2012 Olympics – The Power of National Panhellenic Conference Women!

Congratulations to the NPC women who brought home medals from the London Olympics:

Gold medal

Kristin Armstrong Savola, U.S. Cycling, Kappa Kappa Gamma, University of Idaho

Rachel Buehler, U.S. Soccer, Kappa Kappa Gamma, Stanford University

Erin Cafaro, U.S. Rowing, Pi Beta Phi, UC Berkeley

Annika Dries, U.S. Water Polo, Delta Delta Delta, Stanford University

Eleanor (Elle) Logan, U.S. Rowing, Kappa Kappa Gamma, Stanford University

Kelley O’Hara, U.S. Soccer, Kappa Kappa Gamma, Stanford University

Taylor Ritzel, U.S. Rowing, Pi Beta Phi, Yale University

Melissa (Mel) Seidemann, U.S. Water Polo, Kappa Kappa Gamma, Stanford University

Paralympics

Tatyana McFadden, Track and Field, Phi Sigma Sigma, University of Illinois, 3 Gold, 1 Bronze

Muffy Davis, Hand Cyling, Delta Delta Delta, Stanford University, 2 Gold medals

Silver medal

Abby Johnston, U.S. Diving, Delta Delta Delta, Duke University

Jennifer Kessy, U.S. Beach Volleyball, Kappa Kappa Gamma, University of Southern California

Paralympics

Allison Aldrich, U.S. Sitting Volleyball, Delta Zeta, Nebraska Wesleyan

Paralympic Games

Three NPC women will be participating in the Paralympic Games in London beginning on August 29 and ending on September 9.

Allison Aldrich, U.S. Paralympic Sitting Volleyball, Delta Zeta, Nebraska Wesleyan

Muffy Davis, U.S. Paralympic Cycling, Delta Delta Delta, Stanford University

Tatyana McFadden, U.S. Paralympic Track & Field, Phi Sigma Sigma, University of Illinois

Update: The U.S. Women’s Water Polo team won a Gold medal beating Spain 8-5. Congratulations to Tri Delta Annika Dries and Kappa Kappa Gamma Mel Seidemann.

Update: The U.S. Women’s Soccer team won its third straight gold medal by beating Japan 2-1. Congratulations to Stanford Kappa Kappa Gammas Rachel Buehler and Kelley O’Hara.

Update: Kappa Kappa Gamma Jennifer Kessy and her teammate April Ross beat the top-seed Brazil team in the beach volleyball semifinals. In the finals, they played against U.S. teammates Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh Jennings. May-Treanor and  Walsh Jennings became the first three-time gold medalists in Olympic beach volleyball history. In their Olympic debut, Kessy and Ross took the silver.

Update: The U.S. Women’s Soccer team won their Monday, August 6, match against Canada 4-3 and will play Japan in the finals on Thursday, August 9.

Update: Tri Delta Annika Dries, Kappa Kappa Gamma Mel Seidemann, and their women’s polo teammates just won their match against Italy 9-6 and the team will play Australia in the final four. Seidemann scored a hat trick (three goals).

Update: The U.S. women’s soccer team is in the final four, they play Canada on Monday with the winner getting a chance to play for the gold.

Update: U.S. Women’s Water Polo team is undefeated heading into the finals. Tri Delta Annika Dries scored a goal in yesterday’s game against China. Big game against Italy takes place on Sunday.

Update: The August 3 women’s soccer New Zealand – United States match-up included three Kappa Kappa Gammas from Stanford University competing against each other. Ali Riley competed on the New Zealand team. Rachel Buehler and Kelley O’Hara are on the United States team. The United States won the game 2-1.

The Olympics are underway!

Never underestimate the power of National Panhellenic Conference women!! What an exciting time it is for these NPC women. These athletes who are also members of National Panhellenic Conference organizations are exceptional women.

