2010 Air Force Water Polo Media Guide by Air Force Sports Information

TABLE OF CONTENTS/QUICK FACTS 2010 AIR FORCE QUICK FACTS

TABLE OF CONTENTS

GENERAL INFORMATION Location ...........................................................................USAF Academy, Colo. Founded ..........................................................................................................1954 Enrollment.....................................................................................................4,400 Nickname ...................................................................................................Falcons Colors ...........................................................................................Blue and Silver Superintendent........................................................Lt. Gen. Michael C. Gould Athletic Director.....................................................................Dr. Hans J. Mueh Vice Athletic Director ...............................................................Brad DeAustin Athletic Department Phone ......................................................719-333-4008

Quick Facts/Table of Contents.........................................................................1 Head Coach Jeff Heidmous ...............................................................................2 Assistant Coach Brian Pendergast...................................................................3 Support Staff .........................................................................................................3 2010 Water Polo Outlook.................................................................................4 2010 Roster ..........................................................................................................5 Returning Falcons ..........................................................................................6-11 Freshmen to Watch ..........................................................................................12 2009 Game Results...........................................................................................13 Year-by-Year Records .......................................................................................14 Honors/Awards ...........................................................................................15-16 All-Americans.....................................................................................................17 Record Book ................................................................................................18-19 All-Time Letterwinners..............................................................................20-21 Falcon Facilities ..................................................................................................12 Air Force Academy ...........................................................................................23 Academy Leadership.........................................................................................24 Athletic Director Dr. Hans Mueh ..................................................................25 Air Force Athletics ............................................................................................26

COACHING STAFF Head Coach...................................................................................Jeff Heidmous Alma Mater .....................................................................................USAFA, 1977 Career Record/Years....................................................................232-202-1/17 Air Force Record/Years ..............................................................................Same Heidmous’ Phone.........................................................................719-333-2792 Heidmous’ Fax ..............................................................................719-333-2599 Heidmous’ Email.......................................................jeff.heidmous@usafa.edu Asst. Coach..................................................Brian Pendergast (USAFA, 1997) Officer Representative................................Maj. John Christ (USAFA, 1996) Athletic Trainer....................................................................................Lisa Smith Strength & Conditioning Coach .....................................................Kim Pinske Team Information Conference...............................Western Water Polo Association (WWPA) Facility ....................................................Cadet Natatorium/Water Polo Pool 2009 Overall Record ..................................................................................18-14 2009 Final National Ranking .......................................................................17th Starters R/L .......................................................................................................4/3 Letterwinners R/L..........................................................................................15/6 Team Captain.................................................................................Bobby Geiger

Credits: The 2010 Air Force Water Polo media guide is a product of the Air Force Academy athletic media relations office. Editorial content, layout and design by Assistant Media Relations Director Melissa McKeown. Additional editing by the water polo coaches and the athletic media relations staff. Photographs provided by DenMar Services. On the Cover: Featured on the front cover is senior captain Bobby Geiger.

Athletic Media Relations Asst. Director (Water Polo SID).......................................Melissa McKeown SID Phone ......................................................................................719-333-9025 SID Fax ...........................................................................................719-333-3798 Email ....................................................................melissa.mckeown@usafa.edu Website............................................................................goairforcefalcons.com Mailing Address..........................................................2169 Field House Drive, ...............................................................................................USAFA, CO 80840

2 0 1 0

A I R

F O R C E

WAT E R

P O L O

•1•

COACHING STAFF

JEFF HEIDMOUS HEAD COACH FIRST SEASON (18TH OVERALL) (USAFA, 1977) Jeff Heidmous, the winningest coach in program history, returns to coach the Air Force water polo team this season. Heidmous, who is also the associate athletic director/deputy head, department of physical education at the Academy, takes back the reins of the Falcons’ water polo program after spending the last 11 years working as an administrator in the Air Force athletic department. Heidmous, a 1977 Academy graduate, began his Air Force coaching career in 1981, before heading to UC Santa Barbara in 1985 to pursue his graduate degree.While at UCSB, he helped coach the Gaucho water polo team, assisting them to a fourth-place finish in the NCAA Tournament, while earning his master’s degree in exercise physiology. He then returned to the Academy in 1986, where he coached until his military retirement in 1999. During his 17-year tenure, Heidmous posted a 232-202-1 career ledger. All 17 of his teams finished the season nationally ranked in the top 20, including 15 top-15 rankings and five top-10 finishes. Before his arrival in 1981, no Air Force water polo team had ever been nationally ranked. In addition, between 1988 and 1996, Heidmous led the Falcons to nine straight appearances in the Western Water Polo Association championship game (then a conference record), winning a pair of WWPA titles (1990 and 1994). His 1994 team compiled a perfect 12-0 record in conference action. Heidmous also led four teams to the NCAA Championship tournament and coached nine players to 12 All-America citations. During his tenure, 28 players earned a total of 53 All-WWPA selections, while four players earned league MVP accolades. His players also were recognized for their academic achievement, with a total of 38 academic all-conference honors (20 players) and seven honorees on the ACWPC All-Academic Team (14 awards). Four of Heidmous’ players captured Academy Major Awards. David Chaney and Brian Pendergast were both recipients of the Athletic Excellence Award, the Academy’s second-highest athletic achievement award. Ted Baudendistel earned the Athletic Leadership Award, presented annually by the Commandant of Cadets to the cadet-athlete displaying the highest traits of character and leadership, while Don Sheesley was presented with the Scholar-Athlete Award, recognizing the Academy’s top graduating scholar-athlete. A two-time WWPA Coach of the Year, Heidmous also served as the head coach for the 1987 and 1988 U.S. Junior National Development water polo teams, winning two Can-Am-Mex tournaments, and led the South team at the 1990 and 1995 U.S. Olympic Sports Festivals, earning a silver medal in 1995. In 1987 he was honored as one of the original cadre of Elite-Level coaches certified by USA Water Polo and was later selected to the national team coaching pool from 1990-1994. During his 17-year tenure, Heidmous arguably developed the top collegiate program outside of California. In his last nine seasons (1990-1998), Air Force shocked the NCAA water polo world with 18 victories over more advantaged Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (MPSF) programs (23 total wins since 1981), more MPSF victories than all the other non-California teams combined, and five top-10 national rankings. For his coaching achievements, involvement in USA Water Polo, and contributions to the growth of water polo outside of California (especially at the collegiate level) he was inducted as a coach into the USA Water Polo Hall of Fame in 2002. In 2007, Heidmous was selected to the NCAA Men’s Water Polo Championships and Rules Committees and subsequently voted in as the Chair of the Championships Committee for 2010.

THE HEIDMOUS FILE HOMETOWN Lompoc, Calif.

EDUCATION Undergraduate: U.S. Air Force Academy, 1977 B.S. in Management Graduate: UC Santa Barbara, 1987 M.S. in Exercise Physiology

PLAYING EXPERIENCE U.S. Air Force Academy • Four-year letterwinner (1973-76) • Team captain/team MVP (1976)

COACHING EXPERIENCE U.S. Air Force Academy • Head Coach, 1981-84 UC Santa Barbara • Assistant Coach 1985 U.S. Air Force Academy • Head Coach, 1986-98 U.S. Air Force Academy • Head Coach, 2010-

MISCELLANEOUS • Chairman of NCAA Men’s Water Polo Championships Committee, 2010 • Inducted as a coach into USA Water Polo Hall of Fame in 2002 • Two-time WWPA Coach of the Year (1990, 1994) • Won a pair of WWPA Championships (1990, 1994) • Led Falcons to four NCAA Tournament appearances (1981, 1986, 1990, 1994) • Coached five top-10 nationally ranked teams and nine All-Americans • Spent last 11 years as a senior administrator in the Air Force athletic department

Heidmous is one of three brothers to play water polo for the Falcons. All three brothers were four-year starters and earned team captain and team MVP honors as seniors. He and his brother,Walt, were members of Air Force’s first NCAA tournament team in 1974, while his brother Phil was a member of Air Force’s 1978 and 1979 NCAA Tournament teams. Heidmous and his wife, Barb, have three children: Jodi (27), Bryan (25) and Briget (21).

•2•

2 0 1 0

A I R

F O R C E

WAT E R

P O L O

COACHING STAFF/SUPPORT STAFF

BRIAN PENDERGAST ASSISTANT COACH FIRST SEASON (FOURTH OVERALL) (USAFA, 1997) This season, Brian Pendergast returns to the Air Force water polo program in his second stint as an assistant coach. Pendergast previously served three years as an assistant for the Falcons (2002-04). A 1997 Academy graduate, Pendergast is one of the most decorated players in school history. He was a three-time All-American, earning third team honors in 1996. Pendergast also was named the Western Water Polo Association MVP in 1994 and 1996, garnering team MVP accolades in both seasons as well. He remains the third-leading scorer in school history with 212 goals and 83 assists in his career. In his senior season, when the Falcons matched a program-best final ranking of ninth in the nation, Pendergast was awarded the Academy’s Athletic Excellence Award. “I look forward to bringing back the commitment to fundamentally sound water polo that is the hallmark of a team coached by Jeff Heidmous,” said Pendergast. Additionally, Pendergast won a silver medal at the 1994 U.S. Olympic Festival and playing as a member of the U.S. Junior national team at the 1995 World Junior Championships. He was also a member of the U.S. National Team and World Class Athlete Program, as well as a USWP Senior Na-

tional champion in 2000. In May 2003, Pendergast was inducted into the Illinois Water Polo Hall of Fame. In April 2004, he received the Outstanding Educator Award, the highest Academic Award given at the Academy. During his Air Force career, Pendergast served as the Chief of On-Orbit Operations and Software Support for the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program. He was responsible for the sustainment of a weather satellite constellation valued at over $750 million and was a member of the launch and early orbit team. Prior to returning to the Air Force Academy, Pendergast lived in Chicago and completed his MBA in entrepreneurship from the University of Illinois-Chicago with a 3.93 GPA (Aug 2010). In 2006, he coached the Windy City Water Polo team and three players went on to earn NCAA All-America status. Within the athletic department, Pendergast also serves as the Aquatics Area Coordinator responsible for all swimming, water survival and Scuba instruction. In June 2008, Pendergast married Carrie Lesher of Rutherfordton, N.C. They currently reside in Monument, Colo.

MAJ. JOHN CHRIST OFFICER REPRESENTATIVE Maj. John Christ serves as officer representative for the Air Force water polo team. Christ is an associate professor in the department of civil and environmental engineering.

Kim Pinske Strength & Conditioning Coach

Lisa Smith Athletic Trainer

C1C Mark Beeman Team Manager

C3C Grant Williams Team Manager

A 1996 graduate of the Academy, Christ lettered four years in water polo, serving as team captain and earning MVP honors in his final season. An honorable mention All-America and AWPCA All-Academic selection in 1995, Christ was named to both the All-WWPA and Academic All-WWPA teams in his junior and senior campaigns and earned a silver medal at the 1995 U.S. Olympic Festival. In addition to earning his master’s degree in 1997 from the Air Force Institute of Technology at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, Christ has also spent time at Minot AFB, N.D., and Osan AB, Korea, while also deploying to Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan and Qatar. Christ earned his Ph.D. from the University of Michigan in July 2005. Christ and his wife of 14 years, Melisa, have four children, aged 20, 18, 10 and 6.

