Fresno State Athletics
Benson inducted to UCLA Hall of Fame
10/1/2016 12:49:00 PM | Water Polo
Fresno State head water polo coach Natalie Benson was inducted into the UCLA Athletics Hall of Fame on Friday as a member of its eight-person 2016 class.
LOS ANGELES – Already a member of the USA Water Polo Hall of Fame, Fresno State head water polo coach Natalie Benson added another prestigious honor to her lengthy resume as she was part of Friday night's eight-member class inducted into the UCLA Athletic Hall of Fame.
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Considered one of the greatest women's water polo players of all-time, two-time Olympic medalist Natalie Benson (Golda) led UCLA to three NCAA titles in her four years at UCLA (2001, 2003 and 2005). She was a three-time All-American and NCAA All-Tournament Team selection and was dominant in her senior season in 2005, winning the Cutino Award as the best collegiate player in the nation after leading UCLA to a 33-0 season. She won MVP honors at the 2005 NCAA Tournament after scoring four goals in three tournament games. Benson finished the 2005 season with 47 goals and recorded the third-most career goals in UCLA history with 158.
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On the national team level, she started in two Olympic Games, winning bronze in 2004 and silver in 2008. She also led the U.S. to three FINA World Championship medals, including gold in 2003 and 2007. She was elected into the USA Water Polo Hall of Fame in 2015 and recently named to the Pac-12 All-Century Team.
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A part of the 2016 induction class, Benson entered the UCLA Hall of Fame with a group that totaled 26 national team and individual championships, three Olympic competitors who have combined to win six Olympic medals, a two-time Olympic gold medal-winning coach, a Women's College World Series Most Outstanding Player, an NBA All-Star, and a Super Bowl champion.
"Just the Ticket to Build Our Community" – The Bulldog Scholarship Fund gives Bulldog alumni, fans and friends the opportunity to support Fresno State Athletics and the student-athletes who inspire them. For information about how you can support the Bulldog Scholarship Fund, please visit www.bulldogscholarshipfund.com or call 559-278-7160.
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Follow us on:
Twitter:Â @FresnoStateWP
Instagram:Â fresnostatewp
Facebook:Â FresnoStateAthletics
Snap Chat:Â FSAthletics
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Considered one of the greatest women's water polo players of all-time, two-time Olympic medalist Natalie Benson (Golda) led UCLA to three NCAA titles in her four years at UCLA (2001, 2003 and 2005). She was a three-time All-American and NCAA All-Tournament Team selection and was dominant in her senior season in 2005, winning the Cutino Award as the best collegiate player in the nation after leading UCLA to a 33-0 season. She won MVP honors at the 2005 NCAA Tournament after scoring four goals in three tournament games. Benson finished the 2005 season with 47 goals and recorded the third-most career goals in UCLA history with 158.
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On the national team level, she started in two Olympic Games, winning bronze in 2004 and silver in 2008. She also led the U.S. to three FINA World Championship medals, including gold in 2003 and 2007. She was elected into the USA Water Polo Hall of Fame in 2015 and recently named to the Pac-12 All-Century Team.
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A part of the 2016 induction class, Benson entered the UCLA Hall of Fame with a group that totaled 26 national team and individual championships, three Olympic competitors who have combined to win six Olympic medals, a two-time Olympic gold medal-winning coach, a Women's College World Series Most Outstanding Player, an NBA All-Star, and a Super Bowl champion.
"Just the Ticket to Build Our Community" – The Bulldog Scholarship Fund gives Bulldog alumni, fans and friends the opportunity to support Fresno State Athletics and the student-athletes who inspire them. For information about how you can support the Bulldog Scholarship Fund, please visit www.bulldogscholarshipfund.com or call 559-278-7160.
Â
Follow us on:
Twitter:Â @FresnoStateWP
Instagram:Â fresnostatewp
Facebook:Â FresnoStateAthletics
Snap Chat:Â FSAthletics
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