Sports
Peninsula Native Looking for Olympic Gold
Adam Krikorian, who scored 113 goals during his All-American senior season at Mountain View, left a highly successful coaching position at UCLA to join the USA water polo program in 2009.
Adam Krikorian is a born leader. The Mountain View High grad (class of 1992) served as team captain for the Spartans' water polo team and then spent his final two years at UCLA as the team captain.
These days he's the head coach of the United States Women's water polo team, which will be looking for its first gold medal later in the summer at the 2012 London Olympic Games.
Krikorian, who scored 113 goals during his All-American senior season at Mountain View, left a highly successful coaching position at UCLA to join the USA water polo program in 2009, and he wasn't sure bet to stick around. Call it a probation period, he had to prove his mettle before he was completely entrusted with the position.
Winning 15 national championships as a player, assistant and head coach simply wasn't good enough at the international level. But after winning the world championship in 2009 and the Pan Am Games in 2011, Krikorian met the challenge.
"It's been a whirlwind," Krikorian said during a recent visit to Stanford University, where the USA beat Hungary, 17-8, in an exhibition game. "Any time you can represent your country at the highest level it's an honor."
The Americans are loaded with talent again this year, with Krikorian coaching two of his former players at UCLA in Kelly Rulon and Courtney Mathewson. Stanford is represented by four-time Olympian Brenda Villa, Jessica Steffens, Maggie Steffens, Annika Dries and Melissa Seidemann. California's Heather Petri, the oldest on the team at age 34, is also playing in her fourth Olympics.
Talent doesn't always win gold medals, as Team USA can attest. Women's water polo was introduced into the Olympics in 2000 and the Americans lost in the gold medal game when Australia scored with seconds left. The U.S. earned bronze in 2004 and silver again in 2008.
Krikorian, a fiery, animated coach during his tenure with the Bruins, has seemed to have grown gracefully into his current leadership role, striking a balance between intensity and having fun. He's been blessed with players who are as self-motivated as himself.
"When I first took over there were some rough times but you're always going to have that with a new coach who takes over a program with a great record and a great history," he said. "We got through it and we're better for it. One of the reasons I took this job was to improve as a coach and I have learned a lot."
For the past year, the team has done nothing but eat, sleep and work water polo. It's a full-time commitment and even school becomes secondary. Even with nearly three weeks remaining before the U.S. opens the Olympic tournament, with Hungary, there's not enough time in the day to grow anxious or excited.
"There is still much work to be done to get ready," Krikorian said. "We're not there yet, so we haven't really felt it. I'm sure there will be moments, like the Opening Ceremony, that will be exciting but we have to quickly get over it and maximize the time we have."
Krikorian, who will turn 38 a week before the Olympics, doesn't know what to expect in London, where the Olympic environment can seem overwhelming and distracting. He's more focused on coaching, getting the details worked out, and staying focused.
"We need to know the game is the same," Krikorian said. "The game doesn't know how old you are, the game doesn't know how many people are in the stands or watching on television. You play it like you know you are capable of playing. It should be no different."
The team:
1. Betsey Armstrong^ - Goalkeeper (Ann Arbor, MI/Michigan/NYAC)
2. Heather Petri*#^ - Attacker (Orinda, CA/California/NYAC)
3. Melissa Seidemann - Defender (Walnut Creek, CA/Stanford/Stanford)
4. Brenda Villa*#^ ©- Attacker (Commerce, CA/Stanford/Olympic Club)
5. Lauren Wenger^ - All-Around (Long Beach, CA/USC/NYAC)
6. Maggie Steffens - Defender (Danville, CA/Stanford/Diablo)
7. Courtney Mathewson - Attacker (Anaheim Hills, CA/UCLA/NYAC)
8. Jessica Steffens^ - Defender (Danville, CA/Stanford/NYAC)
9. Elsie Windes^ - Defender (Portland, OR/California/Tualatin Hills WP)
10. Kelly Rulon# - Attacker (San Diego, CA/UCLA/NYAC)
11. Annika Dries - Center (Laguna Beach, CA/Stanford/SET)
12. Kami Craig^ - Center (Santa Barbara, CA/USC/Santa Barbara WPF)
13. Tumua Anae - Goalkeeper (Newport Beach, CA/USC/SOCAL)
*2000 Olympian
#2004 Olympian
^2008 Olympian
Head Coach: Adam Krikorian
Assistant Coach : Heather Moody
Assistant Coach: Dan Klatt
Team Manager: Jen Adams
The schedule:
Group A
Hungary
Spain
China
USA
Group B
Italy
Great Britain
Russia
Australia
(all times local London time; 8 hours ahead of PDT)
July 30
2:40pm ESP-CHN
3:30pm ITA-AUS
6:20pm GBR-RUS
7:40pm HUN-USA
August 1
2:40pm HUN-CHN
3:30pm ITA-RUS
6:20pm ESP-USA
7:40pm GBR-AUS
August 3
2:40pm ESP-HUN
3:30pm RUS-AUS
6:20pm GBR-ITA
7:40pm CHN-USA
August 5 (Quarter Final Round)
13. 2A-3B
14. 3A-2B
15. 1A-4B
16. 4A-1B
August 7 (Semifinal Round)
17. L13-L16
18. L14-L15
19. W13-W16
20. W14-W15
August 9 (Final Round)
21. L17-L18 (7th place)
22. W17-W18 (5th place)
23. L19-L20 (Bronze Medal)
24. W19-W20 (Gold Medal)