2 0 1 0

A I R

F O R C E

WAT E R

P O L O

•3•

2010 OUTLOOK Back to the Future... Cruz Smithson Jeff Heidmous, the winningest water polo coach in Air Force history, returns to coach the Air Force water polo team for the 2010 season. Heidmous laughs about his first contact with his new team: “The first day of practice was like that scene in the movie Hoosiers when Gene Hackman strolls into the gym with his whistle in hand, not knowing the players’ names, and mumbles to himself, ‘Let’s see what kind of hand I’ve been dealt’ and his opening line to the team is (using my background) ‘I coached college water polo for 18 years, but it’s been 11 years since I’ve blown one of these (holding up a whistle). So I’m going to be learning as much from you as you are from me.’ That’s how it all started for us this season—me stealing a line from a movie that hit the theaters before any of these guys were born.” Back to the Future, Part I1... Brian Pendergast, the only three-time NCAA water polo AllAmerican in Air Force Academy history, reunites with Heidmous to coach the Falcons this fall. “It’s been enjoyable to observe the players adapt to the new coaching style: a commitment to fundamentals, conditioning, and defense,” said Pendergast. With a USWP national championship, WWPA championship, and over ten career victories over MPSF teams, Pendergast seeks to transfer his championship knowledge and experience to the current team: “Playing in big games and with the national team gave me a solid foundation of practical knowledge and experience. I’ve had the opportunity to play for multiple Hall of Fame coaches and I love to teach players what I’ve learned.” The Perfect Storm... Heidmous believes that coaching changes can be synergistic: “The first year of a coaching change can result in a perfect storm, where the positives from the last coaching staff collide with what the new staff brings in.That first year can enjoy a synergistic push.” The Falcons will need a big push as the preseason polls have Air Force ranked 19th in the nation and fifth in the Western Water Polo Association (WWPA). “I think we will do better than the polls predict, but for us to enjoy a Hoosier-like season finish by winning a WWPA Championship, it will take that perfect storm, and total focus and commitment by the players and coaches,” said Heidmous. Winning a WWPA Championship will take an ocean’s swell of synergy, as Air Force has not won a WWPA crown since 1994 or been in the WWPA championship game since 1999. And, as Heidmous points out, “There is always an adjustment period with a new coaching staff. It’s like learning a new golf swing; you usually get worse before you get better. Fortunately for us, water polo seasons are measured by your play in November, so we have a couple months to sort things out and make positive adjustments.” Band of Brothers... Although senior team captain Bobby Geiger, the fifth ranked scorer in the country in 2009 with 77 goals, and sophomore Cruz

•4•

2 0 1 0

A I R

F O R C E

Smithson, the reigning WWPA Freshman of the Year, are the most recognized returning players, Heidmous believes the real strength of the 2010 squad will be its depth. “I’ve not coached this team in a game, so I may change my assessment as the season progresses, but from the handful of practices we’ve had together, I believe there is a solid group of 12 field players, and our goalkeeper play should be sound,” said Heidmous. “Collectively, this might end up being one of the better groups of players I’ve had the privilege to coach. A great group of guys...a real Band of Brothers.” But depth can be a double-edged sword. “Depth will allow us to play at a higher pace, but the challenge when using a lot of players is to figure out how to maintain a high level of execution with varying combinations of players,” continued Heidmous. Like the better Air Force teams of the past, the 2010 team will need to play inspired and tenacious team defense and create goals by committee. How this team’s depth impacts tactics will be interesting to track. “What we lack in size, we hope to make up with above average team speed,” said Heidmous. “If by November we can sort out how to use our depth and speed to our advantage, I believe we can make a run at a WWPA championship . . . time will tell.” In addition to Geiger and Smithson, that solid core of players looks to be made up of seniors Kurt Lemmen, Kurt Wallin, Matt Versage and Matt Shields, and juniors Taque Patino, Anson Harvey and goalkeeper Danny Harold. “Coaching staff changes are inherently toughest on seniors and juniors as they have the most at stake,” Heidmous points out. “The support and positive attitudes of the seniors and juniors during this transition have been tremendous. They have a contagious positive attitude and lead by example. When the top players are working the hardest, the entire team has no choice but to follow their lead.” Joining Smithson in a strong sophomore class are Alex Arcidiacono, Dillon Fisher, Garrett Womack and goalkeeper Mike Fish. “The development of these sophomores between now and November is critical if we hope to get back to the WWPA championship game,” said Heidmous. Rounding out the core of players being counted on this fall is standout freshman Josh Stedman. “Josh is one of the more talented freshmen I’ve coached, but...well, he is just a freshman,” adds Heidmous. “How quickly he picks up the college game will go a long way in helping us challenge for a WWPA crown.” Bobby Geiger

The Honeymooners... Fast forwarding to October and November, Heidmous summarizes, “I’ve been in college athletics for almost 30 years, so I’m fully aware of the honeymoon period new coaching staffs enjoy with their athletes. So far the entire team is drinking 100% of what we are pouring. As the season progresses the pressure will be on Brian and me as a staff to make sure we are pouring drinks worthy of their continued trust and support.” Hopefully the Falcons prove the preseason polls wrong and make great theater this season.

WAT E R

P O L O

2010 ROSTER # 1 1A 1B 1C 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25

PLAYER Danny Harold Mike Fish Ken Appel Daniel Stasik Taque Patino Cruz Smithson Bobby Geiger Andrew Strawbridge Kurt Lemmen Anson Harvey Matt Shields Matt Versage Alex Arcidiacono Dillon Fisher Max Reilly Garrett Womack Andrew Hamilton Josh Stedman Kurt Wallin Mike Radosevich Charley Ford Brad Duncan Nick Konishi Kyle Mahan Shane Welch Brad Rajchel Pat Shields Matt McCurdy

YR. Jr. So. Fr. Fr. Jr. So. Sr. Sr. Sr. Jr. Sr. Sr. So. So. Fr. So. Fr. Fr. Sr. So. Sr. Fr. Jr. Fr. Fr. So. Fr. Fr.

HT./WT. 6-0/170 6-2/190 6-4/180 6-2/180 6-3/200 5-11/210 5-11/195 5-10/185 6-3/210 6-3/180 6-0/190 6-3/215 6-1/190 5-10/178 5-8/160 6-3/190 6-3/205 6-0/172 6-0/182 6-3/200 6-1/225 6-0/155 5-8/150 6-0/155 6-0/190 6-0/180 5-10/155 6-3/200

POSITION Goalie Goalie Goalie Goalie 2M Off./Def. Utility Utility Driver 2M Def. Utility Utility 2M Off./Def. Driver Driver Driver Utility 2M Off./Def. Utility Utility 2M Off. 2M Off./Def. Driver Driver Driver 2M Off. Driver Driver Driver

HOMETOWN (HIGH SCHOOL) Corona Del Mar, Calif. (Sage Hill School) Manhattan Beach, Calif. (Mira Costa) Riverside, Calif. (Martin Luther King) Fontana, Calif. (Etiwanda) Rockford, Mich. (Rockford) Capistrano Beach, Calif. (Servite) Buellton, Calif. (Santa Ynez) San Jose, Calif. (Bellarmine College Prep) Orlando, Fla. (Edgewater) Thousand Oaks, Calif. (Westlake) Gilroy, Calif. (Bellarmine College Prep) Merced, Calif. (Merced) La Jolla, Calif. (La Jolla) Orange, Calif. (Villa Park) Davis, Calif. (Davis) Redlands, Calif. (Redlands East Valley) Mechanicsburg, Pa. (Cumberland Valley) Brea, Calif. (Troy) Temecula, Calif. (Murrieta Valley) Temecula, Calif. (Great Oak) Clovis, Calif. (Clovis) Fresno, Calif. (Clovis West) Santa Ana, Calif. (Foothill) Corinth, Texas (Guyer) Antelope, Calif. (Oakmont) Winter Park, Fla. (Winter Park) Gilroy, Calif. (Bellarmine College Prep) Boulder, Colo. (Boulder)

Bold indicates team captain Head Coach: Jeff Heidmous (USAFA, ‘77) Assistant Coach: Brian Pendergast (USAFA, ‘97) Managers: Mark Beeman, Grant Williams, Ryan Sheikh

2 0 1 0

A I R

F O R C E

WAT E R

P O L O

•5•

FALCON RETURNERS CHARLEY FORD

BOBBY GEIGER

SR.• 6-1/225 • 2M OFF./DEF. CLOVIS, CALIF. (CLOVIS)

SR.• 5-11/195 • UTILITY BUELLTON, CALIF. (SANTA YNEZ)

2009: Earned a varsity letter … recorded one goal and five assists on the season …

Team captain for 2010 season … currently ranked 14th on Academy’s all-time scoring list with 202 career points (147 goals, 55 assists).

2008: Earned a varsity letter ... tallied six goals and seven assists on the season ... also recorded 19.5 steals and seven drawn ejections.

2009: Named team’s offensive player of the year … scored a team-best 77 goals … tied for fifth in the nation in total goals scored … also added 23 assists for a team-high 100 points … posted a shooting percentage of .428 … registered 38 steals and 17 drawn ejections … earned Air Force Athlete of the Week honors on Oct. 19.

also registered 14 steals.

2007: Received a JV letter. High School: Finished senior season with 39 goals and 27 assists ... tallied 67 goals and 43 assists for his career ... named team MVP ... earned senior student-athlete award ... president of National Honor Society ... High Honor Roll ... Rotary Club top 100. Personal: Son of Charley and Beth Ford ... hero is Lance Armstrong ... hobby is fly fishing ... would like to become a pilot after graduation ... majoring in management ... favorite quote: “To be the best you have to work harder than the rest.”

2008: Shared team offensive player of the year honors ... scored a teambest 52 goals on the season ... also added 21 assists to finish second on the team in total points with 73 ... shooting percentage of 42.6 ranked among team’s leaders ... added 38.5 steals and 17 drawn ejections on the season. 2007: Team’s Rookie of the Year ... named to the WWPA All-Freshman team ... tied for fifth on the team in goals scored with 18 ... also scored 11 assists on the season ... added 10.5 steals and eight drawn ejections. High School: Lettered four years in water polo ... team captain and twotime MVP ... team won LPL championship ... gold medalist at Junior Olympics ... second-team All-American ... two-time All-CIF selection ... three-time all-league selection ... tallied 124 goals in senior season ... also lettered four years in swimming ... team captain and MVP in swimming ... league MVP ... won league in 50 freestyle and 100 butterfly ... scholar-athlete of the year ... volunteered with Relay for Life and Special Olympics. Personal: Son of Paul and Deby Geiger ... owns best times of 22.9 in the 50 freestyle, 52.6 in the 100 free and 59.8 in the 100 butterfly ... hero is his dad ... hobbies include surfing, snowboarding and water polo ... majoring in English ... favorite quote: "If you're going through hell...keep going."

•6•

2 0 1 0

A I R

F O R C E

WAT E R

P O L O

FALCON RETURNERS KURT LEMMEN

MATT SHIELDS

SR.• 6-3/210 • 2M DEF. ORLANDO, FLA. (EDGEWATER)

SR.• 6-0/190 • UTILITY GILROY, CALIF. (BELLARMINE PREP)

2009: Received a varsity letter … tallied a career-high 18 goals and 16 assists … added 27.5 steals and 10 drawn ejections. 2008: Earned a varsity letter ... scored seven goals and seven assists on the year ... added 27.5 steals and five drawn ejections. 2007: Received a varsity letter ... tallied two assists on the season. High School: Played water polo for four years ... two-time team captain ... four-year team MVP and leading scorer ... three-time team MVP in swimming ... team captain as a senior ... named rookie of the year as a freshman ... three-time state qualifier ... voted Most Spirited in the senior superlatives. Personal: Son of Jay and Janet Lemmen ... owns best time of 1:01:11 in the 100 breaststroke ... heroes are his father, Lance P. Sijan and Derek Argel ... hobbies include watching movies ... favorite quote: “Be excellent to each other!” - from Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure.

