The Notre Dame Women’s Water Polo team officially began in the Spring of 1995. Up until that point there were always a couple of women who played on the men’s club team. In the Spring of 1995 a group of women led by Mary Sundy, Brigid Fitzpatrick and Katie McCoyd informed the men’s team captains that they wanted to compete against other women’s teams. Then men’s captains Donald Balhoff, Eric Shultz and Brian Coughlin informed them that if they got at least nine women to practice for the next few weeks they would assist the women in finding a tournament. The women were motivated and got at least 12 women to attend practice for the next month. The men were true to their word and helped to arrange a four team tournament at Bowling Green State University which the Notre Dame women attended and won. The next year that group of four formed the first ever women’s club conference (the Midwest Division) in the Collegiate Water Polo Association then known as Eastern Water Polo.
Pages 2-5 of the CWPA Media Guide has a good history of the organization: http://static.psbin.com/5/8/4drq80eub09gvt/2015WomenMediaGuide.pdf
You will see that the Men’s team blazed a trail for Men’s Club teams and the Women’s Club did the same for Women’s clubs in the CWPA.
We don’t have a great deal of history for the 96, 97 and 98 seasons. Prior to 1998 the CWPA had one division for varsity and club teams in the Midwest and both played together. We know that the team did not place in the top two in the CWPA Midwest Division in 96 and finished 2nd in 97. The Midwest Division of Eastern Water Polo competed to represent the conference at the Midwest Regional. Midwest Regionals was made up mostly of Big Ten teams (precursor to the Varsity programs at UofM and IU). In 1996 the Midwest Division was made up of Notre Dame, Miami,OH, Findlay, and Bowling Green. Miami, OH won the Division and Bowling Green was the runner up. Team Captains were Mary Sundy, Michele Lichtenberger and Bridgid Fitzpatrick. In 1996 listed as Varsity, Mary Sundy and Erin Fitzgerald made 1st Team all Midwest Conference and Katie McCoyd made 2nd Team. In 1997 the Midwest Division was made up of Notre Dame, Miami, OH, Findlay, Bowling Green and Ohio University. Notre Dame was the Midwest runner-up. Mary Sundy and Katie McCoyd were team captains. Listed as Varsity, Mary Sundy and Erin Fitzgerald made 1st Team All Midwest Conference and Charlene Budd (GK) made 2nd Team.
The Division did not conduct a season or championships in 1998 as the division was splitting into NCAA Varsity and Club.
In 1998-’99 the Midwest Division returned as an all club conference and the club section for Women in the CWPA was established. We won our first CWPA Midwest Championship in 1999. We beat Miami, OH to win it in Oxford, and there were no Nationals, they would begin in 2001. Team captains were Erin Fitzgerald and Jen Beranek. Brian Coughlin returned to the University as a residence hall rector that year. The team asked Coughlin to serve as their volunteer coach. He agreed. 1999 was Coughlin’s first year as coach and he has held the role as a volunteer ever since. We do not have any information (nor does the CWPA) about records for 1999, but we do have the Championship plaque! The CWPA historical records begin in 2000 as you will see below.
Currently the CWPA Women’s season begins in late January of the spring semester and concludes with a National Championship Tournament the first weekend of May.