In college athletics, where players only have four years of
eligibility, having significant player turnover from year to year
is expected.
But this year’s UCLA men’s water polo team is
different. Not only do the Bruins have all seven starters returning
from a year ago; they also have nine of their top bench players
back.
The team’s roster is virtually unchanged, which is good
for UCLA, considering it was the No. 3 team in the nation in 2003
and figures to be one of the favorites to win the 2004 NCAA
Championship along with perennial rival Stanford.
“Experience is so important in our sport,” UCLA
coach Adam Krikorian said.
“In the mainstream sports like basketball and football,
kids play those sports all their lives. That’s not the case
here. My seniors are just now understanding how to play the game.
It’s important to have their leadership.”
When the team begins its season Sept. 10 with games in Colorado
Springs, Colo., against Navy and Air Force, it will have one player
who gained even more experience over the offseason.
Senior driver Brett Ormsby played for the U.S. National Team
over the last couple of weeks at the Olympic Games in Athens,
Greece, and will look to expand on a successful 2003 season, one
that saw him second in the nation in goals scored with 71.
“He’s going to come back having played with the best
players in the world and hopefully feed what he’s learned to
these guys,” Krikorian said.
Actually, Krikorian and his whole team feel they have learned
something from the Olympics just by watching.
“The whole team has been meeting to watch the
games,” redshirt sophomore Thomas Foley said.
“It’s really helpful to watch these high-level athletes
play. It’s not like other sports where you get to see
high-level athletes play on TV all the time.”
Krikorian had an even greater interest in the Olympics, as
between his men’s and women’s Bruin squads he had 10
current or former players that he coached playing in the
sport’s biggest showcase.
“I’m glued to the TV, and I have a deep feeling of
pride when I see them and realize these guys and girls were
Bruins,” Krikorian said. “They’ve all done so
well.”
Before its season starts, the team still feels it has plenty to
work on.
Krikorian stressed the need to improve on extra-man situations,
both offensively and defensively. Also, both Krikorian and his
players said the team needs to get in better physical
condition.
Before their season starts, the Bruins will play a couple of
exhibition matches. UCLA will compete in the Wasko Tournament at
Pepperdine on Sept. 4 and will play its annual alumni match Sept. 5
at the Sunset Canyon Recreation Center at 1 p.m.
In an injury update, Krikorian also said that redshirt sophomore
center defender Chris Pulido was recovering from shoulder surgery
and will be ready for the start of the season.