Huntington Beach, Calif. - December 28 - USA Water Polo is proud to announce the winners of the 2018 National Awards, honoring their excellent achievements. Established in 2010, the annual awards have each been named in honor of a person or persons who have made an extraordinary contribution to the sport of water polo. Winners were chosen through a zone nomination process and then reviewed by a national selection panel. See below for a complete list of winners and their accomplishments. The 2018 National Awards will be presented on January 26 during the USA Water Polo . More information on the event will be available in the coming weeks.
Congratulations to all of our honorees!
USA Water Polo Awards for 2018:
Monte Nitzkowski Distinguished Men's Coaching Award (Elite): Bret Lathrope, MIT - Bret Lathrope was a 4-year letter winner at UCLA, graduating in 2013. He has coached age group at Lamorinda Water Polo Club and 680 Water Polo Foundation, and has also served as a Volunteer Assistant Coach at UC Davis, as well as an Assistant Coach at Bucknell University and MIT. Bret was named Head Coach of MIT in April of 2018. In his first year, the Engineers won the CWPA DIII Eastern Championship and concluded the season tied at #2 in the CWPA National DIII Rankings. Bret was also named CWPA DIII Coach of the Year and NWPC Coach of the Year.
Sandy Nitta Distinguished Women's Coaching Award (Elite): Dan Klatt, UC Irvine/USA Women's National Team Program - Dan Klatt is entering his 15th season in 2019 as head coach of the UC Irvine women's water polo team. Klatt continues to lead UC Irvine through its ascent toward the top of the water polo landscape. Under Klatt the Anteaters are 7x Big West Regular Season Champs, 7x Big West Tournament Champs, and have made multiple NCAA tournament appearances. Klatt has also be named Big West Coach of the Year 7 times. This is just the surface of this 2004 Olympians accomplishments. He has been the assistant coach to the Women's Senior National Team since 2009.
Bill Barnett Distinguished Men's Coaching Award (Scholastic): Craig Ackley, Colorado Water Polo - Craig graduated (1987) from Villa Park high school and was league MVP and All-American. He became captain and All-American at The University of the Pacific where he graduated 1991. 1993-1998 coached and taught at Palo Alto High School, winning 2 CCS Championships. During that time he was helping run Stanford's summer program and later became a coach of their U18 team, guiding them to two 2
ndand one 3
rdplace finish at JO's. After moving to Colorado in 1998, Craig has helped promote water polo in Colorado and the Mountain Zone. He was Assistant Coach for the Air Force Academy men's water polo team for 2 years. He currently coaches with the Colorado Water Polo Club, with a focus on 16 & 18 age groups. In partnership with the Utah Premier water polo club, Craig is creating opportunity for Mtn. Zone athletes to train and play at a higher level.
Doc Hunkler Distinguished Women's Coaching Award (Scholastic): Sarah Greenawalt, Riverside Water Polo - Sarah is in her 6
th season coaching at Riverside Water Polo after 5 seasons of collegiate women's water polo at California State University San Bernardino where she was awarded WWPA Coach of the Year. At Riverside Water Polo Sarah oversees the High School Girls program and has led multiple teams to top finishes at Junior Olympics. Sarah is also currently assistant coaching the women's team at Riverside Community College and coaching the University of Riverside women's club team.
Ted Newland Distinguished Men's Coaching Award (Developmental): Michael Agostino, 680 Water Polo - In 2010, Mike started coaching with 680 Water Polo as high school age-group coach. After a season with the high school program, Mike took over as the 12 & Under Boys Head Coach. In the past 8 seasons, Mike has drastically changed the program developing all levels of athletes.
Brent Bohlender Distinguished Women's Coaching Award (Developmental): Adam Roth, Rose Bowl Water Polo - Adam Roth has been coaching water polo for the past sixteen years. Roth began coaching at his Alma mater, Temple City High School, in 2002 with his brother Chuckie Roth. Together, they led the girls team to back-to-back CIF Championships in 2003 and 2004. Since 2007, Coach Roth has been a head coach and program director at the Rose Bowl Aquatics Center. Initially hired as the girls' head coach, Adam was responsible for increasing program enrollment and developing teams at all age groups. In 2014, Roth became the program director of Rose Bowl Water Polo. In that same year, Rose Bowl's 18U girls team won the program's first National Championship. Since 2014, Rose Bowl has won 5 National Championships, including a sweep of Champions Cup in fall 2016 by the boys' and girls' teams. In addition to directing the Rose Bowl Water Polo Club, Roth served as a National Team Coach and ODP zone coach at the Development and Cadet levels between the years of 2009-2015.
Bret Bernard Distinguished Referee Award (Elite): Val Vasilchikov, Northeast Zone - Val attended his very first CWPA clinic in 2002 and in September, received his first assignment for some club games. At first he would drive 4-5 hours from NYC upstate New York or even fly to California just to make the games. Distance was not a factor to Val because he was just determined to gain as much experience as possible. In following 2003/ 2004 season he received his first CWPA Varsity Assignment and was invited to officiate Masters World Championship. In 2012 he was invited to officiate Men's NCAA Championships held at USC, this was a first experience for him of its kind. Since then he has officiated multiple NCAA championships both men's and women's.