2 0 1 0

A I R

F O R C E

2009: Earned a varsity letter … ranked fifth on the team with 19 goals on the year … added 13 assists … also notched 22.5 steals and 16 drawn ejections. 2008: Did not see action. 2007: Earned a varsity letter ... scored one assist on the season ... also recorded four steals and a drawn ejection. High School: Team won CCS for 10 straight years ... winners in West Catholic Athletic League ... team captain ... All-WCAL and All-CCS selection ... academic All-American ... coached fifth grade girls’ basketball. Personal: Son of Mel and Kim Shields ... younger brother, Pat, is a freshman on the Falcons’ water polo squad ... owns best time of 4:53 in the 500 freestyle ... hero is his dad ... hobbies include outdoor activities ... majoring in foreign affairs ... would like to become a fighter pilot after graduation ... favorite quote: “And shepherds we shall be, for Thee, my Lord, for Thee/Power hath descended forth from Thy hand that our feet may swiftly carry out Thy command/So we shall flow a river forth unto Thee, and teeming with souls shall it ever be, In Nomine Patris, Et Filii, Et Spiritus Sancti.”

WAT E R

P O L O

•7•

FALCON RETURNERS ANDREW STRAWBRIDGE

MATT VERSAGE

SR.• 5-10/185 • DRIVER SAN JOSE, CALIF. (BELLARMINE PREP)

SR.• 6-3/215 • 2M OFF./DEF. MERCED, CALIF. (MERCED)

2009: Earned a varsity letter … registered three goals and two assists for the year … also recorded four steals and a drawn ejection … named to the ACPWC All-Academic team for the third-straight season … also named to the Academic All-WWPA team. 2008: Earned a varsity letter ... scored two goals and two assists on the season ... also added two steals and a drawn ejection ... named to the ACPWC All-Academic team.

2009: Recorded 14 goals and a careerbest 14 assists on the season … also notched 21 steals and 16 drawn ejections. 2008: Named the Falcons’ Most Improved Player ... earned Air Force Athlete of the Week honors on Sept. 29 ... finished season with 26 goals and 12 assists ... also added 17 steals and 10 drawn ejections ... among team leaders in shot percentage at .426. 2007: Received a varsity letter ... scored two goals on the season.

2007: Earned a JV letter ... scored one assist on the season ... named to ACPWC All-Academic Team. High School: Section champion and co-league champion ... finished season with 23 goals and 52 assists ... named Most Inspirational ... volunteered with the Special Olympics. Personal: Son of Jean and Steve Strawbridge ... hero is his father ... hobbies include video games and watching sports ... majoring in biochemistry ... would like to attend medical school after graduation ... favorite quote: “Accept the challenges so that you can feel the exhilaration of victory." Gen. George S. Patton.

•8•

2 0 1 0

A I R

F O R C E

High School: Four-year varsity letterwinner ... first-team all-league selection ... second-team all-section pick ... two-time league champion in both 50 and 100 freestyle events. Personal: Son of Lori DeCaro and Vincent Versage ... owns best times of 21.9 in the 50 freestyle and 48.3 in the 100 free ... attended the Academy Prep School ... role model is brother, Josh, a Naval Academy graduate and current naval aviator ... hobbies include snowboarding and sleeping ... favorite quote: “Don't be remembered by what you could have done. Be remembered by what you did.”

WAT E R

P O L O

FALCON RETURNERS KURT WALLIN

DANNY HAROLD

SR.• 6-0/182 • UTILITY TEMECULA, CALIF. (MURRIETA VALLEY)

JR.• 6-0/170 • GOALIE CORONA DEL MAR, CALIF. (SAGE HILL SCHOOL)

2009: Recipient of the Coaches Award … finished the season with 16 goals … second on the team with 25 assists … also recorded 27.5 steals and 18 drawn ejections. 2008: Earned a varsity letter ... missed all but the final two weekends of competition ... scored 10 goals and two assists in just eight games ... also recorded four steals and two drawn ejections. 2007: Received a varsity letter ... scored one goal and one assist on the season. High School: Played water polo for seven years ... team won Division 5 CIF championship ... led team in assists in junior and senior seasons ... team’s third-leading scorer ... first-team all-league and all-division selection ... named to The Californian’s first-team ... Junior Olympics honorable mention All-American ... named to all-academic team. Personal: Son of Bill and Vicki Wallin ... owns best times of 22.7 in the 50 freestyle and 1:03 in the 100 breaststroke ... hero is his cousin, Scott ... hobbies include snowboarding, wakeboarding, surfing, hanging with friends and going to the movies ... plans to major in military history ... would like to become a helicopter pilot after graduation ... favorite quote: “What’s life without a bit of a risk?”

2009: Earned a varsity letter as the Falcons’ backup goalkeeper … recipient of the Hardest Worker Award … recorded 69 saves and two steals … also recorded five assists … named to ACWPC All-Academic team, as well as the Academic All-WWPA team. 2008: Earned a varsity letter ... named the Falcons’ Rookie of the Year ... played in 16 games as the Falcons’ backup goalkeeper ... registered 42 saves on the season ... also recorded three assists and two steals ... named to ACWPC All-Academic team. High School: Played water polo for five years ... team was a four-time CIF qualifier ... two-time team MVP ... named Orange Coast League CoMVP in 2007 ... two-time all-league honoree ... second-team Division II CIF selection in 2007 ... member of SOPAC Zone team and SET Premier League ... owns a top time of 1:03 in the 100 breaststroke ... named to High Honor Roll for eight semesters. Personal: Son of Debi and Tom Harold ... hobbies include chess, politics, movies and music ... created and operated Fin ED, a volunteer organization which teaches middle school students basic aspects of finance, saving and business ... majoring in electrical engineering ... hero is his dad ... favorite quote: "If you will it, it is no dream." -Theodor Herzl.

ANSON HARVEY JR.• 6-3/180 • UTILITY THOUSAND OAKS, CALIF. (WESTLAKE) 2009: Received a varsity letter … registered two assists on the season … also notched three steals and a drawn ejection. 2008: Earned a varsity letter ... tallied five goals on the season ... also added three steals and a drawn ejection. High School: Played water polo for four years ... team was a CIF qualifier in 2007, for just the second time in school history ... team captain and MVP ... winner of Coach's Award and Most Improved Player ... secondteam all-league selection ... recorded 51 goals, 24 assists, 61 steals and 43 drawn ejections ... owns top times of 23.3 in the 50 freestyle and 52.0 in the 100 freestyle ... recipient of Scholar-Athlete Award. Personal: Son of Dwight and Patti Harvey ... plans to major in engineering ... would like to become a fighter pilot after graduation ... volunteers with the 805 Christian Surfers ... an Eagle Scout and church camp counselor ... hobbies include surfing, skating and water polo ... hero is his father ... favorite quote: "Success is how high you bounce when you hit bottom." -General George Patton.

2 0 1 0

A I R

F O R C E

WAT E R

P O L O

•9•

FALCON RETURNERS NICK KONISHI

ALEX ARCIDIACONO

JR.• 5-8/150 • DRIVER SANTA ANA, CALIF. (FOOTHILL)

SO.• 6-1/190 • DRIVER LA JOLLA, CALIF. (LA JOLLA)

2009: Did not compete. 2008: Earned a JV letter. High School: Earned three varsity letters in water polo ... team finished in Division I CIF quarterfinals and took first place in the Sea View League in senior season ... recorded 15 goals, 30 assists and 22 steals in 2007 ... team co-captain as a senior ... winner of Pride, Hustle and Desire Award in 2006 and 2007 ... recipient of Coaches Award in 2005 ... also earned four letters in swimming ... recipient of the Workhorse Award in swimming in 2007 ... swimming team co-captain in 2008 ... silver medalist at the 12under Junior Olympics in 2002 ... gold medalist at the 14-under Junior Olympics in 2004 ... member of National Youth Zone Team (SoPac) ... named to Honor Roll 2004-2008 ... recipient of Knight Award for Chemistry in 2006 ... member of the Key Club.

2009: Earned a varsity letter. High School: Three-year letterwinner in water polo … offensive player of the year as a senior … named to the Union-Tribune all-city team in 2008 … received the Senior All-Star Water Polo Award from the Aquatics Council of San Diego … owns top times of 22.8 (50 freestyle), 49.5 (100 freestyle) and 2:05.72 (200 IM) … three-time recipient of the All-American Academic Sports Award from the Union-Tribune … graduated with academic distinction. Personal: Son of Peter and Kristin Arcidiacono ... hobbies include surfing, playing guitar and hanging out with friends ... plans to major in engineering ... hero is Miles McPherson ... favorite food is cheeseburgers … favorite music is classic rock (The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Creedence Clearwater Revival, The Rolling Stones) … favorite quote: "I don’t see why not.” – Caleb McCutcheon.

Personal: Son of Robert and Jeanine Konishi ... plans to major in civil engineering or business management ... would like to become an F-22 Raptor fighter pilot ... hobbies include body surfing, running, rock climbing, snowball fights, soccer and ultimate Frisbee ... heroes are Captain America and Mark Spitz ... favorite quotes: "Our greatest glory is not in never failing, but in rising every time we fall." -Confucius, and "Veni, vidi, vici." Julius Caesar.

MIKE FISH SO.• 6-2/190 • GOALIE MANHATTAN BEACH,CALIF.

TAQUE PATINO JR.• 6-3/200 • 2M OFF./DEF. ROCKFORD, MICH. (ROCKFORD) 2009: Earned a varsity letter ... recipient of the Falcons’ Most Improved Award … tallied 15 goals and seven assists on the season … also registered 11.5 steals and four drawn ejections. 2008: Earned a varsity letter. High School: Team went a combined 170-3-1 over four years with four state championships … two-time all-state selection … all-state MVP and Michigan Player of the Year as a senior … team MVP and captain as a senior and most improved as a junior … led team with 127 goals in 2007, while adding 76 steals and 46 assists … also lettered four years in swimming … named to honor roll every semester.

(MIRA COSTA) 2009: Earned a JV letter. High School: Team co-MVP as a senior … recorded 170 saves, 15 steals and five assists in senior campaign … first-team All-CIF Southern Section selection and first-team All-Bay League in 2008 … named to Daily Breeze’s All-Area team in 2008 … freshman-sophomore defensive MVP in 2004 … named a Scholar-Athlete and on honor roll every semester … holds top times of 24.2 (50 free) and 58.4 (100 free). Personal: Son of Mark and Kathy Fish ... hobbies include basketball, volleyball, camping and boating ... plans to major in engineering ... his parents are his heroes … favorite food is baby back ribs … favorite music is rock, reggae, Slow Kids at Play, Pennywise and Expendables … favorite quote: "The early bird gets the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese.” – Jon Hammond.

Personal: Son of Tanya Patino … would like to become a pilot or doctor … hobbies include playing guitar, listening to music, water skiing, wakeboarding, snowboarding and spending time with friends and family … hero is his mother … favorite quote: “Wisdom outweighs any wealth.” –Sophocles.

• 10 •

2 0 1 0

A I R

F O R C E

WAT E R

P O L O

FALCON RETURNERS DILLON FISHER

CRUZ SMITHSON

SO.• 5-10/178 • DRIVER ORANGE, CALIF. (VILLA PARK)

CAPISTRANO BEACH, CALIF.

