May 19, 2005

SANTA CLARA, Calif. - Women's water polo co-captain Catherine Flynn became the first Santa Clara player to be selected to the Women's Western Water Polo Association's (WWWPA) First Team when post-season honors were announced at the WWWPA Championships in Davis from April 29-May 1.

"You're not going to get selected to the First-Team unless you finish well at the WWWPA tournament," said Broncos Head Coach Keith Wilbur. "Catherine helped us to a fourth-place finish, our highest ever. She's a goal-scorer, in tough games she's always able to put the ball in the back of the cage for us."

Flynn, who transferred to Santa Clara as a junior in 2003 from Sierra Junior College in Rocklin, Calif., led the Broncos in goals scored for the second straight season with a final tally of 75. She was also responsible for helping lead Santa Clara to its first-ever national ranking in early February, debuting at No. 20 on the Collegiate Coaches Women's Water Polo Poll.

Flynn's All-WWWPA performance in the pool was crucial to Santa Clara's fortunes throughout the season, leading the Broncos to an overall record of 18-17. Her 26 goals scored in the first 12 contests of the year led Santa Clara to a blazing 9-3 start, and her eight goals in the three WWWPA-tournament contests lifted the Broncos to their fourth-place finish.

"Catherine's a top-level player," Wilbur said. "She had an immediate impact on this team, being named MVP last year in her junior year, and with her teammates has worked hard to bring this program up to a higher level."