Nov. 29, 2007
SAN DIEGO - San Diego State women's water polo head coach Carin Crawford announced the signing Wednesday of three high school standouts to National Letters of Intent. Alana Burgess (Coronado, Calif.), Leanne Ford (Upland, Calif.) and Hilary Whelan (Clovis, Calif.) will join the Aztecs in 2008-09.
"These three athletes will help to ensure that future Aztec water polo teams are as successful as they have been in the past," said Crawford. "This signing class is one of the strongest and deepest that we have had in years, and we look forward to welcoming these student-athletes to San Diego State."
Burgess, an attacker, is currently a senior at Coronado High School, where she is coached by Dave Throop. Burgess helped lead the Islanders to the CIF-San Diego Section Division II finals in each of the last three years. As a junior, she led the team in assists, and was named to the San Diego Union-Tribune all-academic team. In addition to her high school experience, Burgess has been a member of the Coronado Aquatics Club team for eight years.
"Alana Burgess comes from a very strong high school water polo program at Coronado, which has a tradition of producing outstanding collegiate water polo athletes," Crawford said. "Alana has what it takes to be a champion."
Ford, a 2-meter defense player at Upland High School, was a second-team all-Baseline League selection as a sophomore and earned first-team accolades as a junior. She led the Highlanders to consecutive appearances in the CIF-Southern Section Division V finals and garnered third-team all-CIF honors for her efforts last year. In addition, Ford led her club team to a fourth-place finish at the junior Olympics in 2006 and a seventh-place finish in 2007.
"Leanne Ford is a tough defender who brings speed and skill to the 2-meter position," said Crawford. "She also has a strong perimeter game to compliment her defensive strengths."
Whelan, a left-handed attacker at Buchanan High School, is a two-time first-team all-CIF selection who recently led her team to the CIF-Central Section Division I championship. She also earned all-league and all-city honors two years in a row. An all-tournament selection at the Clovis Showdown and Sierra Shootout, Whelan ranked among the top 36 at the youth water polo national tryouts.
"Hilary Whelan is a tenacious lefty who has a great scoring sensibility, but who is also a tough defender," Crawford said. "She played a primary role in leading her high school team to the Central California CIF Division I championship this season."
Burgess, Ford and Whelan will join Kelly Campoli, Meghann Pedersen and Meaghan Poland as part of the Aztecs' 2009 signing class. San Diego State will open its 2008 campaign on Feb. 7, when it hosts Hartwick at 2 p.m. in the Aztec Aquaplex.