Tom Hermstad Distinguished Referee Award (Scholastic): Scott Voltz, Scott began his officiating career as a 15 year old high school player in Rockford, Illinois. He continued to referee throughout a very successful career at Michigan State University as a player and coach. Scott began officiating collegiate matches in the CWPA and has quickly risen through the officiating ranks across the country. His participation in USA Water Polo events increased dramatically when he moved out west in 2014, and the rest, as they say, is history. Scott's technical skills, his dedication to the game, and his desire for continued development as a referee have afforded him numerous opportunities to don the whites in a variety of top level USA Water Polo and NCAA events including, but certainly not limited to, several USA Water Polo and NCAA domestic national championship events. 2019 marks Scott's fourth year as an international referee for USA Water Polo which has created even more opportunities for Scott to showcase his skills and continue what will be a very successful run as a referee representing the United States.
Aaron Chaney Distinguished Referee Award (Developmental): Eli Fellers, Midwest Zone - Eli began Refereeing in the fall of 2012 mainly just focusing on the Ohio High School Seasons each year, while also dabbling in some USA Water Polo events around the zone when they came up. In the fall of 2017 he really started to become more interested in getting involved with USA water polo. That winter Eli attended the ODP Holiday Camp in Colorado Springs and it took off from there. The following February he came out to Southern California for the KAP7 International tournament, attended the ODP National Championships in March where he was awarded the Top Referee for the Cadet Division, in June was selected to whistle at the JO Qualifier in St. Louis, and he finished off the USA Water Polo season whistling at the Great Lakes Classic at the University of Michigan.
Barbara Kalbus Distinguished Volunteer Award: Chris Bakkie, Des Moines Water Polo Summer Tournament - Chris Bakkie has been active in water polo since the early 1970s and, in 1984, coordinated the National Junior Olympics Water Polo competition in Iowa City. The next summer, he was instrumental in organizing the first Des Moines Water Polo Summer Tournament, recruiting the best teams from the Midwest to participate. This past summer marked the 33rd anniversary of the tournament and of Chris as tournament director. As a master's player, coach and referee, Chris has shared his passion for Water Polo, with his family, in the water, on the deck and in the boardroom. Regularly referencing the life skills learned from this great team sport. In 2016, Des Moines Water Polo was incorporated as a nonprofit organization to promote and encourage participation in competitive water polo activities and events and to provide instruction for all levels and all ages in Iowa. That same year, the board elected Chris as president of the newly formed nonprofit, a position he has filled every year since.
Andy Burke/George Ratkovic Zone Service Award: Kim Tierney Wang, Greenwich Aquatics - The club administrator for one of the most successful clubs on the East Coast, Tierney Wang has helped elevate Greenwich to become one of the top club teams in the Northeast Zone and beyond. Greenwich routinely find themselves taking on all comers at tournaments nationwide claiming medals at various high level USA Water Polo events. In addition to her work in Greenwich, Tierney Wang is also chair of the Northeast Zone helping to bring key leadership to one of many areas that is growing the game in the United States.
Bryan Weaver Male Master of the Year Award: Peter McConville, Sunset San Diego - Peter started playing water polo with Hawaiian Island Water Polo Club and Lolani high school, under Aaron Chaney. He then moved to San Diego and played for Mira Mesa High School and a variety of regional San Diego competitive travel teams with Hall of Fame coach Dick Draz. Peter than played 4 years at UC San Diego under Denny Harper. He won 3 Western Water Polo Championships during his time and UCSD. Peter then moved to Washington State and started a boys and girls high school team at Peninsula High School. He led those teams for 8 years before moving back to San Diego. Peter has been the head of Sunset San Diego for the last 18 years and led the program to multiple Masters National Championships.
Bryan Weaver Female Master of the Year Award: Katie Maclean, Oakland Water Polo - One of her friends from swim team dragged Katie to a water polo clinic summer before freshman year; and no-one has been able to keep her away since. After high school Katie played at Chapman University where she was named MVP for the year 2008. After Chapman University, Katie played a season of water polo in Sao Paulo, Brazil. She has coached in the Marin County Athletic League for 10 years. Katie stated that "Water polo has brought me some amazing opportunities, but more importantly it has brought me the most amazing people in my life". Katie was named MVP for Oakland Water Polo in 2018
Master's Club of the Year: Sunset San Diego - Sunset Water Polo was founded by Denny Harper in 1976. They are a well-established club that welcomes players of any ability. Sunset competes in every Masters Nationals sending teams in all age divisions and respectively bring home titles from the various age divisions.
