CMC75 Moments: 1992 Women's Water Polo wins Collegiate Title, Upgrades to Varsity

As part of the buildup to the 75th Anniversary celebration for Claremont McKenna College (visit CMC's 75th Anniversary Countdown Page to learn more), we are reliving many of the great moments from CMS athletic department history over the 75-day countdown from April 17 to July 1. If you were a part of this great moment and would like to add to the memories, or if you would like to submit your memories of your own favorite CMS Athletics moments, fill out the form on our main 75th Anniversary page.

Great Moments from 75 Years of Athletics
1992 Women's Water Polo: Athenas Win Collegiate Nationals Title

The women's water polo program was already making a push to upgrade to varsity status in 1992, and made a pretty convincing argument with a national championship as a club team, winning the Collegiate II Nationals in a tournament that was hosted across the street at Pomona College. Led by Head Coach Pam Tanase, a former standout diver for the Athenas in the 1980s who took over the women's swimming and diving coaching duties in 1991, CMS women's water polo used the momentum from its title to become the 19th varsity program, and the ninth women's varsity program, just one year later in 1993. Tanase was also named the Coach of the Year following the 1992 Collegiate II Nationals title. 

The Athenas were part of a rapid growth in women's water polo during the 1990s. After CMS used its club championship in 1992 to springboard to varsity, the SCIAC added it as a championship sport in 1994. Beth Burkhart, a senior co-captain who played on the 1992 Collegiate II National Championship team, was a first-team All-SCIAC selection in 1994 as a senior, while fellow co-captain Skye Wagstaff was a US Water Polo All-Region Tournament selection, along with senior Annie Weis.

A few years later, the NCAA introduced a Women's Water Polo Championship, which began in 2001, the same year that CMS won its second Collegiate II Nationals title, but as a varsity program this time. The Athenas then earned the chance to compete at the NCAA Championships after winning the SCIAC title in 2006, facing USC in the first round.

(Pictured at right, the 1993 Axelrood Pool grand opening, as team captains Skye Wagstaff (second from left) and Beth Burkhart (third from right) stood along with the captains of the other CMS aquatic sports as fellow varsity athletes. Head Coach Pam Tanase is far right) 

Head Coach Pam Tanase: 

I was very excited to come back and coach in 1991-92 after enjoying a fulfilling CMS athletic career (1984-88). Assisted by my great friend, Suzanne "Swish" Shriner, we were led by veterans Becky Hebert and Jennifer Saporito, along with talented athletes from all three schools and multiple sports. I don't recall the specifics of the game, but I fondly remember the exhilarating feeling of winning the Collegiate 2 Championship, especially because it was at the PP pool.

Women's water polo was a club sport when I was an athlete at CMS, and one of my top priorities when I came back to coach was to advocate for the sport to become a funded varsity team. There are countless players over the years that put in time, energy and dedication to grow the CMS team into a competitive program. I feel fortunate that I was able to guide a championship team in '92 that added to the legitimacy of making the varsity goal a reality.

Beth Burkhart:

Women's water polo was not an NCAA championship sport at the time, so the national championships were the Collegiate championships. I believe 1992 was the first year there was a division for smaller schools and club teams. CMS and PP were both club teams at the time and the tournament was hosted at Pomona as the CMS pool was under renovation. I still have a medal that commemorates our National Championship win. We made a case and succeeded at becoming a varsity sport for the 1993 season.

1992 Women's Water Polo Roster
Head Coach: Pam Tanase
Assistant Coach: Suzanne Shriner
Beth Burkhart (CMC)
Lori Burrows (CMC)
Maureen Downey (CMC)
Becky Hebert (Scripps)
Michelle Henderson (CMC)
Shannon Kelly (CMC)
Heather Lane (HMC)
Sonya Lusis (Scripps)
Tanya Marc-Aurele (HMC)
Jennifer Saporito (Scripps)
Trisha Seminoff (CMC)
Skye Wagstaff (Scripps)
Annie Weis (CMC)

1993-94 Women's Water Polo Roster (First Varsity Team)
Head Coach: Pam Tanase
Mindy Bagatelos (Fr., Scripps)
Beth Burkhart (Sr., CMC)
Kari Heidel (Fr., Scripps)
Heather Lane (Sr., HMC)
Leah Long (Sr., Scripps)
Tanya Marc-Aurele (Jr., HMC)
Dana Schafer (So., CMC)
Trisha Seminoff (Jr., CMC)
Sharie Swatik (Jr., CMC)
Skye Wagstaff (Sr., Scripps)
Annie Weis (Sr., CMC)