HOME OF BULLDOG MEN'S WATER POLO - 1993, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2009 SCIAC Champions

The University of Redlands men’s water polo team earned a ranking of No. 19 in the final Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) Varsity Top-20 poll, according to a release from the CWPA.

Receiving 13 votes, the Bulldogs finished well out in front of the U.S. Air Force Academy (CO), which landed at the No. 20 spot with five points. No other Division III squad broke into the final Varsity Top 20 poll.

Johns Hopkins University (MD) barely edged out Redlands for the No. 1 ranking in the final Division III poll, which is also released by the CWPA. The Blue Jays picked up 97 points while the Bulldogs fell one point shy with 96. Other Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) teams to make the Division III Top-10 list included Cal Lutheran University at No. 3, Pomona-Pitzer Colleges at No. 4, Occidental College at No. 6, Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Colleges at No. 7 and Whittier College at No. 8.

Redlands had a remarkable season, accumulating a 29-9 overall record, including a 9-1 record in SCIAC games. In the Western Water Polo Association (WWPA) Championships, the Maroon and Gray rebounded after a first-round loss to Santa Clara University and won its three final contests against UC Santa Cruz, Pomona-Pitzer and Air Force to finish fifth overall. The team’s 29 wins are the most in program history, and its fifth-place showing at the WWPA Championships marks the best outing at the postseason tournament for the Bulldogs since 2005. Three student-athletes earned spots on the All-WWPA teams and four garnered All-SCIAC honors. Senior driver Andrew Becskehazy (Miami, FL) nabbed the 2008 SCIAC Player of the Year award.

For the complete poll, visit the WWPA online at http://www.collegiatewaterpolo.com.