2009: Earned a varsity letter … notched two goals and an assist on the season … also recorded six steals. High School: Lettered in water polo for four years … team co-captain in 2007 and 2008 … registered 63 goals, 74 assists, and 31 steals in senior campaign … third-team All-American in 2008 … two-time All-CIF Division II selection (first team in 2008) … two-time first-team all-league selection … CIF champions (Division II) in 2007 … recipient of D. Haskins Award in 2007 … winner of the Coaches Award in 2005 and Hardest Worker Award in 2006 … played for Club SOCAL, which won the 18-andunder club championships in 2008 and the 16-and-under club championships and Junior Olympics in 2007 … also won the 14-and-under Junior Olympics with Club Split in 2005 … two-time Junior Olympics All-American (2005 and 2007) … four-year Scholar-Athlete … member of National Honor Society … named to honor roll 2005-2007 … owns top times of 22.83 (50 free), 50.62 (100 free) and 1:52.64 (200 free). Personal: Son of Gerald and Alma Fisher ... hobbies include surfing and reading ... plans to major in economics or mechanical engineering ... hero is Bruce Lee ... favorite food is Mexican food … favorite music is Dirty Heads… favorite quote: "You gotta want it.”

SO.• 5-11/210 • UTILITY (SERVITE) 2009: Started for the Falcons in his rookie season … selected as the Western Water Polo Association Newcomer of the Year … named to the WWPA All-Rookie Team … also named the Falcons’ Rookie of the Year … tied for second on the team in goals scored with 44 … also registered 18 assists on the season to finish the year with 62 points (third-best on the team) … named to the East Meets West All-Tournament team … recorded 48 drawn ejections and 28 steals on the year. High School: Four-year member of varsity water polo team … team MVP in sophomore, junior and senior seasons … named Servite Athlete of the Year in senior season … two-time league MVP (sophomore and senior seasons) … OC Trinity League Athlete of the Year as a senior … three-time first-team All-CIF selection … two-time first-team All-American … recorded 103 goals, 41 assists and 80 steals in his senior campaign … team won CIF championship in freshman season … MVP of his club team, which won a gold medal at the Junior Olympics in 2008 … fouryear Scholar-Athlete … graduated with distinguished honors. Personal: Son of Christopher and Marion Smithson ... hobbies include water polo, music, friends and studying psychology and the human mind ... plans to major in biological medicine/psychology ... favorite music is everything but bluegrass … favorite quote: "No one cares how much you know unless they know how much you care.”

MIKE RADOSEVICH

GARRETT WOMACK

SO.• 6-3/200 • 2M OFF. TEMECULA, CALIF. (GREAT OAK)

SO.• 6-3/190 • UTILITY REDLANDS, CALIF. (REDLANDS EAST VALLEY)

2009: Earned a JV letter. High School: Team captain and MVP … named most improved … winner of Scholarship Award, Passion Award and Integrity Award … recorded 44 goals, 12 assists, 11 prevented goals, 31 steals and 12 drawn ejections in senior season … a second-team all-league selection and All-CIF honorable mention by The Californian … CIF Scholar-Athlete … two-time CIF team member … owns top times of 25.2 (50 free), 53.5 (100 free), 1:57.6 (200 free) and 5:16.0 (500 free) … recipient of academic letter. Personal: Son of Kenneth and Paula Radosevich ... father was a 1980 Academy graduate … hobbies include mountain biking and scuba diving … an Eagle Scout ... plans to major in civil engineering ... heroes are his dad and Martin Luther King, Jr. … favorite food is Italian or American … favorite music is anything but country or classical … favorite quote: "As you walk down the fairway of life you must smell the roses, for you only get to play one round.” –Ben Hogan.

2 0 1 0

A I R

F O R C E

2009: Earned a varsity letter … recorded three goals and one assist on the season … also notched 1.5 steals. High School: Three-year letterwinner in water polo … team captain and MVP during senior season … registered 115 goals, 45 assists, 60 steals and 29 drawn ejections in senior campaign … two-time All-CIF selection … two-time first-team All-Citrus Belt League …offensive player of the year as a junior … named most improved in sophomore season … also lettered two years in swimming … five-time Scholar-Athlete … NCAS National Student-Athlete … USA Water Polo Academic All-American in 2008 … named to Principal’s Honor Roll every semester … member of National Honor Society … AP Scholar. Personal: Son of Darryl and Patty Womack ... hobbies include making movies, playing guitar and listening to music ... plans to major in aeronautical engineering ... hero is his grandfather, Paul Womack ... favorite food is his mom’s blueberry pancakes … favorite music is classic rock … favorite quote: "We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.” –Aristotle.

WAT E R

P O L O

• 11 •

FRESHMEN TO WATCH KEN APPEL

MAX REILLY

FR.• 6-4/180 • GOALIE RIVERSIDE, CALIF. (MARTIN LUTHER KING)

FR.• 5-8/160 • DRIVER DAVIS, CALIF. (DAVIS)

High School: Lettered three years in water polo … two-time team MVP … third-team All-CIF selection as a senior … registered 340 saves, 35 steals and 11 assists in senior campaign … three-time recipient of “Mr. Defense” award … two-time first-team all-league selection … second-team allleague honoree in 2007 … four-year scholar-athlete … named Academic All-American by USA Water Polo (2007-08) … member of National Honor Society and National Society of High School Honors … owns top times of 21.9 (50 freestyle) and 51.9 (100 free). Personal: Son of Steven and Diane Appel ... hobbies include scuba diving and exploring the world … hero is his dad … plans to major in civil engineering … favorite foods are steak and French toast, scrambled eggs and bacon … favorite music is alternative rock, country or “anything” … favorite quote: “I, I’m the One comforting you. What are you afraid of—or who? Some man or woman who’ll soon be dead? Some poor wretch destined for dust?” – Isaiah 51:12.

JOSH STEDMAN

FR.• 6-3/205 • 2M OFF./DEF. MECHANICSBURG, PA. (CUMBERLAND VALLEY)

FR.• 6-0/172 • UTILITY BREA, CALIF. (TROY)

Personal: Son of Doug and Jana Hamilton … hobbies include video games, Bible reading, badminton, skateboarding and volleyball … hero is Jesus Christ … plans to major in biology … favorite food is Chinese … favorite music is Angels & Airwaves, Owl City, System of a Down and Linkin Park … favorite quote: “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.” –Philippians 4:13.

2 0 1 0

Personal: Son of Marci Snodgrass and Peter Reilly ... hobbies include “working on my shot” and eating Panda Express … hero is Sully Sullenberger … plans to major in international relations … favorite food is sushi, burgers and Panda Express … favorite music is Bruce Springsteen … favorite quote: "We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, therefore, is not an act but a habit.” –Aristotle.

ANDREW HAMILTON

High School: Team captain as a senior … scored 82 goals, 34 steals and 32 drawn ejections in 24 games … two-time All-American (2009 and 2010) … two-time first-team all-state honoree … team won state championship in 2008 and finished third in 2009 … chosen for the National Zones Northeast Division in 2008 and 2009 … runner-up state freshman of the year in 2006, despite missing two-thirds of the season with a broken hand … named to all-freshman team … Academic All-American … named to National Honor Society … owns top swim times of 21.9 (50 freestyle) and 48.8 (100 free).

• 12 •

High School: Team captain … threetime winner of Most Inspirational award … record 58 goals, 70+ assists and 20+ drawn ejections in senior season … eighth-team All-American … named an Academic All-American by USA Water Polo … owns top swim times of 24.0 (50 free), 52.4 (100 free), 1:51.5 (200 free), 4:58.9 (500 free) and 57.8 (100 fly).

A I R

F O R C E

High School: Two-time Freeway League MVP … Freeway League Athlete of the Year for 2009-10 season … All-American … first-team CIF-Division 5 honoree in 2008 and 2009 … registered 98 goals, 29 assists and 62 steals in senior season … won gold medal at Junior Olympics and National Club Championships … member of National Honor Society … owns top swim times of 21.67 (50 freestyle), 49.29 (100 free) and 55.90 (100 back). Personal: Son of Julie and Randall Stedman … hobbies include wakeboarding and dirt bike riding … hero is George Caster … plans to major in economics … favorite food is mashed potatoes … favorite music is classic rock … favorite quote: “I don’t measure a man’s success by how high he climbs, but how high he bounces when he hits bottom.” –General Patton.

WAT E R

P O L O

2009 RESULTS Date Sept. 5-6 Sept. 5 Sept. 5 Sept. 6 Sept. 6

Opponent Triton Invitational vs. #6 Loyola Marymount* vs. #1 USC vs. Pomona-Pitzer* at #10 UC San Diego*

Location UC San Diego La Jolla, Calif. La Jolla, Calif. La Jolla, Calif. La Jolla, Calif.

Outcome L , 5-12 L, 5-16 W, 11-4 W, 14-12

Sept. 11-13 Sept. 11 Sept. 12 Sept. 12 Sept. 13

East Meets West Tournament Cal Baptist Cal Baptist #15 St. Francis #15 St. Francis

Air Force USAFA, Colo. USAFA, Colo. USAFA, Colo. USAFA, Colo.

L, 11-12 W, 8-7 W, 14-7 L, 8-12

Sept. 19-20 Sept. 19 Sept. 19 Sept. 20 Sept. 20

NorCal Tournament vs. #6 UC Santa Barbara vs. #12 Santa Clara* vs. #11 Pacific vs. #10 Concordia

Stanford Stanford, Calif. Stanford, Calif. Stanford, Calif. Stanford, Calif.

L, 5-15 L, 6-10 W, 9-8 L, 5-6 (OT)

Oct. 2-3 Oct. 2 Oct. 2 Oct. 3 Oct. 3

Convergence Tournament vs. #14 Concordia vs. Whittier* vs. Redlands* vs. Occidental*

Claremont/Pomona-Pitzer Claremont, Calif. Claremont, Calif. Claremont, Calif. Claremont, Calif.

L, 10-13 W, 10-8 W, 12-8 W, 14-4

Oct. 4

at Cal Lutheran*

Thousand Oaks, Calif.

W, 14-5

Oct. 17 Oct. 17 Oct. 18 Oct. 18

at #13 Navy vs. Iona vs. George Washington vs. Johns Hopkins

Annapolis, Md. Annapolis, Md. Annapolis, Md. Annapolis, Md.

L, 10-12 W, 11-9 W, 14-5 W, 11-10

Oct. 24-25 Oct. 24 Oct. 24 Oct. 25 Oct. 25

The Rodeo vs. #13 UC Davis* vs. Brown vs. #19 St. Francis at #16 Santa Clara*

Santa Clara Santa Clara, Calif. Santa Clara, Calif. Santa Clara, Calif. Santa Clara, Calif.

W, 8-7 (OT) W, 9-8 (OT) L, 12-15 L, 4-11

Nov. 7 Nov. 7 Nov. 8 Nov. 8

at Chapman* vs. #6 Loyola Marymount* at La Verne* at Claremont*

Orange, Calif. Orange, Calif. La Verne, Calif. Claremont, Calif.

W, 10-2 L, 4-9 W, 17-7 W, 11-2

Nov. 20-22 Nov. 20 Nov. 21 Nov. 22

WWPA Tournament vs. Whittier vs. #20 Redlands vs. #15 UC Davis

Chapman Orange, Calif. Orange, Calif. Orange, Calif.

