Aug. 20, 2009
• 2009 Preseason CWPA National Top 20 Poll
ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- The Navy water polo team will open the season ranked 12th, based on the initial Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) national top 20 poll, released on Wednesday afternoon. The defending NCAA champion, USC, was ranked No. 1.
Navy is coming off a 20-11 season in which it advanced to its third straight NCAA Championship, while winning its third straight CWPA Eastern title, its fifth Eastern championship since the year 2000. Head coach Mike Schofield, who enters his 25th year in charge of the Navy water polo program, welcomes back three starters and 10 letterwinners from last year's campaign. Headlining the returnees is sophomore Kyle Wertz, who earned honorable mention All-America accolades last year after scoring 63 points (48 g, 15 a). He became the first freshman in school history to earn All-America status, and his 63 points were the third most in school history by a freshman. Also back is senior goalie Brett Rajchel, who stopped 248 shots last year, the sixth most in school history, as well as senior field players Johnny Meiners (2nd-team All-East) and Kevin Bell (active career leader in points with 109).
Navy received 41 points to rank 12th in the poll after finishing 11th in the final poll of 2008. The Mids were seven points behind Eastern rival Princeton for 11th place and one point ahead of 13th-ranked Pacific.
The Mids were picked second in the CWPA Eastern Division preseason poll, two points behind favorite Princeton. It's the first time in league history that the defending CWPA Eastern champion will not enter the new season at the top spot. Navy, which defeated Princeton 9-6 in last year's CWPA Eastern Championship, is looking to become just the third program to win four straight CWPA Eastern Championships. Only Bucknell (1977-80) and Massachusetts (1993-96) have previously won four straight CWPA Eastern titles.
Navy will open the regular season on Sept. 5-6, by hosting the Navy Open. The schedule for the Navy Open has not been finalized, but the Mids will play fourth-ranked California as well as second-ranked Stanford. Check NavySports.com for the updated schedule when it becomes available.
# GO NAVY #
