For the past two weeks, the only thought resonating throughout the minds of the 21 traveling players on the UCLA men’s club water polo team was that four more wins would make them national champions.
Despite their No. 1 ranking and 14-0 record heading into the tournament, the players knew that these circumstances only added more pressure for them to win it all.
“Being ranked first, you have a lot more to lose,” said second-year mathematics-economics student Max Scott, a two-time winner of the Pacific Coast Division Player of the Week honor.
Refusing to give in to adversity, the team rose to the challenge and defeated No. 3 Florida International University, 10-8, in a nail-biting comeback victory to be crowned this year’s national champions for the first time in the club’s history.
The team was led by fourth-year international economics student and team captain Matthew Wiener, whose four goals in the final match also earned him Player of the Game honors.
“That was without a doubt the most competitive game we’ve had all season,” Wiener said. “Our team really came together at this tournament and without everyone contributing, we wouldn’t have won.”
Held in Gainesville, Fla., the National Collegiate Club Championship features 16 teams ““ all division champions with the exception of the host team. And the road to this highly competitive tournament was no easy task for the Bruins.
They concluded their regular season with a perfect 11-0 record before heading to the Regional Tournament held at the Cal Poly San Luis Obispo during Halloween weekend. After easily winning their first two matches, they faced their toughest task against California .
“Cal was by far our toughest rival,” co-captain and third-year political science student Caleb Greig said. “They were ranked No. 1 the whole season.”
In the Pacific Coast Division title game, the Bruins beat the Golden Bears 8-6 in dramatic fashion and booked their tickets to the championship tournament. This was only the second time since 1999 that a team other than Cal Poly had won the division title.
However, the team’s tremendous success this season was not a surprise to many. After missing out on the trip to Nationals last year, they began this season ranked seventh in the country and steadily moved up the ladder.
But their success did not come without sacrifices.
In addition to having to fund their own road trips, other difficulties surfaced throughout the season.
“We missed almost every football game, we missed Halloween, we missed classes,” Scott said. “We even have tournaments the weekends before midterms.”
While they have made those sacrifices collectively for the benefit of the team, the players all insist that they would have it no other way. Instead, they believe it has only brought them closer ““ their own version of a band of brothers. Decked out in their comical club water polo tank tops and traditional mustaches, it is clear they have formed a bond not easily found among other teams.
“During the four years I’ve played club water polo here, the chemistry and easygoing nature of the team has never been better,” Wiener said. “Everyone is enjoying the season and if they’re enjoying playing water polo and even conditioning, then it makes for a successful team.”
In addition to maintaining a tight-knit team, they also credit their coach, Doug Merkel, with playing a huge part in their success. Merkel, a UCLA alumnus, volunteers his time to help train the team and knows firsthand all about the pressure of competing at a high level, having gone to nationals himself in 2006.
“I wanted to maintain a link to the team, because it was an important part of my college experience,” Merkel said. “I remembered how important it was for me as a player to have a coach, and I think having some sort of steadying influence and a presence on deck is so beneficial.”
Merkel also received NCC Coach of the Year honors for his efforts.
Citing rigorous practices as another key element to their success, the team began training during a “hell week” this summer, two weeks before the fall quarter even began.
According to the players, the hard work they put in paid significant dividends.
“We were so much better this year, because we’re a lot faster and in better shape,” Greig said. “We also had a much deeper bench.”
Having achieved so many accomplishments off-campus for the past few weeks, the team is finally looking forward to returning to their normal lives here at UCLA.
“I guess it’s time to shave our playoff mustaches; at least our moms will be happy,” Greig said.