L, 9-10 W, 15-12 L, 8-10

2009 Season Record:

18-14

* - denotes WWPA contest

2 0 1 0

A I R

F O R C E

WAT E R

P O L O

• 13 •

YEAR-BY-YEAR RECORDS Year 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009

Won 15 13 16 20 11 15 13 13 8 7 13 7 8 9 9 8 12 17 13 20 24 10 10 19 20 14 12 16 21 14 12 16 18 8 12 14 15 17 18

Lost 9 10 6 6 7 7 6 8 8 8 10 8 13 13 15 19 17 10 11 8 8 12 14 11 10 10 16 12 12 13 13 12 10 22 15 17 14 15 14

Tied 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Total

537

449

Coach Capt. Jim Marett Maj. Paul Aehnlich Capt. Reggie Pasieczny Capt. Reggie Pasieczny Capt. Bruce Fisher Capt. Bruce Fisher Capt. Bruce Fisher Capt. Ryan Davis Capt. Ryan Davis Capt. Dennis Lombard Capt. Jeff Heidmous Capt. Jeff Heidmous Capt. Jeff Heidmous Capt. Jeff Heidmous Capt. Jim Hogue Capt. Jeff Heidmous Capt. Jeff Heidmous Maj. Jeff Heidmous Maj. Jeff Heidmous Maj. Jeff Heidmous Maj. Jeff Heidmous Maj. Jeff Heidmous Lt. Col. Jeff Heidmous Lt. Col. Jeff Heidmous Lt. Col. Jeff Heidmous Lt. Col. Jeff Heidmous Lt. Col. Jeff Heidmous Lt. Col. Jeff Heidmous Jeff Ehrlich Jeff Ehrlich Jeff Ehrlich Jeff Ehrlich Jeff Ehrlich Jeff Ehrlich Jeff Ehrlich Jeff Ehrlich Jeff Ehrlich Jeff Ehrlich Jeff Ehrlich

Pct. .625 .565 .727 .769 .563 .682 .684 .636 .600 .467 .565 .467 .386 .455 .375 .296 .414 .630 .542 .714 .750 .455 .417 .633 .667 .583 .429 .571 .636 .519 .480 .571 .643 .267 .444 .452 .517 .531 .563

Team Captain(s) John Pate Jim Thompson Kelly Kemp Ben Phillips Walt Heidmous Jeff Heidmous John Wellsfry Mike Mullady Phil Heidmous Joe Wotton Keith Limbird Jeff Wilkerson Gerry Veldhuizen Bob Pickrell Mark Crosby/Tim Harris Dan Hancock Joe Roh/Cy Whinnery Mike Schlacter Mark Baudendistel Brad Kremer David Chaney Ted Baudendistel Don Sheesley Garrett Lowe John Christ Mackie Contreras Jay Reaves Rob Mattivi/Jason Nolting Mark McGill Charlie Toth/Wade Grabow Brian Hasbrouck Lowell Wallace Scott Butler Josh Jewett/Jared Jones Jeff Donaldson Danny Kimmich/Blake Pickell Justin Berry/Clark Condict Kevin Williams Jason Fung/Jack Hines

.545

DID YOU KNOW ...? • 39 SEASONS • 24 WINNING CAMPAIGNS • FIVE 20-WIN SEASONS • TWO WWPA TITLES • NINE STRAIGHT APPEARANCES IN WESTERN WATER POLO ASSOCIATION CHAMPIONSHIP GAME (1988-1996) • AIR FORCE WAS AN INDEPENDENT FROM 1971-86 AND THEN JOINED THE WWPA

• 14 •

2 0 1 0

A I R

F O R C E

WAT E R

P O L O

HONORS/AWARDS MOST VALUABLE PLAYERS Year............................................MVP 1971................................................John Pate 1972............................................Ben Phillips 1973 .............................................Rick Pilling 1974............................................Ben Phillips 1975....................................Walt Heidmous 1976 .......................................Jeff Heidmous 1977.........................................John Wellsfry 1978 ......................................Bruce Zelenka 1979 ......................................Phil Heidmous 1980............................................Joe Wotton 1981 ............................................Fred Logan ..........................................Gerry Veldhuizen 1982 .................................Gerry Veldhuizen 1983 .........................................Rob Hemker 1984...........................................Bob Pickrell 1985.............................................Tim Harris 1986........................................Dan Hancock 1987 ........................................Cy Whinnery 1988 ...................................Steve Spanovich 1989...............................Mark Baudendistel 1990 ........................................Dave Chaney

Year............................................MVP 1991 .......................................Howard Redd 1992..................................Ted Baudendistel 1993........................................Garrett Lowe 1994..................................Brian Pendergast 1995............................................John Christ 1996 .......................................Craig Thomas ...........................................Brian Pendergast 1997 ..............................................Jay Reaves 1998 ........................................Jason Nolting 1999 .........................................Casey Wood 2000 ..........................................Charlie Toth 2001 ...........................................Chris Smith 2002..................................Brandon Shroyer 2003...........................................Scott Butler 2004 .................................Murphey Morgan 2005 ..........................................Kyle Schafer 2006 .................................Denver Saunders 2007 ...........................................Justin Berry ................................................Clark Condict 2008 ......................................David Ostrom 2009 ....................................Alex Churnside

FINAL TOP-15 NATIONAL RANKINGS Year....................................................................Rank 1981.......................................................................................12th 1982.......................................................................................13th 1983.......................................................................................14th 1984.......................................................................................14th 1986.......................................................................................15th 1988.......................................................................................14th 1989.......................................................................................11th 1990.......................................................................................10th 1991.......................................................................................12th 1992.......................................................................................10th 1993.......................................................................................13th 1994.......................................................................................10th 1995.........................................................................................9th 1996.........................................................................................9th 1998.......................................................................................13th 1999.......................................................................................13th 2003.......................................................................................14th 2007.......................................................................................14th

ACADEMY TOP SIX AWARD WINNERS 1977 Scholar-Athlete

Armando Costales

1979 Scholar-Athlete

Frank Snyder

1980 Scholar-Athlete

Dirk Jordan

1992 Athletic Excellence

David Chaney

1993 Athletic Leadership

Ted Baudendistel

1994 Scholar-Athlete

Don Sheesley

1997 Athletic Excellence

Brian Pendergast

2000 Athletic Achievement

Mark McGill

2001 Athletic Excellence

Charlie Toth

A TRIBUTE TO

CAPT. DEREK ARGEL Capt. Derek Argel, a four-year letterwinner for the Falcons from 1997-2000, was killed on May 30, 2005, along with three other U.S. Airmen and an Iraqi airman, when an Iraqi Air Force Comp Air 7SL aircraft crashed in eastern Diyala province during an operational mission. Argel, promoted to captain just hours before his death, was stationed with the 23rd Special Tactics Squadron at Hurlburt Field, Fla., and left behind his wife, Wendy, and son, Logan. Argel earned All-WWPA honors as a senior for Air Force. During his senior year, he tried out for the boxing team, making it all the way to the heavyweight finals in the annual Wing Open, before dropping a split decision in the championship bout. “I’ll remember Derek most for his undying spirit and his endless sense of humor and contagious laugh,“ said Air Force head coach Jeff Heidmous. “His family, friends, classmates, Falcon Polo brothers and the STO (Special Tactics Operations) community are deeply saddened – Derek was a great man, dedicated to serving his nation at the very tip of the spear.” The 2005 season marked the conception of the Capt. Derek Argel Memorial Award, given annually at the team’s awards banquet to the athlete who demonstrates perseverance and an incredible work ethic, those attributes which most exemplify the character of Argel. Peter Larsen was the inaugural recipient of the Derek Argel Memorial Award in 2005. Danny Kimmich (2006), Chris Pace (2007), Tyler Hewko (2008), Kevin Williams (2008) and Jason Fung (2009) have also been honored with the award.

2 0 1 0

A I R

F O R C E

WAT E R

P O L O

• 15 •

HONORS/AWARDS ALL-WESTERN WATER POLO ASSOCIATION TEAM

ACADEMIC ALL-WWPA 1989

D.C. Conroy, Chad Matheson

1987 First Team - Cy Whinnery; Honorable Mention - Joe Roh, Steve Spanovich

1990

David Chaney

1991

Ted Baudendistel, David Chaney, Don Sheesley, Dave Smith

1988 Co-MVP - Steve Spanovich; First Team - David Chaney, Steve Spanovich; Second Team - Mark Baudendistel; Honorable Mention - Chris Greene

1992

Tyler Rameson, Don Sheesley

1989 First Team - Mark Baudendistel, David Chaney; Second Team - Brad Kremer; Honorable Mention - D.C. Conroy, Chad Matheson 1990 MVP - David Chaney; First Team - David Chaney, Brad Kremer, Howard Redd; Second Team - Ted Baudendistel; Honorable Mention - Brad Reed 1991 First Team - David Chaney, Howard Redd; Second Team - Ted Baudendistel, Dan Farrington; Honorable Mention - Brad Reed 1992 First Team - Ted Baudendistel; Second Team - Dan Farrington, Brad Reed, Don Sheesley; Honorable Mention - Neil McCafferty 1993 First Team - Garrett Lowe, Don Sheesley; Second Team - Brian Pendergast; Honorable Mention - Trevor Davis 1994 MVP - Brian Pendergast; First Team - John Christ, Garrett Lowe, Brian Pendergast, Craig Thomas; Honorable Mention - Trevor Davis 1995 First Team - John Christ, Brian Pendergast, Craig Thomas; Second Team - Brad Downs; Honorable Mention - Mackie Contreras 1996 MVP - Brian Pendergast; First Team - Mackie Contreras, Brian Pendergast, Craig Thomas; Second Team - Rob Mattivi; Honorable Mention - Brian Groat 1997 First Team - Rob Mattivi; Second Team - Jason Golaboski, Jay Reaves; Honorable Mention - Jason Nolting 1998 Wood

First Team - Rob Mattivi, Jason Nolting; Honorable Mention - Casey

1993 Trevor Davis, Brad Downs, Benjamin Glazer, Brian Pendergast, Don Sheesley 1994 John Christ,Trevor Davis, Brad Downs, Benjamin Glazer, Brian Groat, Brian Pendergast 1995

John Christ, Brad Downs, Brian Groat, Jason Nolting

1996

Jim Binns, Brian Groat, Brian Pendergast, Jay Reaves

1997

Wade Grabow, Mark McGill, Jason Nolting, Jay Reaves, Charlie Toth

1998 lie Toth

David Breitenbach,Wade Grabow, Mark McGill, Jason Nolting, Char-

1999 Ben Couchman, Greg Ebert, Ron Garcia, Wade Grabow, Andres Guerra, Mark McGill, Charlie Toth 2000 David Breitenbach, Ben Couchman, Wade Grabow, Micah Peterson, Brandon Shroyer, Charlie Toth 2001 David Breitenbach, Ben Couchman, Brian Hasbrouck, Kirk Reimer, Brandon Shroyer, Lowell Wallace 2002

Josh Jewett, Chris Nary, Brandon Shroyer, Lowell Wallace

2003

Scott Butler, Josh Jewett, Murphey Morgan, Brandon Shroyer

2004 Matt Herrera, Josh Jewett, Damon Jones, Danny Kimmich, Chris Nary, Blake Pickell, Kyle Schafer, Brian Woolley 2005

Zach Carey, Danny Kimmich, Blake Pickell, Kyle Schafer

2006

Danny Kimmich, Blake Pickell, Kyle Schafer

2009

Danny Harold, Andrew Strawbridge

1999 First Team - Casey Wood; Second Team - Chad Simendinger, Charlie Toth; Honorable Mention - Mark McGill, Brent Reimer

