Trojans Grab Medals At FINA World Championships
August 10, 2015 | Women's Water Polo
The 2015 FINA World Championships wrapped up action with three members of the USC water polo program receiving medals. Reigning supreme on the women's side were two Women of Troy living large with Team USA. Veteran Olympic medalist Kami Craig celebrated the United States' latest gold medal alongside newcomer to the international scene in fellow Trojan Kaleigh Gilchrist, who was playing in her first FINA World Championships for Team USA. On the men's side, a banner year for recent USC grad Kostas Genidounias continued as the Cutino Award winner splashed down for action with Greece and won bronze. The third-place finish for the Greek squad also secured an Olympic berth for Greece.
In all, USC had 13 athletes and one former coach in action at the FINA World Championships in Kazan, Russia. Of that crew, four athletes are set to return to Troy later this month to continue their active Trojan careers. Goalie McQuin Baron now enters his sophomore season with the Trojans after capping up for Team USA for a seventh-place finish in Russia. Greek twins Ioanna and Stephania Haralabidis return to USC as juniors after a strong run with the Greek women in taking sixth place at the tournament. They'll team back up with Brazilian goalie Victória Chamorro, who finished up in 10th place as a member of the upcoming Olympic host team.
Below is a breakdown of all the USC representatives at the World Championships, along with their team finishes:
Men
Greece -- Bronze medal
Kostas Genidounias (3 goals)
USA -- 7th place
McQuin Baron (96 mins, 37 saves)^, Nikola Vavic (4 goals), Jack Kocur (assistant coach)
Australia -- 8th place
Joel Dennerley (62 mins, 18 saves)
Women
USA -- Gold medal
Kami Craig (6 goals), Kaleigh Gilchrist (2 goals)
Australia -- 4th place
Hannah Buckling (5 goals)
Greece -- 6th place
Ioanna Haralabidis(1 goal)^, Stephania Haralabidis (13 goals)^
Spain -- 7th place
Anni Espar (9 goals)
Hungary -- 9th place
Flora Bolonyai (131 mins, 23 saves)
Brazil -- 10th place
Victória Chamorro (42 mins, 12 saves)^
Canada -- 11th place
Joelle Bekhazi (7 goals)
^ indicates current USC student-athlete
