In Ann Arbor? Play polo summer 2009 with these opportunities!

1st opportunity: Great Lakes Water Polo. Look at the calender once you follow the link below, and just show up whenever you wish. It will cost $7/person/practice. The girls teammembers are invited to attend whenever they wish as well.

http://www.greatlakeswaterpolo.com/calendar.html

2nd opportunity: Summer polo with Chris Keenan. If you would like to register for that one, please contact cwkeenan@hotmail.com. For that, you fill out a form and pay on the first day you show up. It is June 15-July 30, costs $50 for all of it or $25 if you only show up part-time. There is also drop-in polo at Huron's pool (Sunday's 4-6pm).

If you are in Ann Arbor this summer, please take advantage of these two opportunities. If you are not, make your own!

Down economy can't stop wolverines
March 1st, 2009

By: Robbie pastor Gomez

Even though the excitement of last season has waned over the past few months, the Michigan Men's Water Polo team is busy ensuring that next season is even more spectacular.

The Wolverines have been busy working on their skills and recruiting new talent in addition to working on several fundraisers. The team has already begun working Men's Lacrosse games and the Women's Water Polo tournaments. As always, though, outside donations are greatly appreciated and can be made on the Donation page.

Looking ahead, the team will continue to work on fundraisers in addition to practicing three times a week at Canham Natatorium—the schedule can be found under the Schedule&Results. In addition, the team is planning on playing in an off-season tournament so be sure to stay tuned for more information regarding that.

Thanks for supporting Michigan Men's Water Polo and Go Blue!

Congratulations spartans.
november 17th, 2008

By: Dan Basile

The U of M men’s water polo team would like to congratulate Big Ten rival Michigan State on capturing the 2008 National Collegiate Club Water Polo Championships this past weekend. MSU cruised through their early round competition leading them in to a highly anticipated final against defending national champions Cal Poly. The Spartans won 15-13, giving them their 2nd title in 3 years.

The win also continues the Big Ten’s dominance of Collegiate Club water polo as the conference has won more National titles than any other in the country. With MSU’s victory, the Big Ten champion will be given the no. 1 overall seed at the 2009 National Championship, a spot the U of M water polo team plans to occupy next year.

Maize and blue-mington:
Big Ten Championship Tournament
november 3rd, 2008

By: Robbie Pastor Gomez

          The Wolverines entered the 2008 Big Ten men’s water polo championships (October 31 – November 2) in Bloomington, IN unranked and underappreciated. Having defeated an astonishing four currently-ranked opponents (#19 Minnesota, #13 Purdue, #10 Grand Valley State, and #8 Lindenwood), Michigan got to Big Tens with a chip on its shoulder. Though they had already proved themselves to themselves, it was time to prove themselves to everyone else.

            The first game of the weekend (Friday, October 31) was against Iowa “B” since The Ohio State University dropped out of the postseason tournament a mere two days before it began. The young and inexperienced Hawkeyes received a rude welcoming to Big Ten water polo, as U of M romped its way to a 19-1 victory behind strong contributions from the entire team. The defense gave up very few shots and the offense kept finding sinking them into the back of the cage. Needless to say, it was one impressive HalloWIN.

            The second of two round robin games came against one of the ranked opponents in the form of the Purdue Boilermakers on Saturday, November 1. Remembering the epic quadruple overtime Wolverine victory earlier in the season at Iowa Invitational, both teams were ready to fight to the finish in this match. Coming out strong early, the Maize and Blue took an early commanding lead over the Boilers and never looked back en route to an impressive 10-4 victory. More importantly, though, the decisive victory over the strong Purdue team vaulted the Wolverines into the Big Ten semifinals.

            On Sunday, November 2, Michigan would play a morning game against the host Indiana Hoosiers that would determine if their afternoon game that day would be for first or third place. With both teams lined up and ready to go before the start of the game, it was clear that no one would be running away with anything. As Matt Woelfel won the opening sprint, the game started out with a slight edge for the Michigan men. Throughout the course of the game, U of M never let up the defensive pressure on Indiana, continually denying them good scoring opportunities. On the offensive end, Michigan constantly found themselves in good scoring situations, but struggled to capitalize on a good number of them, a credit to Indian’s strong will to win. However, the Michigan attack proved to be too much for the Hoosiers as Michigan’s depth and team speed dragged down the tournament’s hosts. A visibly tired Indiana team could never overcome the Wolverines as Michigan was able to run the clock out at the end of the fourth quarter leaving the final score at Michigan: 4 Indiana: 3. The impressive victory elated the Michigan bench and fans, but the team couldn’t let it get to their heads as a more daunting opponent would be waiting for them later that day.

            As the nation’s top-ranked team, the Michigan State Spartans have been dominating Big Ten water polo for the past two years and, in turn, have developed a certain swagger that has not exactly endeared them to their opponents. As their fiercest rival, it has been a goal of Michigan’s to knock the State off of their self-proclaimed pedestal, making the 2008 Big Ten Championship game a highly-anticipated contest.

            With both teams eager to show the other up, the game started out with brutal intensity. The Spartans drew first blood and, midway through the first quarter, appeared to be in command of the match. At the end of the first quarter, MSU boasted a three goal lead over U of M. However, Michigan countered State with a very impressive, dominant second quarter, closing the gap to only one. At halftime, the score was only 5-4 State. All of a sudden, the #1 Spartans were in danger of getting knocked off by the underdog Wolverines and everyone in the building could sense it.

            However, good teams are good for a reason, and Michigan State took over in the third quarter behind a relentless offensive attack. While the Wolverines played hard, they were not able to surmount the Spartans and MSU led by a score of 10-4 late in the fourth quarter. Michigan was able to scrap a few more late offensive attacks, but in the end, it wasn’t enough and U of M dropped the championship game to State, 10-5. However, in the process, it appeared as though Michigan finally garnered the respect they have been seeking all season long. After the game, the MSU head coach was overheard saying that, at halftime, for the first time all year, he was concerned that his team might not win the Big Ten championship. As Michigan would be headed back to Ann Arbor to start the offseason early, Michigan State would be headed for Athens, OH for Nationals, but not before finally respecting the Michigan Wolverines.