U.S. OLYMPIC FESTIVAL

2000 First Team - Chad Simendinger, Charlie Toth; Second Team - Brent Reimer; Honorable Mention - Derek Argel

1990 Mark Baudendistel, Ted Baudendistel, Rhett Binger, David Chaney, D.C. Conroy, Dan Farrington

2001 First Team - Chris Smith; Second Team - Scott Butler; Honorable Mention - Brandon Shroyer

1991 Ted Baudendistel, David Chaney, Mackie Contreras, Neil McCafferty, Brad Reed

2002 First Team - Charles Horn; Honorable Mention - Murphey Morgan, Micah Peterson, Brandon Shroyer

1994 Ted Baudendistel, Mackie Contreras, Trevor Davis, Garrett Lowe, Brian Pendergast

2003 First Team - Scott Butler; Honorable Mention - Josh Jewett, Murphey Morgan, Brandon Shroyer

1995

2004

Second Team - Murphey Morgan; Honorable Mention - Josh Jewett

2005

Second Team - Kyle Schafer

2006

Second Team - Tyler Hewko; Honorable Mention - Kyle Schafer

2007

First Team - Clark Condict; Second Team - Justin Berry

2008

Second Team - Jack Hines; Honorable Mention - Alex Churnside

2009 First Team - Alex Churnside; Second Team - Jack Hines; Honorable Mention - David Ostrom

U.S. JUNIOR NATIONAL TEAM 1995

Bobby Geiger

2009

Cruz Smithson (Newcomer of the Year)

Brian Pendergast

NCAA POSTGRADUATE SCHOLARSHIP 2001

Charlie Toth

2007

Kyle Schafer

WWPA ALL-FRESHMAN TEAM* 2007

John Christ, Mackie Contreras, Brad Downs, Craig Thomas

COSIDA ACADEMIC ALL-AMERICA 2007

Kyle Schafer (second team)

* award started in 2007 season

• 16 •

2 0 1 0

A I R

F O R C E

WAT E R

P O L O

ALL-AMERICANS ALL-AMERICANS

1981 HM Gerry Veldhuizen

1988 HM Steve Spanovich

1989 HM Mark Baudendistel

1990 HM Howie Redd

1990 3rd Team; 1991 HM David Chaney

1992 HM Ted Baudendistel

1994 & ‘95 HM; 1996 3rd Team Brian Pendergast

1995 HM John Christ

1998 HM Rob Mattivi

1999 HM Casey Wood

2000 HM Charlie Toth

2001 HM Chris Smith

2003 HM Scott Butler

2004 HM Murphey Morgan

2007 3rd Team Clark Condict

2009 HM Alex Churnside

HM - Honorable Mention

ACWPC ALL-ACADEMIC TEAM

1994 & ‘95 Brad Downs

1995 John Christ

1995 & ‘96 Brian Groat

1995, ‘97 & ‘98 Jason Nolting

1996, ‘97, ‘98 & ‘99 Mark McGill

1997, ‘98, ‘99 & ‘00 Charlie Toth

1998, ‘00 & ‘01 David Breitenbach

1999, ‘00 & ‘01 Ben Couchman

1999 Greg Ebert

1999 Andres Guerra

2000 Wade Grabow

2000 Micah Peterson

2001 Brian Hasbrouck

2002 & ‘03 Brandon Shroyer

2002, ‘03 & ‘04 Josh Jewett

2002, ‘03 & ‘04 Chris Nary

2003, ‘04, ‘05 & 2003, ‘04, ‘05 & ‘06 ‘06 Danny Kimmich Kyle Schafer

2 0 1 0

A I R

2007 Kevin McDonald

2007 Miles McMullan

F O R C E

2007 Chris Pace

2007, ‘08 & ‘09 Andrew Strawbridge

WAT E R

2008 & ‘09 Danny Harold

P O L O

• 17 •

RECORD BOOK CAREER RECORDS Ben Phillips (‘75)

Most Goals 1. Ben Phillips (1971-74) 2. Brian Pendergast (1993-96) 3. David Chaney (1988-91) 4. Clark Condict (2004-07) 5. Bill Monroe (1972-75)

339 234 211 169 166

Most Assists 1. David Chaney (1988-91) 2. Alex Churnside (2006-09) 3. Murphey Morgan (2001-04) 4. Rob Mattivi (1995-98) 5. Tyler Hewko (2005-08)

136 131 130 120 110

Most Points 1. Ben Phillips (1971-74) 2. David Chaney (1988-91) 3. Brian Pendergast (1993-96) 4. Rob Mattivi (1995-98) 5. Alex Churnside (2006-09)

442 347 317 280 276

Best Shooting Percentage 1. Gerry Veldhuizen (1980-83) 2. Ben Phillips (1971-74) 3. Roger Rechsteiner (1972-75) 4. Joe Wotton (1977-80) 5. Chad Simendinger (1997-2000)

.570 .499 .485 .466 .460

2 0 1 0

792 690 674 612 586

Best Save Percentage 1. Walt Heidmous (1972-75) 2. Howie Redd (1988-91) 3. Mark Baudendistel (1987-90) 4. Brandon Shroyer (2000-03) 5. Craig Thomas (1993-96)

.595 .569 .563 .559 .529

Best Saves/Game Average 1. Mark Baudendistel (1987-89) 2. Howie Redd (1988-91) 3. Don Sheesley (1990-93) 4. Walt Heidmous (1972-75) 5. Craig Thomas (1993-96) Brandon Shroyer (2000-03)

10.82 10.03 8.43 8.43 8.31

Walt Heidmous (‘76)

SEASON RECORDS

Most Steals 1. Charlie Toth (1997-00) 2. Casey Wood (1996-99) 3. Alex Churnside (2006-09) 4. John Christ (1992-95) 5. Brian Pendergast (1993-96)

• 18 •

Most Saves 1. Walt Heidmous (1972-75) 2. Craig Thomas (1993-96) 3. David Ostrom (2006-09) 4. Brandon Shroyer (2000-03) 5. Charlie Toth (1997-00)

257 215 198 190 189

A I R

F O R C E

Most Goals

120, Ben Phillips (1972)

Most Assists

53, David Chaney (1991) and Scott Butler (2003)

Most Points

145, Ben Phillips (1972)

Best Shooting Percentage

.741, Gerry Veldhuizen (1981)

Most Steals

98, Casey Wood (1999)

Best Save Percentage

.623, Walt Heidmous (1973)

Best Save/Game Average

11.56, Fred Logan (1981) and Mark Baudendistel (1989)

WAT E R

P O L O

RECORD BOOK TOP 20 AIR FORCE CAREER SCORERS

Name (Class year)

Years Played

Att.

Goals

Ast.

Pts.

Pct.

1. Ben Phillips (‘75)

680

339

103

442

.499

2. David Chaney (‘92)

460

211

136

347

.459

3. Brian Pendergast (‘97)

470

212

317

.451

4. Rob Mattivi (‘99)

322

157

120

280

.488

5. Alex Churnside (‘10)

416

145

131

276

.349

6. Murphey Morgan (‘05)

429

125

130

255

.291

7. Bill Monroe (‘76)

368

166

245

.451

8. Clark Condict (‘08)

544

169

242

.311

9. Steve Spanovich (‘89)

374

162

232

.433

10. Ted Baudendistel (‘93)

359

147

223

.409

11. Gerry Veldhuizen (‘84)

230

131

217

.570

12. Scott Butler (‘04)

334

142

216

.425

13. Rhett Binger (‘91)

315

137

210

.435

14. Bobby Geiger (‘11)

342

147

202

.430

15. Tyler Hewko (‘09)

272

110

198

.324

16. Chris Smith (‘03)

342

110

196

.322

17. Brad Downs (‘96)

350

128

195

.366

18. Chad Simendinger (‘01)

331

137

194

.414

19. Garrett Lowe (‘95)

345

113

185

.328

20. Mackie Contreras (‘97)

221

181

.425

Bold indicates current player

ROAD TO THE NCAA TOURNAMENT

The 2010 NCAA Men’s Water Polo Championship, slated for Dec. 4-5, in Berkeley, Calif., will be a four-team, single-elimination tournament (four games), with a losers’ bracket to determine places three and four. Automatic qualifiers will be provided by the Collegiate Water Polo Association, Mountain Pacific Sports Federation and the Western Water Polo Association. The remaining team will be selected at-large without geographical restrictions. The following criteria will be utilized (not necessarily in priority order) for the selection of at-large teams: head-to-head competition; results against common opponents; strength of schedule; late-season performance (last 10 games, including post-season conference championship tournaments); and results against versus teams already selected. Once the teams are selected, the NCAA Men’s Water Polo Committee will seed the four teams.

2 0 1 0

A I R

F O R C E

WAT E R

P O L O

• 19 •

ALL-TIME LETTERWINNERS •A •

Alex Churnside (‘10)

ADAMS, Mitch, 2001-02-03 ALANIS, Daniel E., 1978 ALKIRE, Joe, 1993 ANDERSON, Kala D., 1982-83-84 ARCIDIACONO, Alex, 2009 ARGEL, Derek, 1997-98-99-00 AUBERRY, Thomas W., 1973

•B• BABER, Eric, 2001-02-03 BACKUS, Paul, 1993 BARTLEY, Michael L., 1980-81-82 BAUDENDISTEL, Mark, 1987-88-89 (Capt., MVP ‘89) BAUDENDISTEL, Ted, 1989-90-91-92 (Capt., MVP ‘92) BEEMAN, Mark, 2008-09 BELL, David, 1989-90 BELL, Jason, 1994 BERRY, Justin, 2004-05-06-07 (Capt., MVP ‘07) BINGER, Rhett L., 1987-88-89-90 BINNS, Jim, 1991-92-95-96 BIVANS, Ray A., 1978-79 BOHLMAN, Lance, 1990-91 BOOTH, Tony, 1986-87-88 BREITENBACH, David, 1998-99-00-01 BREWER, Joseph, 2005-06-07-08 BROWN, Michael L., 1983-84-85 BROWN, Thomas L., 1985 BUCHANAN, R.J., 1986-87 BURGESS, John R., 1974-75 BURTON, Nick, 2005 BUSH, Robert W., 1972 BUTLER, Scott, 2000-01-03 (Capt., MVP ‘03)

•G• GARCIA, David A., 1988-89-90-91 GARCIA, Ronald, 1998-99 GEIGER, Robert, 2007-08-09 GLAZER, Ben, 1993-94 GOBRECHT, Robert (Eric), 2006-07 GOLABOSKI, Jason, 1995-97 GRABOW, Wade, 1997-98-99-00 (Capt. ‘00) GRAHAM, John G., 1971 GREENE, Chris, 1985-86-87-88 GREINER, Kelly, 2001-02-03 GRESHAM, Donald D., 1972-73-74-75 GROAT, Brian, 1993-94-95-96 GUERRA, Andres, 1999

•C•

•H•

CALHOUN, Thomas J., 1971-72-73-74 CALKINS, Josh, 1992 CANALE, Richard M., 1975 CAREY, Zachary, 2004-05 CARRILLO, Chris, 1985 CHANEY, David C., 1988-89-90-91 (MVP ‘90, Capt. 91) CHASEN, Aaron, 1984 CHRIST, Brian, 1997-98 CHRIST, John A., 1991-92-94-95 (Capt., MVP ‘95) CHUN, Mark C., 1971-72 CHURNSIDE, Alex, 2006-07-08-09 (MVP ‘09) CONDICT, Clark, 2004-05-06-07 (Capt. ‘07) CONROY, Blair, 1989-90 CONROY, D.C., 1987-88-89 CONTRERAS, Mackie, 1993-94-95-96 (Capt. ‘96) COSTALES, Armando A., 1975-76 COSTANZA, Kevin S., 1985-86 COUCHMAN, Ben, 1999-00-01 CROSBY, Mark A., 1983-84-85 (Capt. ‘85) CRUZ, Steve, 1999

