American Water Polo

2nd Annual Cutino Cup Moved to May 19-20

MORAGA, Calif. -- American Water Polo announces the Second Annual Peter J. Cutino Cup for Masters level athletes will now be held on Saturday-Sunday, May 19-20.

Originally scheduled for Saturday-Sunday, April 14-15, 2012, the event will still occur in the East Bay area of Northern California at the Soda Aquatic Center at Campolindo High School in Moraga, Calif.,

Hosted by Tri Valley Water Polo, the event will feature five levels of competition for both men's and women's teams as independent competition will occur for athletes in 20 & Over, 30 & Over, 40 & Over, 50 & Over and 55 & Over divisions.  Due to the breadth of the tournament, the host reserves the right to combine age groups if less than three teams enter and will give the option for a team to compete in the next lower age division (although teams will be allowed to make some "roster adjustments" as need).   

Each team is guaranteed a minimum of two games during the two-day event that offers a high quality water polo experience for Masters Water Polo.  Officiating will be coordinated by Jeff Roy.

As the event is intended to honor more than just the name Pete Cutino, but the legacy he created and the vision he left for what water polo can be at all levels of competition, all proceeds from the tournament will remain at the four host sites. 

To achieve this goal, local club teams will help set-up the course and run the desk at each age group pool.  In addition to the learning experience of helping out at an event of this caliber and meeting many great players of the game who will be in attendance, the local clubs will be raising funds for their efforts and assist in growing the sport of water polo in the local area - a region in which Cutino made his name and consistently gave back to the community.

Complete results of the 2011 Cutino Cup are available by clicking here.

About Pete Cutino
A legendary California coach and educator in swimming and water polo for over 40 years, during his 26-year tenure as the head coach of the University of California-Berkeley Cutino won eight NCAA titles and compiled a 519-172-10 career  record to rank among the all-time victory leaders in the history of water polo in the United States.

"The ability to name the Cup after an icon in water polo like Coach Cutino is a way we can honor those who have provided so much to the sport. Pete Cutino is undeniably one of the greatest," states Dan Sharadin, Director of American Water Polo.

Cutino also served as a US National and Olympic Team Coach as well as a member of the FINA Technical Water Polo Committee and the chair of the Men's International Olympic Committee.

"Pete was an instrumental part of so many lives," according to University of California head men's water polo coach Kirk Everist. "Those of us lucky enough to have been able to call him "Coach" know that our lives where forever impacted by his presence, his teachings and his never ending pursuit to bring out the best in all of us. Remembering his legacy with Masters competition is a perfect tribute."

A member of six Hall of Fames, Cutino's legacy is also remembered by the San Francisco Olympic Club which in 1999 established the Peter J. Cutino Award, the Heisman Award equivalent presented to the top male and female collegiate water polo players each year.

In September of 2004, Peter J. Cutino Sr. passed away, a loss felt by all the athletes, coaches and fellow aquatic enthusiasts who came into contact with him over his years on deck.

"Pete made all of us love the sport of Water Polo and because of that many of his "boys" still love to play the game and the Peter J. Cutino Cup will be a fitting way to honor Pete's sizable impact on each and every one of us," adds Everist.

To Register for the Cutino Cup
Payment & Fees: $450 per team by March 15 or $525 late entry fee by March 31.

Paypal to CCUMastersPolo@gmail.com or make checks payable to Tri Valley Water Polo.  Additional information, registration forms and address information for the tournament are available on the Cutino Cup website at http://www.CutinoCup.com. 

All athletes on a team will need to be registered as a member of American Water Polo to compete.  To minimize costs to the athletes, a discounted membership fee is available for current USA Water Polo athletes.

For additional information on the Masters Cup Series and the benefits of American Water Polo membership, access the AWP website at: http://www.americanwaterpolo.org or contact Dan Sharadin at 610-277-6787 or office@americanwaterpolo.org

About American Water Polo
Located near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, American Water Polo (AWP) is among the leaders in a new generation of scholastic and Masters sports organizations whose purpose is to provide opportunities for athletes of all ages to enjoy the sport of water polo.

More than just an administrative service, AWP's mission is to provide opportunities for individuals of all ages to be involved in the sport of water polo and to provide its members with the highest degree of customer satisfaction at an affordable price.

Focused on giving unrivaled service to its members, American Water Polo offers insurance coverage and competitive opportunities for teams at an affordable rate by operating leagues and competitions, as well as providing assistance for individual teams to do so independent of the national office.