            On their way to becoming the 2008 Big Ten runner-ups, the Wolverines were led by some outstanding play by three individuals in particular. Being named to the All-Big Ten second team for the second year in a row was departing goalie Brad Hoff. Another 2007 second team selection, Ryan Pryor was named to the All-Big Ten first team along with newcomer Steve Weinberg. However, it took the entire team to get to where Michigan water polo is today, with contributions coming from a number of different players.

            As the Michigan men’s water polo players packed themselves back into Van Awesome, Van Gogh, Van Old, and Van Steve Richards’ car, it was clear that there is some unfinished business for the team. All there is to say now is, next year, look out Spartans.        

A display of Defense
November 1st, 2008

By: Dan Basile

          On a day when Michigan’s struggling football team gave up 48 points to Big Ten rival Purdue, the Michigan Men’s water polo team wouldn’t give Purdue’s water polo team an inch of offense. The game, which would determine which team would make the 3 seed in the next day’s semifinals, started and ended with a well-executed defensive effort by the Wolverines. Purdue could never find any offensive rhythm as Michigan flustered them all game long.  By the games end, Purdue had only scored 4 goals, while they had given up over 15 turnovers. On the other side of the ball, Michigan proved to be too strong offensively for the boilermakers, as they consistently found open water and open shots. Led by 3 goals from Matt Woelfel and Steve Weinberg apiece, the Wolverines totaled 10 goals in a dominating game over one of their Big Ten rivals.

          Next, Michigan will take the pool against Indiana, tomorrow, 11/01, at 10:15 a.m. The game will determine a spot for tomorrow’s championship game at 2:00 p.m.

U of M, MSU split friday night series.
October 28th, 2008

By: robbie pastor gomez

          On Friday, October 24, the Wolverines faced in-state rival Michigan State at a packed Canham Natatorium. With chants of “Let’s Go Blue” and “Go Green, Go White” being exchanged back and forth, an electrifying crowd led into two electrifying games. Michigan pulled off an exciting overtime victory in the “B” game, while Michigan State held on to capture the “A” game win.

            In the “B” game, the Spartans had a difficult time finding the back of the net as Michigan goalie Mason Nistel turned away MSU shots like they arrived at the DMV a minute after closing. However, the Spartan’s toughness kept the game close the whole way, and regulation ended with the score tied at four. However, a breakaway goal by Sameer Oak gave the Wolverines the victory in sudden death overtime.

            The “A” game was equally exciting with two of the Big Ten’s best teams playing some highly competitive water polo. Unlike the “B” game, this was an offensive showcase that saw impressive goals scored for both squads. Unfortunately, the Wolverines were unable to topple the Spartans as Michigan State found itself on the winning end of a 12-11 game. Multiple-goal scorers Matt Woelfel and Paul Reynolds had notable offensive performances for the Maize and Blue.

            As the regular season ended, Michigan’s focus is now solely on the Big Ten Championships in Bloomington, IN this upcoming weekend. First up: The Ohio State Buckeyes on Friday, October 31. Michigan hopes to come out “scary” good to begin what hopes to be a long, successful run at Big Tens. Go Blue!

Badgers? We don't need no stinkin' badgers.
October 21st, 2008

By: robbie pastor gomez

            This past weekend, the Michigan caravan pointed towards Madison, WI for the Wisconsin Invitational. Unfortunately, tragedy (unrelated to UMpolo, fortunately) struck before the team made its way outside of Michigan state lines. On I-94, a severe car accident that resulted in a fatality backed up traffic in the worst way. Goalie Brad Hoff must have been a boy scout at one point or another during his youth, for he certainly was prepared. Equipped with his handy GPS, Hoff handily maneuvered his van around the backup. Being in the age of the cell phone, the other vans were notified of the suggested detour. Well, not all of the other vans, actually.

            In the span of three hours one can take the multiple-choice section of the LSAT, listen to Led Zeppelin’s “Stairway to Heaven” 22 times, pop 72 bags of Orville Redenbacher’s Movie Theater Butter Gourmet Popping Corn, or give 120 performances of Frederic Chopin’s “Minute Waltz.” My van decided, or rather, the other vans decided to not call us, granting us the opportunity to be at a dead stop for those three hours. But then again, who needs to consume 72 bags full o’ butter anyway? Who are the real heroes?

            After all of the vans finally made it to Wisconsin, the team rested up to get ready for their first game the next day against scrappy Iowa. With all of those hard practices paying off, the Wolverines handily handled the Hawkeyes, and the team began the weekend on the right note. However, there was no time for merriment, as Michigan’s next match would be against Minnesota, the defending Great Plains division champions. A sound defensive effort led to pristine offensive execution as Michigan routed the Golden Gophers with a notable offensive hole performance from freshman Levi Barry.

            With the host Wisconsin up next, the Maize and Blue needed to keep its focus for the upcoming game against the Big Ten foe. After falling into an early first quarter deficit, Michigan found itself in a physical game and had to battle both the Badgers and the lack of whistles. With frustration starting to show, Michigan found itself down by three to four goals for the majority of the game. Upset was in the air and the Badger fans could smell it. With the cries of “Let’s Go Blue” emitting from the stands and the Michigan bench, Blue fought back, showing everyone that there was no quit in this team. Despite an exceptional performance by goalie Steven Richards, with a minute and a half to go in the fourth quarter, Michigan found itself down 9-6. With two impressive goals in just over a minute, the score was 9-8 Wisconsin with just 20 seconds to go. Fiercely trying to force a turnover, Michigan was searching for the equalizer, but Wisconsin wasn’t about to hand it to them at their home pool. The Badgers played keep away and Michigan lost the game by one.

            A difficult ending to Saturday’s games led into an important match against Illinois Sunday morning. The first three outings between the Wolverines and the Illini ended in Michigan’s favor, but with both teams trying to boost their seeding for the Big Ten Championships, it would be no cake walk. Michigan was determined to end this tournament on a high note and there was no post-loss hangover as the Wolverines jumped on Illinois early. With no Juice Williams to lead the Fightin’ Illini this time, Michigan kept up the pressure and walked away with an extremely strong victory to end the final regular season tournament of the year.

            At 16-7, Michigan has one final tune-up before embarking for Bloomington, IN for the Big Ten Championships. On Friday October 23, the day before the Michigan-Michigan State football game, the U of M and MSU water polo teams will face off at Canham Natatorium for two games in the heated rivalry. The “B” game will start at 8:40 PM ET and the “A” game at 9:40 PM ET. We hope to see you there and Go Blue!