HAMPSON, Robert J., 1971 HANCOCK, Daniel, 1983-84-85-86 (Capt., MVP ‘86) HARBERG, Fred D., 1971 HAROLD, Daniel, 2008-09 HARRIS, Timothy J., 1982-83-84-85 (Capt., MVP ‘85) HARVEY, Anson, 2008-09 HASBROUCK, Brian, 1998-99-00-01 (Capt. ‘01) HATHAWAY, Patrick, 1972 HAYLETT, Marshal T., 1999-2000-2001 HEIDMOUS, Jeffery, 1973-74-75-76 (Capt., MVP ‘76) HEIDMOUS, Philip, 1976-77-78-79 (Capt., MVP ‘79) HEIDMOUS, Walter, 1972-73-74-75 (Capt., MVP ‘75) HEMKER, Robert B., 1980-81-82-83 (MVP ‘83) HENNEBERRY, Steven J., 1976-77-78-79 HEPNER, Brian B., 1987 HERRERA, Matt, 2002-03-04 HEWKO, Tyler, 2005-06-07-08 HINES, Jack, 2006-07-08-09 (Capt. ‘09) HOGUE, James R., 1972-73-74-75 HOLLOWAY, Charles F., 1971 HORN, Charles, 1999-00-01-02 HUGHES, John S., 1972 HURE, Michael, 1983-84

•D•E•F• DAVIS, Trevor, 1992-93-94 DERRICK, Marvin L., 1974 DINGELDEIN, George, 2000-01 DONALDSON, R. (Jeff), 2004-05 (Capt. ‘05) DOWNS, Brad, 1992-93-94-95 DUPUIS, Ryan, 2005 EATON, Ellis, 1990 EBERT, Greg, 1998-99 EPPERSON, Dave, 1996 FARRINGTON, Dan, 1989-90-91 FERGUSON, Paul, 1994-95 FISHER, Dillon, 2009 FORD, Charley, 2008-09 FUNG, Jason, 2006-07-08-09 (Capt. ‘09)

• 20 •

2 0 1 0

A I R

•J•K• JACKSON, Richard W., 1971 JEWETT, Josh, 2002-03-04 (Capt. ‘04) JONES, Arthur (Jared), 2001-02-03-04 (Capt. ‘04) JONES, Damon, 2004-05-07 JORDAN, Dirk, 1977-78-79 KAPLAN, Pete, 1993 KEMP, Kelvin P., 1971-72-73 (Capt. ‘73) KIMMICH, Daniel, 2003-04-05-06 (Capt. ‘06) KIMSEY, Edgar S., 1980-81-82 KING, Steven B., 1976-77-78 KREMER, Brad K., 1987-88-89-90 (Capt. ‘90) KRINO, Greg, 1993-94-95-96

F O R C E

WAT E R

P O L O

ALL-TIME LETTERWINNERS •L•

•S•

LARIVE, Ian, 1997 LARSEN, Peter, 2005 LATAS, Dean, 1977-78-79-80 LAYO, Frank, 1996 LeBLANC, Matt, 2005-06 LeGRAND, Steve, 1984-85-86 LEMMEN, Kurt, 2007-08-09 LI, Steven, 1994-95-96 LIMBIRD, Keith G., 1978-79-80-81 (Capt. ‘81) LIVESEY, Lance K., 1987 LOGAN, Fred J., 1978-79-80-81 (MVP ‘81) LOWE, Garrett M., 1991-92-93-94 (Capt. ‘94, MVP ‘93)

SAUNDERS, Denver, 2004-05-06 (MVP ‘06) SCHAFER, Kyle, 2003-04-05-06 (MVP ‘05) SCHLACTER, Michael N., 1988 (Capt. ‘88) SHADRICK, Josh, 2001 SHEESLEY, Donald, 1990-91-92-93 (Capt. ‘93) SHEILDS, Timothy C., 1980-81-82-83 SHIELDS, Matthew, 2007-09 SHROYER, Brandon, 2000-01-02-03 (MVP ‘02) SIMENDINGER, Chad, 1997-98-99-2000 SIMPSON, James R., 1980-81 SINCLAIR, Foster L., 1980 SMITH, Chris, 1999-00-01 (MVP ‘01) SMITH, David, 1989-90-91 SMITH, Steven B., 1976-77-78-79 SMITHSON, Christopher (Cruz), 2009 SNYDER, Francis F., 1976-77-78 SPANOVICH, Steven N., 1985-86-87-88 (MVP ‘88) STEDMAN, Randall, 1977-78-79-80 STODDARD, Steven P., 1980-81 STRAWBRIDGE, Andrew, 2008-09 STRUBLE, James D., 1971-72-73 SWENSON, Eric, 2002-03-04 SZUCS, Joe, 1994-95

•M• MAGEE, Donald W., 1975-76 MAGEE, John M., 1974 MALONEY, Michael, 1984 MANSARD, Jim, 1993 MATHESON, Chad, 1986-87-88-89 MATTIVI, Rob, 1995-98 (Capt. ‘98) McCAFFERTY, Neil, 1989-90-91-92 McCAFFERTY, Randy, 1986-87 McCOY, Andrew S., 1988 McDONALD, Kevin, 2006-07 McGILL, Mark, 1996-97-98-99 (Capt. ‘99) McKEON, Mathew P., 1982 McMULLAN, Miles, 2006-07-08 McSHANE, Brian, 2003 MELVIN, James, 1997-98 MERRIL, David L., 1972-73-74 MOHLE, Dennis H., 1983 MONROE, William R., 1972-73-74-75 MORGAN, Harrel (Murphey), 2001-02-03-04 (MVP ‘04) MORGAN, Phillip B., 1977 MULLADY, Michael C., 1976-77-78 (Capt. ‘78)

•N•O•P• NARY, Chris, 2001-02-03-04 NELSON, Daniel, 2008-09 NICHOLS, David A., 1977 NITZEL, Chris, 2004-06 NOLTING, Jason, 1995-98 (Capt., MVP ‘98) OSTROM, David, 2006-07-08-09 (MVP ‘08) PACE, Chris, 2006-07 PALMER, Chris, 2002 PATE, John R., 1971 (Capt., MVP ‘71) PATINO,Taque, 2008-09 PENDERGAST, Brian, 1993-94-95-96 (MVP ‘94, ‘96) PETERSON, Micah, 2000-01-02-03 PHELAN, Fred D., 1991 PHILLIPS, Benjamin Jr., 1971-72-73-74 (Capt. ‘74, MVP ‘72, ‘74) PHILLIPS, Edward, 1977-78-79-80 PICKELL, Blake, 2005-06 (Capt. ‘06) PICKRELL, Robert L., 1981-82-83-84 (Capt., MVP ‘84) PILLING, Richard A., 1971-72-73 (MVP ‘73) POGUE, Edwin B., 1980-81-82-83

•T •V • THOMAS, Craig, 1993-94-95-96 (MVP ‘96) THOMPSON, Eric W., 1974-75-76-77 THOMPSON, James M., 1972-73 (Capt. ‘72) TOTH, Charles, 1997-98-99-00 (Capt., MVP ‘00) VANDAM, Richard A., 1971 VELDHUIZEN, Frank T., 1983-84 VELDHUIZEN, Gerald , 1980-81-82-83 (Capt. ‘83, MVP ‘81, ‘82) VERSAGE, Matthew, 2007-08-09

• W •Y • Z • WALLACE, Lowell, 2000-01-02 (Capt. ‘02) WALLIN, Kurt, 2007-08-09 WARREN, Trevor, 2002 WEIGMAN, Fritz, 1976-77-78-79 WELLSFRY, John L., 1974-75-76-77 (Capt., MVP ‘77) WETLESEN, David, 1976-77 WHINNERY, Cyrus C., 1984-85-86-87 (Capt., MVP ‘87) WHITEHILL, John, 2000-01 WILKERSON, James T., 1979-80-81-82 (Capt. ‘82) WILLIAMS, Kevin, 2005-06-07-08 (Capt. ‘08) WOMACK, Garrett, 2009 WOOD, Casey, 1996-98-99 (MVP ‘99) WOOLLEY, Brian, 2003-04 WOTTON, Joseph , 1977-78-79-80 (Capt., MVP ’80) YEE, Ken, 1993 ZELENKA, Alan J., 1978-79 ZELENKA, Bruce J., 1978-79 (MVP ‘78)

•R• RAJCHEL, Brad, 2009 RAMESON, Tyler, 1992 REAVES, Jay, 1994-95-96 (Capt., MVP ‘97) RECHSTEINER, Roger W., 1972-73-74-75 REDD, Howard T., 1988-89-90-91 (MVP ‘91) REED, Brad, 1989-90-91-92 REIMER, Brent, 1997-98-99-2000 REIMER, Kirk, 2000-01-02-03 RISHEL, Jason, 1993-94 ROBERSON, Darryl L., 1979-80-81-82 ROBERTSON, William B., 1990 ROH, Joe, 1984-85-86-87 (Capt. ‘87) ROSS, James T., 1976-77

2 0 1 0

A I R

David Ostrom (‘10)

F O R C E

WAT E R

P O L O

• 21 •

FALCON FACILITIES The Falcons typically play their home contests in Cadet Natatorium (right), which seats approximately 1,000 spectators. The natatorium is undergoing renovations during the 2010-11 season.

The water polo pool (pictured at left and right) serves as the Falcons’ practice facility.

In August 2009, the Falcons’ new locker room was completed.The locker room, which is being used exclusively by the water polo team, boasts several features including 31 lockers with expanded storage, suit dryers and separate shower and bathroom facilties.

In addition to a new locker room, the Falcons also have a new team meeting room (left), which features a 100-inch screen for video sessions.

• 22 •

2 0 1 0

A I R

F O R C E

WAT E R

P O L O

AIR FORCE ACADEMY The United States Air Force Academy offers a fouryear program of instruction and experience designed to educate, train and inspire men and women to become officers of character, motivated to lead the United States Air Force in service to our nation. Each cadet graduates with a bachelor of science degree and a commission as a second lieutenant in the Air Force. COURSE OF STUDY Cadets are exposed to a balanced curriculum that provides the knowledge, skills and responsibilities essential to a career Air Force officer.The entire USAFA experience is integrated and mapped to achieve a set of desired outcomes in every graduate. The core academic curriculum includes courses in basic sciences, engineering, social sciences and humanities. Cadets take additional elective courses to complete requirements for one of 32 major areas of study. About 50 percent of the cadets complete majors in science and engineering; the remainder graduate in the social sciences and humanities. Some of the most popular majors include management, aeronautical engineering, foreign area studies, history, behavioral science, civil engineering, astronautical engineering, electrical engineering and engineering mechanics. FACULTY COMPOSITION The majority of the Academy's faculty members, more than 500 total, are Air Force officers. They are selected primarily from career-officer volunteers who have established outstanding records of performance and dedication. Each has at least a master's degree and more than 55 percent have doctorates or other terminal degrees in their field of study. About 30 percent of the faculty are civilians who bring great depth of disciplinary and educational expertise and provide academic stability and continuity. Faculty members are intensely focused on cadet learning as an integral part of their officer development. The Air Force Academy has been ranked No. 1 in the nation for the most accessible and involved faculty for four years in a row. To provide greater contributions by a diverse faculty, the Academy has several distinguished visiting professors and endowed professors who serve one or more years. Officers from other services, as well as officers from allied countries are also members of the faculty. Distinguished civilian and military lecturers also share their expertise with the cadets during the academic year. ATHLETIC PROGRAM The Academy's athletic program is designed to improve physical fitness, teach athletic skills and develop leadership qualities. To achieve its goals, the Academy offers some of the most extensive physical education, intramural sports and intercollegiate athletic programs in the nation. Cadets take at least three different physical education courses each year.

