California State University Northridge Athletics
Photo by: Paul Trafecanty
CSUN Water Polo Excelling in the Classroom
3/24/2017 12:51:00 PM | Women's Water Polo
NORTHRIDGE, CA---
Over the course of the past year, CSUN Water Polo has maintained a national ranking while competing in one of the best conferences in collegiate athletics. While the Matadors' play in the pool has been impressive, their work in the classroom may be even better. Posting a grade point average of over 3.20 in each of the last two semesters, the team has featured a number of standout performances throughout its roster.Â
"Our players are passionate about their academics," said head coach Matt Warshaw. "Often times when we are traveling I'll find groups of teammates in the hotel lobby getting their studying in before and after games on the weekends. They are ultra competitive and are constantly striving to have the best team GPA on campus."Â
Among the standouts on the team, junior utility player Shannon Hovanesian has enjoyed a career season in the pool in 2017, scoring a personal-best 26 goals and dishing out 40 assists. In the classroom, Hovanesian has been just as outstanding, earning a 4.0 GPA in each of the last two semesters. After helping the Matadors to a fifth-place finish at the 2016 Big West Conference Tournament, she was awarded with All-Academic Team honors from both the Big West Conference and the Association of Collegiate Water Polo Coaches.Â
"I see academics as my future," said Hovanesian about her accomplishments in the classroom. "Getting a 4.0 is not something that I aim for but I do try to learn as much from each class and from each professor. Our coaches have instilled that academics come first because that's going to carry you throughout the rest of your life."
The Matadors' exceptional academic year began last spring. While CSUN was in the mist of a competitive season, the team was performing at a tremendous level in the classroom. Posting a 3.25 grade point average, the team finished with the highest GPA of any sport at CSUN. Also, over 70 percent of its roster received at least a 3.20 GPA while six posted above a 3.50 for the semester.Â
The team maintained its extraordinary academic work in the fall, registering the school's second-highest GPA with a 3.24 average. Along with Hovanesian, goalkeeper Niki Van Vugt posted a perfect 4.0 GPA for the semester as well. In addition, 12 Matadors earned above a 3.20 including 11 averaging above a 3.50 and seven with at least a 3.75 average.
Looking at their overall academic performance while with CSUN, 14 Matadors have a cumulative GPA above a 3.00, which include seniors Jade Arner, Alexis Elias, Emily Fuller and McKenzie Pollei, juniors Hovanesian, Van Vugt, Paula Abellan Garcia, Katelyn Fairchild, Carly Wickman and Amy Yule, and freshmen Katia Andon-Mateos, Ashlee Sellung, Vivian Talmage and Marylynn Cuozzo. In all, the 14 Matadors make up two-thirds of the entire roster.Â
While juggling an athletic schedule along with a full-time academic schedule comes with a host of challenges, CSUN Water Polo has taken on those challenges head on and excelled in the process. Currently preparing for a run at a Big West Conference crown, the Matadors are also in the mist of constructing yet another superb season in the classroom.Â
"It can be difficult with the travel, practices and games but we do study sessions when we have down time," said Hovanesian. "We compete with each other as much in the water as we do out of the water. Our team is great at prioritizing."
Â
Over the course of the past year, CSUN Water Polo has maintained a national ranking while competing in one of the best conferences in collegiate athletics. While the Matadors' play in the pool has been impressive, their work in the classroom may be even better. Posting a grade point average of over 3.20 in each of the last two semesters, the team has featured a number of standout performances throughout its roster.Â
"Our players are passionate about their academics," said head coach Matt Warshaw. "Often times when we are traveling I'll find groups of teammates in the hotel lobby getting their studying in before and after games on the weekends. They are ultra competitive and are constantly striving to have the best team GPA on campus."Â
Among the standouts on the team, junior utility player Shannon Hovanesian has enjoyed a career season in the pool in 2017, scoring a personal-best 26 goals and dishing out 40 assists. In the classroom, Hovanesian has been just as outstanding, earning a 4.0 GPA in each of the last two semesters. After helping the Matadors to a fifth-place finish at the 2016 Big West Conference Tournament, she was awarded with All-Academic Team honors from both the Big West Conference and the Association of Collegiate Water Polo Coaches.Â
"I see academics as my future," said Hovanesian about her accomplishments in the classroom. "Getting a 4.0 is not something that I aim for but I do try to learn as much from each class and from each professor. Our coaches have instilled that academics come first because that's going to carry you throughout the rest of your life."
The Matadors' exceptional academic year began last spring. While CSUN was in the mist of a competitive season, the team was performing at a tremendous level in the classroom. Posting a 3.25 grade point average, the team finished with the highest GPA of any sport at CSUN. Also, over 70 percent of its roster received at least a 3.20 GPA while six posted above a 3.50 for the semester.Â
The team maintained its extraordinary academic work in the fall, registering the school's second-highest GPA with a 3.24 average. Along with Hovanesian, goalkeeper Niki Van Vugt posted a perfect 4.0 GPA for the semester as well. In addition, 12 Matadors earned above a 3.20 including 11 averaging above a 3.50 and seven with at least a 3.75 average.
Looking at their overall academic performance while with CSUN, 14 Matadors have a cumulative GPA above a 3.00, which include seniors Jade Arner, Alexis Elias, Emily Fuller and McKenzie Pollei, juniors Hovanesian, Van Vugt, Paula Abellan Garcia, Katelyn Fairchild, Carly Wickman and Amy Yule, and freshmen Katia Andon-Mateos, Ashlee Sellung, Vivian Talmage and Marylynn Cuozzo. In all, the 14 Matadors make up two-thirds of the entire roster.Â
While juggling an athletic schedule along with a full-time academic schedule comes with a host of challenges, CSUN Water Polo has taken on those challenges head on and excelled in the process. Currently preparing for a run at a Big West Conference crown, the Matadors are also in the mist of constructing yet another superb season in the classroom.Â
"It can be difficult with the travel, practices and games but we do study sessions when we have down time," said Hovanesian. "We compete with each other as much in the water as we do out of the water. Our team is great at prioritizing."
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Players Mentioned
Center
/ Women's Water Polo
Attacker
/ Women's Water Polo
Attacker
/ Women's Water Polo
Attacker
/ Women's Water Polo
Defender
/ Women's Water Polo
Attacker
/ Women's Water Polo
Defender
/ Women's Water Polo
Utility
/ Women's Water Polo
Utility
/ Women's Water Polo
Defender
/ Women's Water Polo
Utility
/ Women's Water Polo
Goalkeeper
/ Women's Water Polo
Defender
/ Women's Water Polo
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