Tippecanoe and Michigan too
October 13th, 2008

By: robbie pastor gomez

The Wolverines travelled to West Lafayette, IN on Friday, October 10 for the Purdue Invitational. Featuring some of the top teams the Midwest has to offer, the tournament would allow the team to run their offense against some stiff competition. After dropping a spot in the national rankings (#16 – 23 votes), Michigan’s goal was to prove their worth at Purdue.

The first game of the tourney was against Grand Valley State on 10/11. Having never beaten the Lakers under coaches Drew Hansz and Bob Sala, the game would prove to be downright epic. In typical Wolverine fashion, the team found themselves losing to GVSU late in the fourth quarter. But like so many other times this season, the game was deadlocked at the end of regulation. After a few outstanding plays, most notably an improbable half-tank overtime goal from Ryan Pryor, Michigan found themselves in sudden death overtime. Levi Barry delivered the winning goal, giving the current coaching staff its first career victory over the Lakers and sending the team back to the hotel victorious.

After a hearty meal generously provided by the dedicated Michigan water polo parents, the team re-fueled and re-energized before re-entering the Purdue Aquatic Center for the first of brutal back-to-back games. The first game was against Purdue “B” and saw Blue polo soundly handle the Boilermakers. There was no time to celebrate, however, for the next opponent would be awaiting the team after less than a ten-minute break.

The next would be a re-match against the Indiana Hoosiers. The two teams previously faced each other at the Miami Invitational only two weeks prior where IU came away with the victory in a shootout. Before Michigan could think about any hopes of avenging the loss, though, they found themselves down by four goals in first quarter. The Indiana charge didn’t culminate until the score reached a 7-2 Hoosier advantage and the Wolverines decided to really play some water polo. A determined Michigan attack, led by recent addition Steve Weinberg, brought the score to only a one goal Indiana advantage. Unfortunately, the opposition from Bloomington finally found a way to stop their Ann Arbor adversaries and the final buzzer sounded with Indiana on top, 9-8.

After a good night’s rest at the team’s hotel in nearby Lafayette, the team returned to the pool on Sunday the 12th to face their arch nemesis, the #1-ranked Michigan State Spartans.  After scoring the first goal of the game, Michigan found themselves up early, only to “feel the wrath” of MSU. With State gaining the lead, things started to look shaky on the Michigan side. However, with sheer determination and some excellent execution, the Wolverines slowly climbed back into the game. The team got within two goals of the Spartans, but the game clock ran out only 7 seconds later, and Michigan players found themselves losing by a score of 10-8.

The valiant effort shown by the team that brought Blue back into both the Indiana and Michigan State games continually proves that there is no quit in this team. Add in the victory over Grand Valley and it is evident that Michigan will be a force to be reckoned with all season long. Michigan will go back to work this week at practices to tune up for its tournament next weekend at the University of Wisconsin. A thank you goes out to Michigan water polo alum, Dan Kurdys for showing his support for the team this past weekend. A special thank you is reserved for those parents who made the trip down to West Lafayette for their devotion and their food.

She Tastes of chlorine: miami
October 6th, 2008

By: robbie pastor gomez

In the final weekend of September 2008, Michigan men’s water polo team found itself in Oxford, OH for the Miami Invitational. The pool: wonderful. The women: glorious. The Wolverines: ready. It all started on Friday, September 26 against the Hoosiers from Indiana.

Michigan played a solid game against Indiana, but found themselves down by two with only 90 seconds remaining in the first game of the weekend. As if it were a blur, the Wolverines played the game as it was intended to be played and caught the Hoosiers off-guard, tying the game right before the final buzzer sounded. Once again, Michigan showed its resilience in the match’s waning moments. With the tournament having a time crunch, the two Big Ten foes headed into a shootout. The most exciting play in hockey turned out to be just as exciting in water polo. Unfortunately, Michigan lost the shootout by just a few millimeters. A disappointing finish to a hard-fought game sent the Michigan men back to the fabulous Oxford Inn.

After a hardy Bob Evans breakfast (unfortunately, it was not down on the farm), Michigan shook off the rough loss from the previous night and turned its attention to the Michigan State “B” team. Showing no signs of a post-loss hangover, Michigan easily handled the rival Spartans with contributions from every member of the team. An excellent performance from the first line, stellar play from line two, and crisp execution from the alpha squad, combined with great goaltending from Brad Hoff and Steven Richards did MSU in as U of M sailed to a smooth victory. Also aiding in the spirit-lifting process was the word of Michigan football’s groundbreaking comeback against Wisconsin in the Big House’s 500th game. Things were looking bright for Blue as they cruised into the evening game against, for the third time this season, the Illinois Fighting Illini.

Just like the first two meetings of the ’08 season, the Wolverines got the best of the boys from Champagne, IL. The win meant that Michigan would be facing the Lindenwood Lions the following morning. Despite being a small private school located just north of St. Louis on the Missouri River, the Lions packed a mighty punch. Fortunately, Michigan continued its trend of improving as the season has moved on, and took care of Lindenwood in a physical match. The victory meant the Wolverines finished the tournament with a 3-1 record – the second-best won-loss total in the tournament. Unfortunately, the tough loss to Indiana meant Michigan could finish no higher than the fifth place standing that they earned. With all things considered, though, Michigan showed tremendous growth over the course of the Miami Invitational, a feat that did not go unnoticed to the national poll voters. With a record of 11-4 for the season, Michigan received 25 votes in the October 1 poll, tying the Wolverines with the Texas Longhorns for 15th in the nation.

The Wolverines had the weekend of October 4 off, allowing the team to relax and finally enjoy a weekend in AA. Next up for Michigan water polo: October 10-12 at West Lafayette, IN for the Purdue Invitational. Go Blue!

Wolverines Follow the Yellow corn road
September 2oth, 2008

By: Matt woelfel

Leaving early Friday afternoon, the team piled into the “awesome” vans and headed to the “Land of Maize.” Featuring a starting lineup with four new players, this weekend showcased the weeks of practice as the team finally began to play together. With two full lines ready to play at any time, the Wolverines proved they were a team to be reckoned with.

Waking up late with ample time to stretch and prepare, the Wolverines were ready. It was clear from the beginning though, that Grinnell was in for a rough game. Scoring easily with both the 1st line and the A line, the Wolverines overwhelmed their opponents on the way to a 13-2 victory. With two scoreless quarters and a balanced offensive output, the coaches were very pleased with the first game of the weekend.

