Hall of Fame
Karen Morrison, a member of the National women’s water polo team, was instrumental in taking the Varsity Blues to a whole new level in the pool.
Karen arrived at U of T in 1987, and without an official women’s squad in place at the time, she competed for two seasons with the men’s team. In fact, even after joining the women’s team full-time, Karen continued to train with the men to keep her skills sharp for international play.
The Silver T recipient was named the OWIAA most valuable player in her first complete season with the women’s team and paced the Varsity Blues to an OWIAA silver medal during the 1991-92 campaign. Her commitment to U of T didn’t end there, as Karen returned to coach the Varsity Blues starting in 1999, earning the OUA coach of year award in 2001-02.
As a player, Karen represented Canada from 1989-97 and played semi-pro water polo in both France (Club ASPTT Nancy) and Mexico (Club Guadalajara). With the National squad, Karen participated in four FINA World Cups and two World Championships. She was a member of the silver medal winning team at the 1991 World Aquatic Championships.
Karen was also a decorated competitive swimmer and was an OWIAA Medalist and CIAU finalist in 1994 and 1995 as she completed her Masters at the University of Guelph.
Inducted into the North Toronto Collegiate Hall of Fame in 1997, Karen has now directed her energies to the environment at home and abroad. Most recently she created and conducted a ‘Water Campaign’ for local governments and represented them at the United Nations and other international conferences from 1998 to 2002.