USA Water Polo Men's Chairman's Cup: Vanguard Water Polo - Vanguard (founded in 2006) continues to be one of the top teams in boys water polo nationwide and 2018 was no different. At the 2018 Junior it was Vanguard claiming in the 10U Mixed, 12U and 14U Platinum division alongside a bronze medal result in the 18U division. At Rock-tober the Vanguard team rolled their way to a second place finish in the Rock Division capping another stellar run of competition that begin way back in January with gold in the Dreamer Division at the Dare To Dream 10 and Under Festival.
USA Water Polo Women's & Overall Chairman's Cup: SOCAL Water Polo - It was another banner year for the SOCAL Water Polo Foundation (founded in 1987) as they were in contention for titles at all the major events in 2018 and piled up their share of medals. The girls won gold at the 2018 Champions Cup with the boys claiming seventh while at the Rock-tober PCA 12 & Under Classic it was SOCAL taking fourth and sixth in the Rhythm Division. It was perhaps at Junior Olympics where the girls of SOCAL turned in their best performance. The 18U team won Gold in the Platinum Division with the 12U and 14U girls each earning bronze in the Platinum Division. The SOCAL boys had a strong showing at JOs as well with the 16U team taking Gold and the 14U squad winning silver in the Platinum Division.
Background on Award Namesakes:
Monte Nitzkowski is synonymous with men's water polo in the 1960s, 70s, and 80s serving as head coach of Men's Olympic Team in 1972, 1980, and 1984, leading Team USA to a bronze medal in 1972 and a silver medal in 1984. Nitzkowski also served as an assistant coach with the 1968 and 2000 Men's Olympic Team. Sandy Nitta is a pioneer for women's water polo. An Olympic swimmer as a teenager, Nitta segued to water polo and held the post as head coach of the Women's National Team during large parts of the 80s and 90s---leading Team USA to bronze medals at the 1986 and 1991 World Championships. She was also instrumental in the creation of Commerce Aquatics, a groundbreaking program.
Bill Barnett, an outstanding high school coach at Newport Harbor High School, with 10 CIF boys championships and five girls championships, initiated and coached the first USA Men's Junior National Team, then picked up where Nitzkowski left off in the 1980s, guiding the men's program to a silver medal at the 1988 Olympic Games and a gold medal at the 1991 World Cup. Meanwhile "Doc" Hunkler, three-times named National Collegiate Coach of the Year, was a visionary for women's water polo who fought to have a true national women's collegiate championship and helped guide the programs at Slippery Rock University to unprecedented heights spanning three decades, including ten top-three finishes and a national women's collegiate championship in 1995. Hunkler also holds the distinction as the only coach to win both a men's and women's Olympic Festival Gold Medal.
Few have groomed more men for Olympic competition than Ted Newland. Entering the coaching scene in the late 1960s Newland turned the University of California-Irvine into a tenacious competitor, earning three NCAA titles as he coached well into the new millennium. Called by some the "godfather" of high school water polo in Northern California, Brent Bohlender's Women's Junior National Teams captured two bronze medals from 1984 to 1999; Bohlender amassed over 1,000 career victories on the scholastic circuit in his time at Johansen High School. Lastly, on the club circuit, Bohlender's Modesto-Stanislaus club won 18 National Championships over 34 years.
Bret Bernard, Tom Hermstad, and Aaron Chaney took US officiating to unparalleled heights during their time in the whites. As a past president of USA Water Polo, Bernard also whistled the 1992 and 1996 Olympic Games and was the preeminent collegiate official for many years. Hermstad was a fixture at several Olympic Games whistling the 1972, 1976, 1984, and 1988 Olympic Games in addition to four World Championships and has worked tirelessly on behalf of water polo officials, helping to form the USA Water Polo National Referee Committee. Last but not least, Chaney capped an outstanding officiating career serving as the United States referee at the most recent Olympic Games in Beijing in 2008 as well as 2004 in Athens.
Long-time manager of the Men's National Team and holder of various offices since the incorporation of USA Water Polo, Barbara Kalbus gave back to the sport for decades, providing critical history for the USA Water Polo program and overseeing the official scoring table at various competitions in addition to numerous other roles. Current Masters Committee Chair Bryan Weaver works tirelessly for more playing opportunities while also piloting the boy's team at Brentwood High School.
Andy Burke and George Ratkovic fittingly serve as the namesake for the Zone Service Award; few have represented regional water polo with more dedication and compassion. Ratkovic, stalwart of Southern California and longtime Southern Pacific Zone chair oversaw unprecedented growth in his zone. Burke, a beacon of Northern California's famed Olympic Club, has remained active in USA Water Polo Premier League and the National Tryout Series; he also served as the team manager at the 1964 Olympic Games.
About USA Water Polo
USA Water Polo, Inc., is the national governing body for water polo in America, overseeing our United States Olympic program as well as 20 different championship events annually, such as Junior Olympics and Masters National Championships. With more than 45,000 members, USAWP also is the sanctioning authority for more than 500 member clubs and more than 400 tournaments nationwide. USAWP is committed to the development of the sport throughout the U.S., fostering grass-roots expansion while providing a national system of affiliated clubs, certified coaches, and officials. For more information, visit www.usawaterpolo.org.