2 0 1 0

A I R

MILITARY EDUCATION AND TRAINING An air, space and cyberspaceoriented military education, training and leadership program begins with basic cadet training and continues throughout the four years. Seniors are responsible for the organizational leadership of the cadet wing, while juniors and sophomores seek to develop team and interpersonal leadership and instructional skills. Cadets are projected into as many active leadership roles as possible to prepare them to be effective Air Force officers. Fundamental concepts of military organization -drill, ethics, honor, Air Force heritage and physical training -- are emphasized the first summer during basic cadet training. Freshmen then study the military role in United States society as well as the mission and organization of the Air Force. Sophomores receive instruction in communication skills and juniors study the combat and operational aspects of the Air Force. The Academy offers courses in flying, navigation, soaring and parachuting, building from basic skills to instructor duties. Some cadets may fly light aircraft with the Cadet Flying Team. Summer training for cadets is divided into three, three-week training periods. There are a variety of programs available and each cadet is required to complete two training periods each summer with leave during the other period. All new cadets take six weeks of basic cadet training in their first summer. Combat survival training is a required three-week program during cadets' second summer. For other second-summer training periods, cadets have options such as working with Airmen in an operational unit at an Air Force installation, airborne parachute training, soaring or basic free-fall parachute training. During their last two summers, all cadets are offered leadership training as supervisors or instructors in the summer programs listed above. Extracurricular activities also are an integral part of the education program. The cadet ski club, drum and bugle corps, cadet chorale and forensics are a few of the programs available. NOMINATIONS Nominations to the Academy may be obtained through a congressional sponsor or by meeting eligibility criteria in other categories of competition established by law. For information on admission procedures, write to HQ USAFA/RRS; 2304 Cadet Drive, Suite 200; USAF Academy, CO 80840-5025.

www.usafa.edu

F O R C E

WAT E R

HISTORY OF THE ACADEMY In 1948, a board of leading civilian and military educators was appointed to plan the curriculum for an academy that would meet the needs of the newly established Air Force. The board determined that Air Force requirements could not be met by expanding the other service academies and recommended an Air Force Academy be established without delay. In 1949, then Secretary of the Air Force W. Stuart Symington appointed a commission to assist in selecting a site and on April 1, 1954, President Dwight D. Eisenhower authorized creation of the United States Air Force Academy. After considering 580 sites in 45 states, the commission narrowed the choice to three locations. The summer of 1954, Secretary of the Air Force Harold Talbott selected a site near Colorado Springs, Colo. Colorado contributed $1 million toward purchase of the property. In July 1955, the first Academy class entered interim facilities at Lowry Air Force Base, Denver, while construction began. It was sufficiently completed for occupancy by the cadet wing in late August 1958. Initial construction cost was $142 million. Women entered the Academy on June 28, 1976, as members of the class of 1980.

P O L O

â&#x20AC;˘ 23 â&#x20AC;˘

SENIOR LEADERSHIP Lt. Gen. Michael C. Gould is Superintendent, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo. He directs a four-year academic, military training, athletic and character development program leading to a bachelor’s degree and commission as an Air Force officer. The general is a graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy’s Class of 1976. His career encompasses a wide range of assignments, ranging from head football coach of the Air Force Academy Preparatory School, to serving as Air Force aide to the President of the United States. He has held numerous command positions at the group, wing and numbered air force level, and was commander of Cheyenne Mountain Operations Center during 9/11. Prior to his return to the Academy, he was Director of Operations and Plans, U.S. Transportation Command, Scott Air Force Base, Ill. General Gould is a command pilot with more than 3,000 flying hours in the T-38, T-41, KC-10, C-5, C-17, C-21, C-141 and KC-135R. The general’s military awards and decorations include the Distinguished Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters, Defense Superior Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters, Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster, Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster, Air Force Commendation Medal, Air Force Achievement Medal and the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal.

Vice Superintendent Colonel Tamara Rank

• 24 •

2 0 1 0

Commandant of Cadets Brig. General Richard Clark

A I R

F O R C E

Dean of Faculty Brig. General Dana Born

WAT E R

Commander, 10th Air Base Wing Col. Rick LoCastro

P O L O

DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS

Dr. Hans J. Mueh Director of Athletics l Seventh Year Dr. Hans J. Mueh is in his seventh year as the director of athletics at the Air Force Academy. A retired Air Force brigadier general, Mueh was vice dean of faculty for two years prior to his retirement from active duty in the summer of 2004. Mueh was heavily involved in Academy athletics before becoming director of athletics. He was the Academy's faculty athletics representative from 1996-2004 and was a long-time member of the board of directors for the Air Force Academy Athletics Association. Since becoming the director of athletics, Mueh has led the Academy to some remarkable feats. In 2007, the Academy was one of only three schools (Michigan State and Boston College) to reach post-season play in football (2007), men’s basketball and ice hockey (2006-07). It marked the first time a service academy has ever had a team compete in the post-season in all three sports. In addition, under Mueh’s watch the men’s basketball team has played in an NCAA tournament and the National Invitational Tournament’s Final Four.The ice hockey team won three straight conference championships and made three straight appearances in the NCAA tournament. Mueh was on the selection committee that hired current head coach Frank Serratore and led the Academy’s move into the Athletic Hockey Association. The football program, the Academy’s flagship sport, has gone through a major overhaul under Mueh. He led the transition from the retirement of the legendary Fisher DeBerry after 23 years at the helm to hiring current head coach Troy Calhoun, a 1989 Academy graduate. Calhoun’s impact was immediate, leading the Falcons to a 9-4 overall mark and a second-place finish in the Mountain West Conference in 2007. The Falcons qualified for their first bowl game in five years, playing in the Armed Forces Bowl in 2007.The program has posted back-to-back eight-win seasons and qualified for bowl games since, marking the first time since 1990-92 Air Force has been to a bowl three straight years.

2011. Mueh has also been active within the conference and the NCAA. He was recently selected to be part of the NCAA Division I Amateurism Cabinet and has been active on the NCAA’s academics/eligibility compliance cabinet, the men’s golf committee and the region 7 postgraduate scholarship committee. Mueh has been equally active within the conference on various leadership committees. He is currently on the awards and recognition committee and has previously served on the joint council executive committee, and committees on championships, television and sportsmanship. Before assuming his duties as vice dean at the Academy, Mueh was permanent professor and head of the department of chemistry at the Academy, a position he held since October 1987 where he oversaw the annual design and instruction of 25 undergraduate courses for 1,500 cadets annually. Mueh was born Jan. 8, 1944, in Celle, Germany, and emigrated to the United States in 1951. He entered the Air Force in 1962 as a member of the Academy's eighth graduating class, and graduated with a bachelor of science degree in chemistry in 1966.While at the Academy, Mueh was a two-year letterwinner in soccer as a goalie. He still holds the Academy record for saves in a game with 30, accomplishing it twice in 1965 against North Carolina and Benedictine. In his junior and senior years, Mueh helped the Falcons to the Rocky Mountain Intercollegiate Soccer League championship and quarterfinal berths in the NCAA tournament. He was a first-team all-league selection in 1965. Following graduation, Mueh completed two assignments in intelligence before attending the University of Wisconsin where he earned his master's degree in chemistry in 1970. He later earned a

doctorate degree in chemistry from Wisconsin in 1976 as a distinguished graduate. He has also completed Squadron Officer School, Air Command and Staff College and Air War College. Between earning the two degrees, Mueh returned to the Academy as an instructor in the department of chemistry from 1970-72. He also served as assistant soccer coach and played semipro soccer with the Aurora Internationals in Denver during those two years, leading the Internationals to the Colorado state title in 1971. He volunteered for duty in Vietnam and served as an intelligence officer in Saigon, Republic of Vietnam and at Nakhon Phanom RTAB, Thailand, in 1972 and 1973. After earning his doctorate degree, Mueh returned to the Academy in 1976 as an associate professor of chemistry. He remained at the Academy except for a stint in 1985-86 as the special assistant for technical matters at the Defense Intelligence Agency at the Pentagon. In 1986, he assumed the position of acting head, department of chemistry, before being selected for his position of permanent professor and head of the department of chemistry in 1987. As faculty athletics representative, he was active in both the Western Athletic Conference and Mountain West Conference, and was the Academy's representative on the transition team to form the new MWC, the only faculty athletics representative on the team. He competes in golf, racquetball, handball and tennis, and has promoted Air Force Academy intercollegiate sports throughout his tenure, beginning with work as chairman of the hockey eligibility committee, officer representative to the men's golf team and five years as the officer representative to the football team. Mueh is married to the former Sally Flax of Cincinnati, Ohio. They have three children: Kristine, Kurt and Deborah.

Mueh has been just as successful behind the scenes with the administration of the department. Mueh restructured the department with an internal/external model that has streamlined resources and made the department more effective from top to bottom. In addition, he has the department on course to become a federally chartered non-profit organization which will lead to more fund-raising opportunities. Mueh was instrumental in the USAFA Endowment and the announcement of an Indoor Training Facility that broke ground in the summer of 2010. The $15 million facility will be completed early in

2 0 1 0

A I R

F O R C E

WAT E R

P O L O

• 25 •

AIR FORCE ATHLETICS Few schools in the country have an athletic program as extensive as the Air Force Academy's. The goals of the athletic program are to enhance the physical conditioning of all cadets, to develop the physical skills necessary for officership, to teach leadership in a competitive environment and to build character. There are three subdivisions of the athletic program: intercollegiate athletics, intramurals and physical education. The intercollegiate program has 17 men's and 10 women's NCAA-sanctioned teams, facing some of the top competition in the nation. Men’s teams are football, baseball, basketball, ice hockey, cross-country, fencing, golf, gymnastics, indoor and outdoor track, lacrosse, rifle, soccer, swimming and diving, tennis, water polo and wrestling. The Academy fields women's teams in basketball, cross-country, fencing, gymnastics, rifle, indoor and outdoor track, swimming and diving, soccer, tennis and volleyball. In addition, the Academy sponsors two non-NCAA programs; boxing and cheerleading. The majority of the Academy’s men’s and women’s programs compete at the NCAA Division I level in the Mountain West Conference.The Falcons compete in this conference against teams from Brigham Young, New Mexico, Colorado State, San Diego State, TCU, Wyoming, Utah and UNLV. All sports also compete against non-conference opponents, including many nationally ranked teams. The football team competes annually for the Commander-in-Chief's Trophy, which is emblematic of service academy football supremacy. The Falcons have won the trophy 16 times, which is more than Army and Navy combined. The winner of the annual rivalry visits the White House to have the trophy presented by the President of the United States.

Brad DeAustin Vice Director of Athletics

Col. Billy Walker Deputy AD Head, Physical Education

Jim Trego Senior Associate AD External Affairs

Marti Gasser Associate AD/SWA Intercollegiate Programs

George Nelson Associate AD Athletic Programs

John Coulahan Associate AD Finance

William Carpenter Associate AD Recruiting Support

Wayne Kellenbence Associate AD Support

Troy Garnhart Associate AD Info./Communications

• 26 •

The USAFA Cadet Field House is one of the most impressive buildings in the country. It’s a modern, versatile structure with seemingly endless uses.The $5.6 million building is five stories high and 396 feet by 426 feet, the size of three football fields laid side by side. The structure is divided into three areas-basketball arena, ice hockey arena and multipurpose area. The three sections have a combined seating capacity of more than 9,000. Clune Arena seats 5,834.The Cadet Ice Rink has a seating capacity of 2,470, while the multipurpose area seats 1,000 fans for track and field competitions. The department’s newest facility is the Indoor Training Facility (pictured above), which will be completed in early 2011.

2 0 1 0

A I R

Dermot Coll Associate AD Development/Gov’t

F O R C E

WAT E R

Karen Warner Associate AD Human Resources

P O L O