Rowie Webster was certain her Sun Devil career was going to end shortly after it had started.
"She was fouling out of every game because the refereeing was different from what she was used to in Australia and she was a center defender," ASU water polo coach Todd Clapper said. "She was at a period where her shooting was not confident and she wasn't feeling good about her game.
"She came to me mid-year -- right around the time she started snapping out of it -- and told me 'I expected you were going to call me into the office and tell me to go home because I wasn't performing at the expectation level for the scholarship I was given.'
Clapper was stunned. Webster was a critical piece -- maybe the critical piece -- in his plans for an accelerated timeline for success in his fledgling program.
"I was thrilled to have her but that just shows the attitude and expectation level she had," Clapper said. "Not only was she a fantastic player and goal scorer but she would put a lot of responsibility on herself. She didn't expect anything from us and she never acted entitled but she expected to accomplish certain things and perform at a consistently high level."
Webster did just that. She scored 63 goals as a freshman for ASU in 2006 -- her only season at ASU -- and she added 19 assists for 82 points. Both were freshman records and nobody has come close to matching them. Her goal total also ranks fourth on the program's all-time list for a single season.
"I'm just honored to have been a part of the program and if I can inspire other players to attend ASU I have achieved something really special," Webster wrote in an email interview from Australia. "I wanted a fresh and challenging experience. I wanted to be put out of my comfort zone and excel in an environment different from home. I made some very important friendships that I still have to this day, 10 years on."
Webster left ASU after one season to pursue a professional career in Greece. Since then, she has played professionally in Australia, she won a bronze medal with Australia in the 2012 Olympic games in London and she was recently named to her second Olympic team for this year's games in Rio de Janeiro where she will try to deliver Australia its second Olympic gold medal in women's water polo after it won in Sydney in 2000.
"Sydney 2000 is still a massive inspiration for me on this journey. I want to be part of the team that repeats that history for Australia," she wrote. "Every day I play the game I love to get better. I strive to be the most effective player I can be. Some say I'm extremely stubborn, I think that has been a huge positive in achieving my dreams of playing for Australia on two Olympic teams."
To remind herself of the golden goal, Webster often glances at her favorite tattoos (she has five). One is of the Olympic Rings "which remind me every day of my hard work and sacrifice to my sport. One other is a compass of my hometown, Melbourne, and beach house in Anglesea. No matter where in the world I am, I'll always have home."
Webster says carries that same affinity for ASU.
"The lifestyle of being an elite athlete and attending college was an awesome experience. Travelling and challenging each other on a daily basis and coming away with lifelong friendships can never be taken away," Webster wrote, in explaining why she remains such an avid supporter of ASU and Clapper despite spending just one season in Tempe. "It's pride in being a Devil, first and foremost. Honor the fork and give it your all while you are in the moment. You never know when it'll be your last game, so play hard, be nice, and respect those who are helping you achieve your dreams."
"She was fouling out of every game because the refereeing was different from what she was used to in Australia and she was a center defender," ASU water polo coach Todd Clapper said. "She was at a period where her shooting was not confident and she wasn't feeling good about her game.
"She came to me mid-year -- right around the time she started snapping out of it -- and told me 'I expected you were going to call me into the office and tell me to go home because I wasn't performing at the expectation level for the scholarship I was given.'
Clapper was stunned. Webster was a critical piece -- maybe the critical piece -- in his plans for an accelerated timeline for success in his fledgling program.
"I was thrilled to have her but that just shows the attitude and expectation level she had," Clapper said. "Not only was she a fantastic player and goal scorer but she would put a lot of responsibility on herself. She didn't expect anything from us and she never acted entitled but she expected to accomplish certain things and perform at a consistently high level."
Webster did just that. She scored 63 goals as a freshman for ASU in 2006 -- her only season at ASU -- and she added 19 assists for 82 points. Both were freshman records and nobody has come close to matching them. Her goal total also ranks fourth on the program's all-time list for a single season.
"I'm just honored to have been a part of the program and if I can inspire other players to attend ASU I have achieved something really special," Webster wrote in an email interview from Australia. "I wanted a fresh and challenging experience. I wanted to be put out of my comfort zone and excel in an environment different from home. I made some very important friendships that I still have to this day, 10 years on."
Webster left ASU after one season to pursue a professional career in Greece. Since then, she has played professionally in Australia, she won a bronze medal with Australia in the 2012 Olympic games in London and she was recently named to her second Olympic team for this year's games in Rio de Janeiro where she will try to deliver Australia its second Olympic gold medal in women's water polo after it won in Sydney in 2000.
It's official! Congrats to alumna @RowieWebster, named to her second Olympic Team for Australia! #SunDevilOlympians pic.twitter.com/Hyk7we1Pv9
— ASU Water Polo (@ASUWaterPolo) June 20, 2016
"Sydney 2000 is still a massive inspiration for me on this journey. I want to be part of the team that repeats that history for Australia," she wrote. "Every day I play the game I love to get better. I strive to be the most effective player I can be. Some say I'm extremely stubborn, I think that has been a huge positive in achieving my dreams of playing for Australia on two Olympic teams."
To remind herself of the golden goal, Webster often glances at her favorite tattoos (she has five). One is of the Olympic Rings "which remind me every day of my hard work and sacrifice to my sport. One other is a compass of my hometown, Melbourne, and beach house in Anglesea. No matter where in the world I am, I'll always have home."
Webster says carries that same affinity for ASU.
"The lifestyle of being an elite athlete and attending college was an awesome experience. Travelling and challenging each other on a daily basis and coming away with lifelong friendships can never be taken away," Webster wrote, in explaining why she remains such an avid supporter of ASU and Clapper despite spending just one season in Tempe. "It's pride in being a Devil, first and foremost. Honor the fork and give it your all while you are in the moment. You never know when it'll be your last game, so play hard, be nice, and respect those who are helping you achieve your dreams."