Later that day, the Wolverines were pitted against the mighty Iowa Water Polo Factory. Featuring some very talented players, this game was more competitive. With a much more physical style of play, IWPF pushed the Wolverines further than Grinnell, but the result was never in doubt as Michigan cruised to a solid 11-6 victory.

The final game on Saturday saw Michigan again playing the Fighting Illini. Having played each other the previous weekend at Michigan State, each team knew what to expect. After jumping out to an early lead on the Illini, they cam right back and pushed the score to even through three quarters. In the end though, Michigan again claimed victory in a great 11-9 win. Undefeated in their pool, they were matched to play Purdue in the championship game: a game that will surely be remembered for years to come.

The first quarter saw Purdue jump out to an early lead. They were a very physical team and it became clear that this game was going to be a dogfight. Slowly though, the Wolverines began to turn the momentum in their favor and they managed to bring the deficit back to two with a few minutes remaining in the final quarter. After a spirited address from their coaches, the Wolverines scored the final goals to bring the score even with just over a minute to play. Facing a very tough defense over that period, the boilermakers were unable to get a good shot on goal.

In the first overtime period Purdue again jumped out to an early two-goal lead until 1:31 remaining in the second. After holding Purdue to one shot on the next possession, the team swam down the pool and managed to draw a kickout with thirty-three seconds remaining—stay with me here folks, because it’s just about to get exciting!  Following the kick-out the Wolverines forced a bad shot, and Purdue took control with a mere twenty-seven seconds left to clinch their victory. But Michigan had a different plan.  Powered by the aura of the corn, Michigan’s Evan Starr forced a turnover, passed the ball, and as the buzzer sounded freshman Levi Barry drove the ball by an outstretched Purdue goalie to send the teams into sudden death.

Both teams battled in these periods, but despite multiple opportunities neither team was able to convert a goal. Exhausted, but not beaten, the Wolverines entered the fourth overtime period determined to take home their first tournament victory in years. And it was in the second minute of play that saw them finally put another goal on the board and notch a 12-11 win over the Boilermakers.

Wolverines take second at Spartan InvitE!
September 1oth, 2008

By: Steven Richards

What began as a difficult weekend for your Wolverines turned into one of their better Spartan Invite performances in recent memory. The team finished second overall with a 3-1 record in tournament play. Perhaps more importantly, the team got a chance to see what to expect from this years crop of returning veterans and its exciting freshman class.

Friday night saw the team pitted against their cross-state rival the Michigan State Spartans. The Spartans took control of the game early and never looked back. With their home crowd behind them, the Spartans counter attacked their way to an early lead.  They kept piling the goals on until the very last second with a heartbreaking bar-down full court shot that set the crowd into a frenzy and made the final tally an overwhelming 22-10.

The tough loss to their most bitter rival seemed to portend an even tougher tournament for the Wolverines, but the team put those fears to rest on Saturday winning all of their games and capturing a spot in the championship game on Sunday morning. The day started off with a 10-8 victory over the wily veterans that make up the Michigan Masters team. Despite their experience, the Michigan Masters could not overcome the speed and anticipation of the Wolverines who had just played the night before. Michigan then went on to trounce the Illinois B squad with a dominating performance that saw them score 15 goals and only give up just 1. After winning their bracket, Michigan took on Illinois in a hard fought crossover game. After Illinois forced overtime late in the fourth quarter, Michigan managed to bear down and close it out winning 10-8 and capturing a spot in the championship game the next morning.

The game began Sunday morning in a light rain and saw the Wolverines play a tough game against an experienced and talented Chicago United team. In a back and forth game that saw Michigan winning 3 quarters,  Chicago United ending up running away in the fourth quarter to close out the game and the tournament with a 12-8 win.

Despite their tough start and finish, the Wolverines had a strong tournament with three wins in one day showing off the depth that this year’s team possesses. With their core veteran leadership and an influx of talented young players, this should be yet another exciting year for Michigan Men’s Club Water Polo.

FOr some strange reason it had to be, He guided me to tennessee
September 1st, 2008

By: Robbie Pastor Gomez

On Friday August, 29, the team left for Knoxville with eight very dedicated members of its team plus Bob. After a brief spell on I-75, highlighted by a giant cross right next to Adult World and a Fudge Factory sign, the caravans found themselves in the middle of Volunteer land. Staying at the lavish Holiday Inn Select, located right next door to the world famous Sunsphere, a good night’s rest is all that the Michigan water polo team could do to prepare for its games the following day.

The morning game was against a team from Ohio known as the self-proclaimed “Squirrels.” After getting off to a rough start that combined flashes of brilliance with moments of rust, the team came back from a second-half deficit. After a scoring controversy, the game entered a sudden-death overtime situation that, unfortunately, turned out to end in the Squirrel’s favor.

After a hearty Panera-filled lunch, the team re-focused for its afternoon game against Chicago. After playing the previous game with only one sub, a member of another team was added to the U of M roster for insurance. Determined to bounce back from the disappointing loss to Ohio, the Wolverines jumped out to sound first half lead, a forgettable third quarter brought the veterans from Chicago back into a game that they would eventually go on to win. Looking tired and frustrated, Michigan needed to focus on keeping up the positives and improving upon the negatives if they were to consider the weekend a success. After catching a quarter of the Michigan football game at the local Buffalo Wild Wings (BW3’s to those who are venerable), the last game of the day would be played against the host’s, Tennessee.

In a mid-day trade, Michigan acquired 6 players from Miami (OH) for practically nothing to keep the Michigan men fresh. A much better game was played and Michigan trounced the Vols on strong all-around play from all of the Wolverines/RedHawks. Things were coming together and, in turn, looking up. To celebrate, the team ventured off to the legendary local pizzeria, appropriately known as Mushroom Mel’s for some good ol’ fashioned southern pizza pies.

The last game that U of M would play at the Hillbilly Classic Water Polo Tournament would be against Charlotte. No other teams tainting the Wolverine line-up – just Burke, Gomez, Hoff, Oak, Pryor, Raben, Rowland, and Zatkoff. That is all who made the trip to UT and that is all who would represent the Maize and Blue in their quest for a .500 winning percentage. Luckily, that would be more than enough as the team played some of its best water polo to end the weekend.