This year’s athletes join a growing list of NPC women who have competed in past Olympics. They include:

Alpha Gamma Delta – Maria Maunder

Kappa Alpha Theta – Kerri Strug and Ann Curtis Cuneo

Kappa Kappa Gamma – Hazel Wightman, Helen Willis, Elizabeth Robinson, and Donna DeVarona

Pi Beta Phi – Kaye Hall Greff, Tracy Ruiz-Comforto and Nancy Hogshead-Makar

Alpha Delta Pi – Carol Pence Taylor

Alpha Phi –  Mary Beth Dunnichay, Marian Dale Roper, and Janis Klecker

Alpha Omicron Pi –  Mercedes Farhat

Delta Delta Delta – Meryl Davis; and Courtney Kupets

Alpha Epsilon Phi – Lillian Copeland and Stacy Nuveman

Delta Gamma –  Carin Cone Vanderbush, Dr. Susan Nattrass, and Jill Savery

Gamma Phi Beta – Sybil Bauer

Chi Omega – Ann Marie Thompson. Pat Summitt, Chi Omega, coached the 1984 gold medal women’s basketball team.

NPC members competing at the 2012 games include:

• Allison Aldrich, U.S. Paralympic Sitting Volleyball, Delta Zeta, Nebraska Wesleyan (Silver medal in 2008)
• Kristin Armstrong Savola, U.S. Cycling, Kappa Kappa Gamma, University of Idaho – Gold medal in individual time trial (She also won gold in the same category in 2008!)
• Laura Bennett, U.S. Triathlon, Chi Omega, Southern Methodist University
• Rachel Buehler, U.S. Soccer, Kappa Kappa Gamma, Stanford University, Gold medal
• Erin Cafaro, U.S. Rowing, Pi Beta Phi, UC Berkeley, Gold medal (She also won gold in 2008!)
• Muffy Davis, U.S. Paralympic Cycling, Delta Delta Delta, Stanford University (She won four Paralumpic ski medals in 1998 and 2002)
• Annika Dries, U.S. Water Polo, Delta Delta Delta, Stanford University, Gold medal
• Robin Farina, U.S. Cycling, Kappa Delta, University of Tennessee – Knoxville
• Nikola Girke, Canada RSX Windsurfing, Gamma Phi Beta, University of British Columbia
• Abby Johnston, U.S. Diving, Delta Delta Delta, Duke University – Silver medal, synchronized diving
• Jennifer Kessy, U.S. Beach Volleyball, Kappa Kappa Gamma, University of Southern California – Silver medal
• Mariya Koroleva, U.S. Synchronized Swimming, Delta Delta Delta, Stanford University
• Eleanor (Elle) Logan, U.S. Rowing, Kappa Kappa Gamma, Stanford University Gold medal (She also won gold in 2008!)
• Tatyana McFadden, U.S. Paralympic Track & Field, Phi Sigma Sigma, University of Illinois Gold medal (She won two medals in 2004 and four more in 2008.)
• Teresa (Teri) McKeever, U.S. Swimming – coach, Alpha Gamma Delta, University Southern California
• Kelley O’Hara, U.S. Soccer, Kappa Kappa Gamma, Stanford University, Gold medal
• Paige Railey, U.S. Laser Radial Sailing, Delta Delta Delta, University of South Florida
• Ali Riley, New Zealand Soccer, Kappa Kappa Gamma, Stanford University
• Taylor Ritzel, U.S. Rowing, Pi Beta Phi, Yale University Gold medal
• Melissa (Mel) Seidemann, U.S. Water Polo, Kappa Kappa Gamma, Stanford University, Gold medal
• Suzanne Stettinius, U.S. Modern Pentathlon, Alpha Xi Delta, Bethany College
• Evelyn Stevens, U.S. Cycling, Kappa Kappa Gamma, Dartmouth College
• Genevra Stone, U.S. Rowing, Kappa Kappa Gamma, Princeton University

Andrea Kremer of NBC’s Broadcast team is a Phi Sigma Sigma. Alex Flanagan, Gamma Phi Beta, is reporting on diving events. Karen Crouse, Alpha Gamma Delta, is a New York Times sports reporter covering the Olympics.

Lauren Donahoo, Alpha Phi, William Woods University, is a dressage groomer for Calecto

Julianne Peixoto, Alpha Xi Delta, was an intern for NBC at the 2012 Olympics. Read about her experience at:

http://www.alphaxidelta.org/index.php?src=blog&srctype=detail&blogid=56

If you have additional past and current Olympian corrections, additions, etc., please let me know and I will update the list.

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