1996
R
Rush H. Taylor
ush Taylor is Andover’s only two-sport All-American in swimming and water polo—and perhaps the only two-sport All-American in the school’s history. In boys’ varsity water polo, he was the first ninth-grade starter in the school’s history. During his upper year, Taylor led Andover to defeat Exeter in the NEPSAC semifinals and was later named New England Water Polo MVP. Taylor served as water polo captain as a senior, scoring a still-standing season record of 95 goals. He was named Andover’s first—and still only—All-American in water polo. Also a varsity swimmer, Taylor was the New England champion in the 100-meter breaststroke and runner-up in the 50 freestyle in 1995 and 1996. He was named an All-American in the 100-meter breaststroke in 1995 and held multiple school records, one of which stood for 22 years. At George Washington University, Taylor started on the water
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polo team all four years; the team was ranked 12th in the nation. Serving as captain his senior year, Taylor led the team in goals and steals and was named team MVP. He also played on the All-East water polo team for three consecutive years. After college he played in both the U.S. Premier League and the National League in Australia. As a swimmer at GWU, Taylor was a 10-time Atlantic 10 Conference champion, held the A-10 record in three events, and qualified for the 2000 U.S. Olympic Trials in the breaststroke. In 2004, Taylor joined the U.S. Air Force and commissioned as a second lieutenant. He has led more than 40 combat missions in Iraq and Afghanistan, flying more than 250 hours in combat, including multiple critical air drops of supplies to forward operating bases. Currently, Taylor lives in Hawaii with his wife and two children and serves in Hawaii’s Air National Guard flying the C-17.
1996 water polo team: Taylor is third row, center. 7