Michigan Water Polo Earns 2010 Rachael Townsend Community Service Award

Michigan water polo team teaches kids about the sport

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Michigan water polo team recorded 468 points to outdistance the closest varsity program by 6.7 points and earn the 2010 Michigan Rachael Townsend Award for community service by Wolverine athletic teams.

Created to create excitement and enthusiasm about community service for student-athletes at the University, the Townsend Award is presented to a varsity team at Michigan based on the number of service projects a team participates in through Michigan Outreach from September 8 through the end of March.

Points are accumulated through the BCS (Best Community Service) program as the teams contribute not only to the Ann Arbor community at-large, but by paricipating in the proram the athletes foster a sense of pride for taking care of the community surrounding the University.

This year, members of the water polo team volunteered at local elementary schools where they interacted with students and helped them with reading and other skills. They also visited  a senior assisted-living home on a weekly basis and made visits to the Veteran’s hospital to spend time with service men and women injured while serving in the armed forces. 

As a team, the girls made visits to the C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital, ran various water polo clinics introducing the sport to area youth from groups such as Camp Fire Kids. They also engaged in a year-long pen pal exchange with 6^th graders in Oakland California.

“We always have three areas of goals on our team. In the water, in the classroom and out of the water," said head coach Matt Anderson “This year for our out of water goal we pushed hard, talking often about winning the award for having the best community service team on campus. Towards the end it became a daily discussion about who was volunteering either individually or as a team that particular week."

"The ladies are excited about putting in the most hours. This experience they learned of community service can be a lifelong pursuit and create happiness and satisfaction both for themselves and those they are interacting with. I’m extremely proud of them for accomplishing this.”

2009-10 Rachael Townsend BCS Standings (Final)