US Team Handball Women's National Team

Basic Facts

DOB: 8/23/84
Place of Birth: Atlanta, GA
Hometown: Atlanta, CA
Height: 5’6”
Position: Right Back
Started Playing: September 1995
High School: North Atlanta
College: Colgate University
Major: Religion/Biology (pre-med)

Setting herself apart from most of the team, Megan Ballard was exposed to team handball at a young age. When the Olympics were in Atlanta, GA in 1996, a junior development program was started, where all the middle schools and Boys & Girls Clubs began to teach the sport. Growing up in the southern metropolis, Megan was able to pick up the sport and was eventually selected to the junior national team.

During high school, Megan was also on the basketball and track teams. She had several accomplishments in both sports. Her basketball team won the state championships in the 2000-2001 season and were runner-ups the following season, 2001-2002, ranked #12 in the nation. In track, Megan went to the state championships for the 4x1 and 4x4 relays.  

Upon graduation, Megan took her athletic skills to a Division I basketball program at Colgate University. At this level, she continued to excel and garnered various awards once again. 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. After Colgate, Megan planned to move to Spain for a year and then go to medical school. However, when she found out about the WNT being in Cortland, NY, she decided to return to the sport.

Like many of the players, Megan still enjoys being a part of a team.  In April 2006, she became a member of the WNT.  Since that time she has participated in the 2006 USA Cup, 2006 European Tour and 2007 trip to Sweden and was selected to the 2006 USA Cup All-Tournament team.  This year Megan was named 2006 Athlete of the Year for Women's Handball.    In league play, Megan averaged 7 and 4  goals per game in the Northeast Team Handball Conference and Quebec League (Canadian) respectively.

Megan is currently pursuing teams in France.  She hopes to play abroad for at least a year to gain the experience she feels is necessary to help propel herself to the next level, as well as the team.   

“I have experienced a lot of individual growth as an athlete this year.  It was an honor and surprise to be awarded Player of the Year, but one for which, I am extremely grateful. I believe I was given this honor because of my defense.  I am not the tallest athlete, so I always try to work a little harder.”

“Coming back to handball, has definitely opened a new chapter in my life and I hope that it brings all of our dreams of an Olympic bid soon. We have had some struggles this season, but I believe that it only has made us stronger. We still have our Pan Am Qualifiers and Pan Am Championships to demonstrate that our hard work has paid off.  It has been an honor to play on the US National Team but also an honor to play with such dedicated and supportive teammates.”