Despite some forgettable moments, it is important to remember that it is very early in the season; the mistakes that were made are easily correctable. Throughout the tournament, the team displayed the tenacious defense that can lead to great things. Consistency on the offensive end had been the biggest hindrance to Blue’s success, but it can and will be corrected. Consequently, if I had to summarize the experience in a pinch, I would have to call it a solid sun-filled, Robbie Gomez-billed, “Tennessee Water Polo Weekend.”

Welcome Back Wolverines!
August 3rd, 2008

     The Schedule has just been updated with the latest information about the 2008 season. Coach Drew will start conditioning practices tomorrow morning. You are highly encouraged to attend these training sessions. However, if you are unable to participate you should be seriously conditioning on your own.

  If you are a new recruit or an interested walk-on, tryouts are held the first week of school. Officially pre-season begins on August 18th, but we understand if you can't make it to practice until September 2nd. If you have any questions don't hesitate to contact our Recruiting Team.

Team Banquet
November 26th, 2007

     This year's banquet will be at Cottage Inn Restaurant this Saturday, December 1st at 7:30PM. There will be a buffet dinner followed by an awards ceremony. Please be sure to invite your parents and friends. This is a formal event, so dress to impress (ties are required). The team's meal will be complementary. However, there will be a $20 charge per plate for parents, friends, and dates. We're looking forward to seeing you there.

Miami (Ohio) Tourney
October 7th, 2007

By: Sameer Oak

     Last weekend we traveled to a tournament at the University of Miami in Ohio. The weekend included lots of water polo and camping. We ended up in 8th place with a record of 1 win and 3 losses. We had a couple of offensive opportunities that we couldn't capitalize on and we didn't really start playing until the 4th quarter in some games. The last couple of days at practice, we have been working heavily on shooting and transitioning so hopefully this will help in our game play.

    We also camped for two nights while we were there because there were no hotels available. It was a lot of fun eating s'mores by the campfire and talking. The camping was a really good team bonding experience. Overall, the weekend showed that we have tons of potential that we just need to utilize well.

Spartan Invite Highlights Strengths and Weaknesses
Sept. 17, 2007

by Ben Cousineau

    The weekend at Michigan State was definitely a good starting point for the Michigan team. It was the first time the team traveled as a whole, all of the starters were present, and the team had significant practice time beforehand. The games were all a lot closer then the standings indicate; every play was contested, the team's defensive effort was phenomenal. The mistakes made during the Tennessee tournament were virtually nonexistent. Michigan drew far many more six-on-fives then it gave up, and the six-on-five defense limited the impact of the number of goals scored in the penalty-periods. The only glaring difficulty the Michigan team had was on offense. Michigan failed to capitalize and shot percentages were low. However, shooting is the easiest thing to work on during practice and it is early in the season yet. There is great expectation that Michigan will come out later on in the tournaments as an offensively dominate team.

     The Michigan B Team had great success this weekend, tying with Michigan State's much larger and more experienced counterpart. The Wolverines came out with great intensity and played their hearts out, and were rewarded with some truly outstanding goals. Notable offensive moments came from Eric Kumbier and Andrew the Singapore Slinger.

Saturday Night Lights in the Eyes of Freshman
Sept. 17, 2007

By Dan Basile:

     I've seen hundreds of swim meets, swum millions of yards, and raced against the best of them. But up until yesterday, I never experienced the excitement and energy of a sport where the team matters more than the individual. This past weekend was my first water polo tournament, where I had the opportunity to compete for the University of Michigan at the Spartan Invite.  Soaking in the environment and learning about the game, I experienced the tournament mostly as an observer.

    The A team arrived early in the morning prepared to face some of the best club teams in the nation. Throughout the day the U of M teams showcased its strengths'our defense was impenetrable.  However, we showed that we have plenty of room to improve: especially on our shooting.  Despite numerous opportunities in the first two games, the A team could not get its shots in the back of the net.  As the day progressed players became less confident in their shooting ability and the offense struggled to produce many shots, and as a result few goals. At one point, Coach Bob said that the team will focus heavily on shooting in upcoming practices.  Nonetheless, the team had more bright spots than weak spots, and with better shooting we have the potential to go far this year. The defense and goaltending were exceptional, allowing on average 5 goals per game. The players did a great job pressing, stopping 6 on 5s and not allowing the ball in the hole. I noticed that our players were stronger, faster, and did a better job of setting up plays and getting in position. Overall, Coach Drew and Bob seemed pleased with our performances; despite our losses, the team showed that with time we have the potential to do quite well.

       For most of the day, I was there to watch the games and learn the little nuances of the sport.  Luckily, Coach Bob told me that I could play the second game for the B team. The B team match against MSU didn't get underway until 8:30PM: setting the stage for what would turn into an intense game underneath the lights.   A small crowd had gathered at the pool and began cheering for State, so our players and fans countered with a 'Go Blue' cheer of their own. The atmosphere of the crowd, the cold weather, the dark sky and pool lights made for an adrenaline-filled match between these two great rivals.  I waited for my chance to get in the game, and as I watched the intense match, I was itching for a chance to play. When the third quarter began, the game was tied 1-1 and Coach Bob called me into the game, so I lined up for the sprint. Never had I played a real water polo game before'here was my chance to shine.

       I swam as fast as I could for the ball for the ball, my opponent and I reached it at the same time, yet somehow he fouled me and I kept the ball. As play started, I tried to keep to the game plan and do what I had learned in practice the past few weeks, which I was able to do for the most part. I kept pressing my man when on defense, and then tried to move off him and/or break free for a drive when I was on offense. My heart was racing, and my mind was just trying to keep up. My best contribution was when State had a 6 on 5 and as they set up someone made a cross-pool pass to the player I was guarding. I leapt up and stole the ball with my left hand (which is my dominant hand) and ended their man-advantage.

       I made a few mistakes, yet I think I did pretty well considering my experience. Those 5 minutes in the pool made me hungry for more and left me anticipating my next chance to get back in and make some plays.  I left the game to watch an exciting finish in the fourth quarter as Michigan matched each of State's goals with some incredible shots. The game ended in a 3-3 tie'most everyone wanted the game to continue.  During the hand shakes, both teams politely gestured and said 'Re-match in Ann Arbor.'

       In the end, this game opened my eyes to how fun and energetic water polo can be.  Moreover, our team proved we have the potential to go very far this year.  Even though this is my first year, I know we can win and I'm ready for some more!

