Aug 31, 2007

Back in the Pool

LOS ANGELES, Calif. (Aug. 31, 2007) – The men’s water polo team jumped back in the pool earlier this week to begin training for the fast-approaching 2007 season.

Occidental is currently ranked tenth in the Division III National Poll with quite a few players returning from 2006. Among those coming back are six starters from a year ago including All-America recipient Cameron Brahmst (JR, Utl., Fremont, Calif.) who led the team with 61 goals. Rejoining the Tigers, after a season away from the program, will be, former Rookie of the Year, Andrew Valdes (JR, Att., Whittier, Calif.). Along side Brahmst and Valdes are starters Abiel Garcia (JR, C, Houston, Texas), John Wensman (JR, Att. Mercer Island, Wash.), Sean Inoue (JR, Utl., Mission Viejo, Calif.), Mac Hansler (SO, Att. Huntington Beach, Calif.), and the goal keeping duo of Max Kelly (SO, Devon, Penn.) and Blair Bergstiensson (SO, Rancho Palo Verdes, Calif.). Also returning to the black and orange this season are Adam Kantor (SO, Utl. Carmel, CA), Gabe Shapiro (SO, Att. Los Altos, Calif.), and the lone senior Tiger Bryce Rawers (Att., San Diego, Calif.) who are all pivotal role players in the success of the program. Joining the team for the 2007 campaign are a talented class of nine student-athletes who hail from five different states.

Last year the Tigers averaged 8.6 goals per game and as a team shot 35.6%. Garcia led the charge with 32 assists and 53 drawn penalties while scoring 42 goals. In addition to his team leading goal scoring, Brahmst was second on the team with 33 drawn penalties and 21 assists. Shooting 41% during his freshman campaign, Hansler, netter the ball 43 times and added 20 steals as he appeared in all 30 Oxy games in 2006. Splitting time in front of the cage Kelly and Bergstiensson tallied 151 and146 blocks respectively.

Occidental College water polo looks to take the program to the next level with this group of talented young men. “We're on the cusp of a new generation of water polo here at Occidental” Head coach Larry Zubrin said. “It's more than the great combination of experience, talent, and depth, it is our camaraderie and work ethic that will make this team successful.”

The Tigers will be challenged in their first outing of the season as they will face off with Division I UCLA at the Inland Empire Tournament at Redlands on Sept. 8. During the two day tournament Oxy will also face Cal Baptist, La Verne and Cal Lutheran.



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Back in the Pool