The Santy Nitta Distinguished Coaching Award is given to a coach who has contributed to the growth and success of women's water polo at the collegiate level.
IRVINE, Calif. – Fresno State head water polo coach Natalie Benson was named the 2021 Sandy Nitta Distinguished Coaching National Award winner, USA Water Polo announced on Friday.
Established in 2010, the annual awards have each been named in honor of a person or persons who have made an extraordinary contribution to the sport of water polo. Winners were chosen through a zone nomination process and then reviewed by a national selection panel. Awards will be presented to recipients during the upcoming Junior Olympics and Masters Nationals Championship.
The Santy Nitta Distinguished Coaching Award is given to a coach who has contributed to the growth and success of women's water polo at the collegiate level.
"I'm honored that USA Water Polo has selected me as the Sandy Nitta Distinguished Coaching award recipient, " Benson said. "Coach Nitta is and continues to be a trailblazer for women in our sport, and it is a privilege to earn the award bearing her name. Thank you to those who took part in the nomination and selection process."
This award was based on the 2021 season - not the 2022 season - as this annual award is presented each May for the previous year.
In just its fourth year of competition, Fresno State recorded a memorable season in 2021. Fresno State finished the regular season with an overall record of 13-6 (6-1 GCC). The Bulldogs took a piece of the Golden Coast Conference regular season championship after recording a then program-best six wins in conference play, finishing in a three-way tie for first place with San Diego State and Pacific. This marked the first GCC regular season title in program history. Concluding regular season play, the Bulldogs had two first team, one second team and two freshman team All-GCC selections and five were the most honorees that Fresno State had earned in program history at that point. Benson was also named the 2021 GCC Coach of the Year.
In 2021, Daphne Guevremont and Emily Nicholson and were named All-GCC First Team honorees. Callie Woodruff earned an All-GCC Second Team nod. Kaitlyn Howarth and Cynthia Rosa and rounded out the Bulldogs' postseason awards. Howarth was named a GCC All-Freshman First Team selection while Rosa tallied All-Freshman Second Team honors.
Fresno State's stellar play during conference earned the team a spot in the GCC Women's Water Polo Championship, a four-team field with the top four teams earning a bid to the tournament. The Bulldogs secured the top seed in the tournament in 2021.
The 'Dogs won their first GCC Tournament Championship in program history with a 14-10 victory over the second-seeded and 13th-ranked San Diego State. Claire Schade led the Bulldogs with five points in the game, scoring a hat trick with two assists. The senior finished the tournament leading the field with eight assists and 12 points to earn Tournament MVP honors. Nicholson led all-scorers in the contest with four goals. Woodruff had a goal, an assist and a steal in the title game. Nicholson and Woodruff joined Schade on the GCC All-Tournament Team. The Bulldogs' ticket to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in their history.
Fresno State opened the 2021 NCAA Tournament with a 15-7 win over Cal Lutheran in the first round, marking the first tournament win in program history. The Bulldogs' season ended with a 16-9 loss to Stanford, the No. 2 overall seed.
Two Bulldogs earned Association of Collegiate Water Polo Coaches Division I All-America Team honors. Nicholson was named to second team while Guevremont was tabbed an honorable mention selection.
As a player, Benson is regarded as one of the best women's water polo players of all time and was inducted into the USA Water Polo Hall of Fame on May 30, 2015. An integral part of two Olympic medal-winning squads for Team USA at the 2004 (Bronze) and 2008 (Silver) Olympic Games, she also led the United States to three Fédération Internationale de Natation World Championship medals (2003, 2005, 2007), including two gold medals. Involved in the sport for two decades, Benson transformed herself from a player who reached the pinnacle of the sport to become one of the top up-and-coming coaches in the country. Natalie, who also serves as the head coach for the USA Women's Cadet National Team, was appointed to the NCAA Division I Water Polo Committee.