Knoxville, Tennesee
September 16, 2007

By: Eric Kumbier

            The Michigan Men's Water Polo Team traveled to Knoxville, Tennessee for the Hillbilly Tournament September 1st and 2nd.  It was the team's first tournament of the 2007 season, and most players view the tournament as a fun way to get back in the groove of playing water polo.  Overall, the team finished 2-2, but showed signs of cohesion despite it being so early in the season.  The team's defense was solid, holding all opponents to 7 goals or less.  In the first game of the tournament the Wolverines defeated host Tennessee 15-1 in a game where the starters only needed to play in the first quarter.  In the second game Michigan fell short against Purdue, losing a hard fought battle 7-4.  Michigan bounced back and beat Miami B 8-6, while giving reserve players a chance to play.  The team wrapped up tournament play with a disappointing loss to Indiana by the score of 7-3.

            Matt Gauss led the Wolverines in scoring with six goals, followed by Ryan Pryor, who added five.  Matt Burke netted four scores while BJ Jacobs, Matt Rowland, Eric Kumbier, Joe Zatkoff, and Tim Raben each had two.  Also scoring goals were John MacDonald, Jared Halonen, and Tyler Roehm, who each had one.  Tim Raben led the team in assists with four, and Matt Gauss led the team in kick outs drawn with nine.  In net John MacDonald saved 15 of 23 shots, yielding a 65% save percentage.  Brad Hoff saved 11 of 24 shots, with a save percentage of 46%. 

Midwest open
July 29, 2007

A new addition to our team, Justin Thoresen, is organizing a team for a master's tournament in Chicago called the Midwest Open.

He needs some more players. The entry fee is nominal and negotiable: definitely no more than $45. Transportation from Ann Arbor will also be provided. The tourney is August 3-5th, and the team will be leaving Friday, August 3rd around noon.

2007 Uniform Orders
July 20, 2007

This year we will be purchasing a set of 35 warm-up jackets for the team.  These jackets will be owned by the team, and give us a refreshingly sharp look at tournaments.  The jackets will be exactly the same as the ones ordered last year.  They will be navy blue with a yellow and white stripe down the side and horizontally across the back.  A yellow block 'M' will be on the chest with the words 'Water Polo' embroidered beneath.  

If you are a current player, fan, or alumni that would like your own personal jacket, you can place your order today by following the instructions below.  We must receive all orders and payments by August 1st, so we can ensure that we will have our warm-ups for the first tourney of the season. 

To receive the fan price of $100 please follow the link to the team's store.

To receive the alumni price of $75 you must do the following:
            1) You must be registered on the team's booster list
            2) Email Tyler Roehm for special instructions on how to order

To receive the current player price of $60 you must:
            1) You must be a member of the 2007 Water Polo team
            3) Email Joe Zatkoff for special instructions on how to order

Congratulations Michigan State
November 27, 2006

 Congratulations to Michigan State for winning the 2006 Men's Collegiate Club Championships and defeating Grand Valley State in what was a great game for both teams. Please go to http://www.collegiatewaterpolo.org for details on the entire tournament and join me in congratulating MSU on their victory against a tough field. The Big Ten Conference has now won more NCCC Championships than any other Collegiate Club Conference. MSU winning Nationals means that the second place team from our conference (Big Ten) gets a seed at Nationals next year.

Water Polo Wants Big Ten and You
September 25, 2006

By Michael Eisenstein, for the Daily   

Locker room chatter is solely about it.

A coach's countdown leads up to it.

National club championship hopes rely on it.

For the Michigan Men's club water polo team, winning a Big Ten championship is the only way the Wolverines can enter the National Club championships - the team's benchmark for success in recent years.

In club water polo, only the winners of conference tournaments are invited to the nationals, making it imperative to win the conference championship.

Intensifying the race to the nationals is Michigan's loss last season in the Big Ten Championship game to Michigan State - preventing the Wolverines from winning a Big Ten title for the third year in a row.

With last year's season-ending loss leaving a bitter taste in its mouth, Michigan cannot think about anything besides returning to the National Club Championships. And that requires a return trip to the conference title game.

It's a reachable goal considering the success the water polo team has had recently. Michigan has won three National Club Championships, six Big Ten Championships and has four second-place finishes in the Big Ten in the past 15 years.

Led by co-captains and Big Ten first team members John Thomas and Dan Kurdys, new coaches Drew Hansz and Bob Sala have the team hitting its stride two tournaments into the season.

The first tournament for the Wolverines took place two weeks ago in East Lansing, where Michigan State hosted the Spartan Invitational.

"Everyone was a little rusty because it was our first tournament and the coaches were just starting to get a feel (for the team)," Zatkoff said of the team's 2-2 performance.

But the Wolverine Invitational, held last week, was a much different story.

Zatkoff said he felt strongly that the team performed much closer to its potential in the most recent tournament. Zatkoff also said the performance was even more impressive because of the tough week of practice preceding the Wolverine Invitational, resulting in the team playing tired. Returning starter junior John MacDonald was enthusiastic in reaction to the better overall showing by the Wolverines.

But Michigan's loses to No. 1 Michigan State and No. 2 Grand Valley State show that the team must play even better in order to make the National Club Championships. For now, the Wolverines have fixed their focus on beating their main rival, Michigan State, whom they will likely face in the Big Ten Championships, and there are still three more tournaments for the 12th-ranked Wolverines to continue improving.

Looking to the future, the team also has good prospects for the years to come. Freshmen Paul Reynold, Ben Cousineau and Matt Rowlend are the future and have already begun to contribute this year.

This cycle of good talent coming into the program is not out of the norm for water polo. According to Zatkoff, most people on the "A" team have about eight to ten years experience. But if people without experience want to get involved in water polo, a "B" team also exists. It consists mostly of people with only swimming experience, often because their high school did not have a water polo team. Zatkoff said the easiest way to get involved is to check out the team's website and fill out a recruitment form.

But for right now, with 53 days until the Big Ten tournament, Michigan only has a conference championship on its mind.

Wolverine Invitational
September 19, 2006

    This weekend concluded our second official week of the season. Our first tournament, which took place in East Lansing, provided a chance for all of us to work out a few of those summer time kinks as well as gain a little game experience. Our new coaches switched up the line ups and moved everyone around to ensure the entire team saw some playing time. With great effort exhibited by everyone we had a good showing at the Spartan Classic.

