US Team Handball Women's National Team

“We are fortunate to have an athlete like Megan on the team,” said Dawn Lewis, head coach of the WNT. “She is respected by her teammates for her unyielding devotion to the program, team attitude and work ethic.  As such, we have asked Megan to be more assertive on and off the floor.  She has accepted that role and is performing extremely well as a new leader.”

Megan Ballard, who currently plays right back for the WNT, has been full-time in the residency program since April 2006.  Although she made her international debut with the senior national team during the European Tour in the summer of 2006, Megan brought a wealth of handball experience gained through her time on the junior national team.

“What makes Megan such a great player is that she is deceptively quick,” explains Lewis.  “She can turn it on and off, thus acts as a much needed defensive catalyst and often maneuvers around her opponent with ease. But, most importantly, Megan is a quality individual.  She is clever, committed, leads by example and carries herself with class, exemplifying the characteristics we search for in all players.  It has been a pleasure working with her.

Megan began her handball career in her hometown of Atlanta, Georgia, where she benefited from the junior development programs that took root there after the 1996 Olympic Games.  After playing the Boys and Girls club, she was selected to the junior national team in 2000, with whom she played 5 international matches.

When she got to college, however, Megan put team handball aside for a few years to focus on her Division 1 basketball career at Colgate University.  In her first season, she was chosen to the Patriot League's All-Freshmen Team (2002-2003). In the 2004-2005 season, she was the Patriot League's Defensive Player of the Year, and in the 2005-2006 season, she was chosen to the Patriot League's All-League Team.

As her collegiate basketball career came to a close, Megan made the decision to stick around upstate New York and pursue handball again full-time.  She joined the WNT on their European Tour last summer, and since then has participated in the USA Cup, the 2006-2007 NETHC and Quebec League seasons, the Sweden Tour, the North American Qualifier, and the second-chance qualifier in Mexico.

“It's a great honor to be named Female Athlete of the Year,” replied Megan Ballard.  “It was more than unexpected but definitely a welcomed surprise. This year has been extremely fun for me to get back into handball and I am fortunate to play on such a well-rounded team. I worked really hard this year to try to be an asset for the team and still have much to learn from many of our veteran players as well as other teammates. I am grateful and thankful for those who made this decision and hope that our team finds this continued support.

Megan hopes to continue her handball career next year with a club team in France. She would eventually like to return to the US to pursue medical school and a career in obstetrics.