In its final season as an independent, the ASU water polo team is already beginning to prepare for the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation conference with the signing of Katie Hedley to a national letter of intent.
The announcement came from ASU head coach Vicki Gorman on Monday. Hedley, a product of El Toro High School in Lake Forest, Calif., becomes the first early period water polo signing in Sun Devil history.
A senior in high school, Hedley is a two-sport star -- water polo and swimming -- and will join the team for the 2004 campaign when ASU enters the MPSF, one of collegiate water polo's most competitive conferences.
"Katie comes from a hotbed of competitive water polo in California and her speed will complement our playing style," Gorman said. "She will add to our foundation, which is based on an incredible work ethic and pure love for the game. We are happy to have her on board."
In her first three years of high school, Hedley has scored 85 goals including a career-best 35 as a junior; she tallied 32 as a sophomore and 18 as a freshman. She has 74 assists -- 30, 26 and 18, respectively -- for a career total of 159 points. In addition she has added an average of 58 steals per season as a driver and utility player.
"Katie has played for several great coaches at both the high school and club levels," Gorman said. "She has been a part of championship teams at the club level which will help her contribute immediately as a young collegiate player."
Hedley's scoring ability will be greatly needed for ASU since graduate student Kim Yost played her final year of eligibility in 2002. During that inaugural season, Yost led all Sun Devils with 51 goals, 32 assists and 83 points. She also led the team in two other categories with 72 steals and 7 field blocks.
The Sun Devils also lost starting goalkeeper Nancy Holmes to graduation but will have 12 returning players and 15 newcomers on this year's squad.
After a 10-17 record for their first season, the Sun Devils return in 2003 with more home games on the schedule. Last year ASU played 23 of its 27 contests on the road, hosting just two 2-game weekend series. This year the Sun Devils will hold 13 contests at the Mona Plummer Aquatic Center. In those games ASU will host three tournaments including the ASU Invite on Feb. 1, the first Sun Devil match of the year.
Reach the reporter at casey.pritchard@asu.edu.