    The team had an impressive performance this weekend at our very own Wolverine Invitational. Although the A team started off a little rusty with a sloppy victory over Illinois we stepped up and played well in our victory over Ohio. Saturday night concluded with a night match against MSU. MSU got off to an early lead in the game with a few fast breaks. The later part of the game was much closer than the score led to believe with excellent plays by our young team. Our only game Sunday found us in a match-up with GVSU. We threw up a good fight but even with stellar performances from Jon Thomas and Paul Reynolds we were unable to defeat the Lakers.

    When asked about the team's performance coach Bob Sala had this to say: 'I've been very impressed with the work I've seen thus far and hope to see the intensity only increase as the season continues.' These past two weeks have shown us little blurbs of greatness and we all feel confident this will be another successful season.

Wolverines Start The Season Strong
September 10, 2006

    The Michigan Men's Water Polo team had an impressive showing this weekend at the Spartan Classic. With many new and young members, the team was able to field both an A and a B team. Some new members, like Artun Kirkali and Bob Schnittman, experienced their very first water polo tournament and learned a great deal. On a whole, the weekend was a great learning experience for everyone. Having had only three regular season practices, the tournament gave the new coaches an opportunity to see everyone play, and gave the team an opportunity to shake out the off-season cob-webs.

    The A-team started the tournament with a victory against Michigan State B. Soon after, they matched up against the Boilermakers of Purdue. Michigan controlled the game until the third quarter, when Purdue gained ground on the Wolverines and tied the score. For the sake of time, OT was forfeit and the tie game was decided in a shoot out. Unfortunately, the Boilermakers came out on top. Later on that day, the wolverines played United in the outdoor pool. Both teams had to endure the cold and rain that engulfed East Lansing Saturday afternoon. After a long struggle, United narrowly escaped with a win over the Wolverines. Despite the two losses, the A-team managed to stay focused for their Sunday morning game. With standout defensive performances across the board, it was no surprise that Michigan beat the Hoosiers 15-7. Overall the A-team managed to place 7th.

    Coach Drew Hansz was excited by the level of play demonstrated this weekend. He plans, having reviewed game footage, to emphasize shooting more in practice: 'Twenty-five pushups for every shot not on cage should be enough incentive!

water polo looks to repeat
october 4, 2005

By Eileen Hengel, For the Daily

Repeating is never easy, especially when you're coming off a Big Ten Championship and a third-place national finish.

But that's the goal of the Michigan men's club water polo team, and, if early results are any indication, it is well on its way to accomplishing it.

Starting the season strong with a 6-2 record, the team heads into the Hoosier Invite at Bloomington and Big Ten Championship in East Lansing in search of a repeat.

Losing much of their starting team from last season, the Wolverines rely heavily on not only the performance of the few returning players but also the play of a select group of freshmen.

Bringing substantial speed to the team, freshman Matt Burke easily found a starting position on the A team this season. Nevertheless, returning members, such as fifth-year senior Ryan Wyatt, senior John Thomas and junior Dan Krudys remain the reason for Michigan success through the beginning of the season.

"(Wyatt) has been playing with the team for almost 10 years. He brings a level of experience and skill that is hard to achieve without the time and effort he puts into his game," assistant coach Dan Perout said.

The season began before class started with two practices daily. In its first outing at the Spartan Invitational on Sept. 10-12, Michigan played against the Michigan Masters, a team consisting of graduated students throughout Michigan. Michigan narrowly escaped with a 13-12 victory.

"Our first tournament was difficult because we were just coming together as a team, and a lot of the success involved in water polo comes from anticipating the cuts and moves of your teammates," Perout said.

Michigan faced Michigan State twice throughout the year, first at the Michigan State Invitational, losing 2-10, and second at the Boilermaker Invitational Sept. 16-18, falling 4-5.

"In the first game (Michigan State) basically out swam us," Perout said. "In the second game, I really think that we played the best we could have possibly played but sometimes the ball just doesn't fall your way."

As the season progressed, the team started coming together while still learning from its losses.

"The losses to Michigan State were difficult because they are our biggest rival," junior Glenn Legacki said. "But I think we learned a lot from the game, and we're probably going to have to face them again at Big Tens.

Though the losses proved hard on the team, it experienced significant victories over Illinois, 8-6, Miami (Ohio), 16-11, and Purdue, 12-10.

"With each tournament, I believe, we become more and more of a team," Perout said.

Men's Water polo swims under the radar
february 8 , 2005

By Billy Heisler, For the Daily

The Michigan men's water polo team often fades behind the hype and marketing of the University's major sports. Yet this group of poised individuals has tales of camaraderie, commitment and accomplishment that equal those that are constantly in the spotlight.

In late August of 2003, a group of players assembled, immediately forming a balanced, focused and cohesive unit. All but the incoming freshman experienced a bitter end to their previous season. The Wolverines were denied a spot in the National Championship by Michigan State, losing by one goal in the qualifying round. But the team had every reason to be confident about its chances of taking home a national title. With their final season approaching, senior star goalie Jeff Bronson and coach Vaughn Cooper wanted to leave it all in the pool, harboring no regrets. The rest of the team shared this vision, practicing hard and playing each game as if it were its last.

After finishing the regular season with a strong 18-4 record, the polo players ferociously awaited a possible rematch with the Spartans in the qualifying tournament, the Big Ten Championship. This tournament included nine of the eleven Big Ten schools, each team jockeying for the single open spot in the National Championship tournament in Texas. As fate would have it, Michigan State was the only team that stood in Michigan's way of a trip to Texas.

But this time, the Wolverines reigned supreme.

Michigan arrived at Nationals with a high level of confidence.

'We knew we were going to take it the second we got there,' senior Patrick Emaus said.

Michigan defeated Dartmouth, Georgia Tech and Yale in the first three rounds, blowing each of them out of the water. When the finals came rolling around, the polo players went on a tear, sinking California Polytechnic University and claiming the National Championship as their own.

In 2004, the Wolverines ' with extra efforts from new coach Alex Zimmer and core seniors and captains Brad Gregorka, Rob Palmerlee and Ryan Wyatt ' had another outstanding season, finishing third in the nation at Notre Dame.

Despite the loss of many star players due to graduation, Michigan believes that its tradition of excellence and sportsmanship will prevail. This past season's departing stars have stepped up to take on the formidable challenge. Sophomore Dan Kurdys will serve as the team's president and co-captain.

