPCA All-American in 2008 and was honorable mention All-America in 2009. She was the 2008 CWPA Eastern Championship MVP and a two-time Western Division MVP. She was all-conference all four years, a 10-time CWPA Player of the Week honoree and three-time Academic All-Big Ten.
A two-year team captain, she ranks second on Michigan's career goals list with 237. She also is tied for ninth on the career assists list with 118 and fourth with 355 career points.
Hyrne recently discussed with MGoBlue.com her Hall of Fame selection and her career at Michigan.
Q: How do you feel about being the next inductee into the CWPA Hall of Fame?
A: It is such an honor. Obviously, it was a wonderful surprise to get the call. There isn't a day that goes by that I don't miss water polo or my team and that collective drive to accomplish a goal. I am excited to represent the school. Shana and Betsey are both phenomenal water polo players and accomplished so much, so it is an honor to be a part of that group.
Q: Are you excited to be honored in a year when the CWPA Championship will be in Ann Arbor?
A: That is the best part of it. Michigan was such an instrumental and foundational part of my life and, ultimately, is who I am. I have an incredible amount of gratitude for the opportunities, experiences and relationships that came with it. I am excited to go back to Michigan and watch the team play and be a part of that energy and excitement again.
Q: What originally led you to attend school at the University of Michigan?
A: I went out to Michigan on a recruiting trip and fell in love with it. I fell in love with the college town and the pride that came along with being a Michigan Wolverine: the support for the athletic community and the fact that it is an awesome school. You aren't going to make a living in water polo, so it is really important to get a good education.
Q: What it was like for the 2008 team to win the CWPA Championship, your first time winning it?
A: Those are the moments you really remember. As I look back on my water polo career, I can't tell you how many goals I scored or how many goals were scored against me. It is really about the team and the accomplishments you have when pulling together and executing as a team. The first time we won Easterns and went to NCAA's, I can still see and feel that excitement and joy. I don't know if there is anything I have experienced like that since then that created that same feeling.
Q: Then to come back your senior year and win again in 2009, what was that like?
A: Water polo was my life. It was my passion for so long. Knowing it was coming to an end, to have one more tournament, one more game with my teammates, one more opportunity to represent Michigan, all those things, so to go out on a high note was an incredible experience.
Q: Did you stay involved with water polo after graduating with a degree in history?
A: I played Masters and coached for awhile. My shoulder has pretty much given out on me, so I don't play anymore. It was fun, but it wasn't the same. You don't have that same collective drive to accomplish a goal that you have all dedicated so much of your life to. That's not something you are going to find in pickup water polo.
Q: What are you doing professionally now and how did Michigan impact you?
A: I work in human resources, specifically in employee relations. On a high level it is helping to resolve workplace issues and conflicts in a way that is respectful to the employees but also cognizant of business needs. If I look back to water polo at Michigan and how that helped me, a lot of what I do now is navigating relationships. Being part of a team with high stress, high stakes helped me address some of the issues and give good guidance with communication. The other thing you learn a lot from in sports is the value of time, how to manage your time and how to prioritize. You have certain goals and deadlines of what you need to accomplish them by, so how to work backwards from there was a huge part of sports.
Q: Now that you have been out of school for awhile, have you experienced Michigan's global brand?
A: Everywhere you go there are Michigan fans. I am out in California, and this weekend I was walking a trail with a friend and I saw two different people with Michigan shirts on. When I traveled in Australia, I met and hung out with someone who was from Michigan. Everywhere you go, there is a huge network. People have so much pride in the school, which makes it a great way to connect with people.
Q: What is one takeaway you have from your time playing water polo at Michigan?
A: As you get older and walk away from it, you gain perspective. You start looking at life through a different lens. When I look back, I just have so much gratitude for the sport, for my school and for my teammates. In particular, for my parents, who made unbelievable sacrifices that helped me realize my dreams and goals. When I look back on all of it, I feel it is just an incredible sense of gratitude.