'My goals for this coming season are to focus more on professionalism and organization, to uphold the competitive standards set by the seniors and to maintain a good combination of academic and playing ability,' Kurdys said.

He also hopes to reach out to the community by volunteering at local high schools to teach the sport to the younger players, something that the team has done over the past few off-seasons.

Champions! water polo takes national title
november 11, 2003

By Gabriela D'Jaen, Daily Sports Writer

The men of Michigan's club water polo team left for the National Collegiate Club Championships on Nov. 6 with a clear goal for its four-day trip: To put up a fight for the national title while showcasing the abilities of all players on the team.

After a 14-3 victory over Dartmouth and a 13-4 win over Georgia Tech, the Wolverines faced the No. 1 team in the nation, Cal-Poly State. Michigan started out with force and was leading 3-0, but Cal-Poly State rallied back to 4-4. With 38 seconds left on the clock, Michigan freshman John Thomas shot the game-winning goal.

'There is a reason we call him John T. Money,' coach Vaughn Cooper said. 'He hits big shots.'

Cooper expressed feelings of immense satisfaction with the performance of the entire team, especially the seniors.

Junior defender Brad Gregorka was named the Most Valuable Player of the tournament, showing his versatility by scoring four goals against Georgia Tech and three out of the five goals against Cal-Poly. Junior Ryan Wyatt and goalie Jeff Bronson were also named All-Tournament First Team.

'From day one, we emphasized the importance of team, I'm glad the bounces went our way,' Cooper said.

The road to winning a national title is always demanding, but one individual on the team surpassed all expectations. Six months ago, Rob Palmerlee was strapped to a backboard in the hospital, staring at the ceiling for 10 hours.

He was told he had broken his neck and was going to have to spend three months in a halo, eliminating any possibility of playing water polo for a year.

'I was racing my girlfriend through an inflatable obstacle course, and felt a snap in my neck, but I finished the race anyways,' Palmerlee said.

Palmerlee went through intensive physical therapy. Showing diligence and determination, he was practicing with the team by early October.

On Oct. 26, Michigan played against Michigan State for the Big Ten Championship. In double-over time, sudden death, Michigan received a penalty shot off of a technical foul, and Palmerlee was told to take the shot.

'They tossed me the ball, and I looked at the ball and then at the cage, the whistle blew and I shot it cross cage,' Palmerlee said. 'I heard the crowd go crazy and soon my whole team was in the water, I can't describe the feeling, it was just incredible.'

Michigan beat the Spartans, 4-3, and held them scoreless for the last 21 minutes of the game thanks to goalie Jeff Bronson blocking 18 shots.

Palmerlee reflected on his aspirations before heading to Nationals.

'We'd like to show the nation what Michigan water polo is all about. We are the blue-collar work horses,' Palmerlee said at the time. 'We don't have studs, we're just guys that want to have fun.'

The Wolverines' season has been one of teamwork and dedication. The team spends at least three hours in the pool every day, and travels to tournaments across the country on weekends.

'Our season is pretty short, but it's still a major time commitment,' goalie Jeff Bronson said. 'We've had two off weekends since we've gotten to school, but the experience is very rewarding.'

The hard work has paid off, and the success of this team can be attributed not only to the time spent, but also to the surplus of talent on the team.

'In past years, if you looked at the goals scored column you've seen a couple guys who had most of the goals and a couple others trickling here and there,' senior co-captain David Arscott said. 'This season we have eight 20-goal scorers, a pretty significant number of people.'

The team is stacked with depth, rotating players through the six field spots to keep everyone fresh.

'We have a substantial number of subs,' co-captain Dean Malmgren said. 'Just to compare it to other teams, some will only have one sub. That extra depth gives us a large advantage.'

Malmgren, who arrived at the University four years ago as a golfer and swimmer, had never played water polo. His accomplishments show that you can become a big-time water polo player inside of four years.

The club water polo program has existed at the university since 1968. Since the Big Ten water polo conference was created in 1989, Michigan has won seven conference titles, including two national titles.

michigan club polo has one elusive goal
september 9, 2003

By Jamie Josephson, For the Daily

Splashing into its fall campaign with the return of experienced veterans and the addition of fresh talent, the Michigan men's water polo club is no longer settling for second best.

The past three years have been marked by heartbreaking losses in the finals of the Big Ten Championships. And each season, the difference has been a single goal. Molding a comfortable home at the runner-up position, Michigan polo came up short against the Spartans twice and Purdue once.

"We've been working harder every year, and right now, we are in the best shape we've ever been in," said president and captain Dean Malmgren, who is looking to take that extra step this season.

Kicking off its crusade at the Michigan State tournament this past weekend, the team's impressive first-place performance set the tone for its championship campaign. Taking home the bacon against Purdue in the finals (9-5), the squad also destroyed MSU B (16-8), Illinois (18-4), and Indiana (14-6) along the way.

Malmgren says the squad's strategies to achieve first place glory included staying consistently motivated for every tournament. Drowning its opponents in a 2-2 split last year at the Claremont Convergence Tournament against four Division III Varsity teams, the club is looking forward to returning to Southern California Oct. 9-14 to prove its championship potential.

Entering the season with all but one player returning, the team's cohesion will be one of its strengths.

"We are here because we want to be; we simply love this sport," senior holeset Rich Magner said.

Malmgren insists that digging for the extra edge in the close games is the main focus. The nail-biters will no longer be about physical ability, but rather mental endurance.

As one of the smallest squads physically in the Big Ten, Malmgren insures that what the team lacks in size, it will make up for in speed and skill. Looking to a talented incoming freshman class as a welcoming addition, the team president regarded these new assets with high expectations.

"We freshmen look to make any kind of impact we can from the bench," freshman addition Jon Thomas said.

According to Malmgren, the raw enthusiasm and encouragement from these newcomers can push the team that much further.

Vice president Larry Kennedy explained that the squad's "club" status provides another means to achieving its first-place goal. Club athletes' egos are in check and their label causes them to work that much harder to earn respect. Sponsoring fundraising events from can drives to selling t-shirts offer humbling experiences for the athletes.

Though Big Ten glory and national recognition would be undeniable achievements for the club, Magner acknowledged that having more than half the team attend pre season was a true victory in the sense of athletic commitment.

"Polo may not be our whole life, but it is a close second," Magner said.