Maryland to Host "Save our Sports" Comedy Event

COLLEGE PARK, Md. -- The University of Maryland's Water Polo Team, will host the "Save Our Sports" Live Comedy Event and Fundraiser, which is designed to raise community awareness and funds to save university sports programs scheduled to be eliminated this year.

On November 22, 2011, University of Maryland President, Wallace D. Loh, announced that the university will cut eight of the university sports programs by June 30, 2012. The student outcry to the announcement has been tremendous. Popular Twitter and Facebook campaigns have been organized against the cancellation of these sports programs. These efforts have been led by student athletes, specifically the UMD Water Polo Team, whose athletic program (including student scholarships) is among those threatened.

In a recent interview, Water Polo Coach Carl Salyer said, "Our commitment to the program is unwavering. We are determined to alter the course that has been set for us by the University, but we cannot do it alone. With you help, we can save the program."

On the evening of March 1, 2012, the UMD Water Polo team, in association with Against Tha Grain Entertainment, will host "Save Our Sports," starring funny man, Nema Williams of Comedy Central's Comic Groove and HBO's Bad Boys of Comedy. Also slated to performing is Alex Scott, a rising star of standup, whose credits include HBO's Def Comedy Jam, Comic View, and The Kevin Nealon Show.

The events will be held at the University of Maryland Comcast Center Pavilion, on Thursday, March 1, 2012, at 8:30 pm. Tickets are $10 for all students with valid student ID and $20 for general admission and can be purchased at http://www.umterps.com.

[edit] [customize]

Three-way Race

All three of the top teams went undefeated this weekend to remain at the top of the standings. Asphalt Green easily dispatched Villanova 18-6 and Delaware 18-1 as they dominated both teams. The Kingfish Vets did likewise beating the Patriots in a physical game 16-7 and the NJ Masters 14-9. Greater Philly did not have such an easy day as they barely squeaked by a much improved Harrisburg HAWCS squad 14-13.

The wins for each program keep the race alive and builds suspense towards which team will have the chance to face Asphalt Green in the finals.

The next competition will include both "A" and "B" Division games on February 26th at Villanova University. Admission is free.

Gonzaga College High School Seeks Assistant Coach

Gonzaga College High School's water polo team is in search of a new assistant coach for their boys' team for the upcoming 2012 Fall high school season.

Gonzaga is a Jesuit high school with 950 male students. The school is located in the shadow of the Nation's Capitol and boasts of a water polo team of sixty male athletes of varying levels and abilities spread over 4 teams (Varsity, JV A, B & C).

Gonzaga is a member of the Mid-Atlantic Water Polo League and competes against fellow member teams such as Greenwich, Naval Academy Aquatic Club, and Landon High School among others. The team was founded ten years ago and continues to grow and compete on the East Coast with the ultimate goal every season of trying to win Prep Eastern's as well as our league championship.

The season starts on August 13th and runs through November 11^th 2012. Practices are from 3:30-6:00 PM Monday through Friday and are held at Takoma Aquatic Center in DC. The team attends tournaments most weekends during the season. While most tournaments are in Annapolis, we may travel to Baltimore, Connecticut, New Jersey and Pennsylvania to play. In addition, coaching and directing the spring team could be available.

Attendance at all practices and tournaments would be required. As assistant coach, you would help run practice, direct the team and coach one of the teams during games. Playing and coaching experience at high school, club, or collegiate level is highly recommended.

Questions or inquiries can be directed to Joe Viola, jviola@gonzaga.org or c/703-899-5986.

Asphalt Green #1

Asphalt Green proved clearly why they are the team to beat as they handily downed Greater Philly. The game began close with teams knotted 5-5 at the half, but turned into a lopsided contest in the second half with Aspalt Green opening up a four goal lead and never looking back' outscoring Greater Philly 12-3 in the final half. They went on to easily beat New Jersey Masters in their second game 22-8 to remain undefeated. Greater Philly also bested the NJ Masters 12-6 to remain in contention for the championship.

Pennridge High School (Pa.) Seeks Women's Head Coach

Pennridge High School in Pennsylvania seeks a head women's water polo coach with an anticipated start date of August 13, 2012.  Coach the girls' varsity and JV water polo team. Must possess current Act 34, 151 and Act 114 FBI clearances. EOE.

Compensation for this position is set by the EDR Contract as amended annually.  Last year, this position was paid approximately $2,070.

Letters of application and questions should be directed to:

Interested parties are also invited to contact Ken Vincent (Boys if they have questions about the Pennridge High School Water Polo Program at 484-223-7243 or kvincent@pennridge.org

Kingfish Vets Redeemed

Kingfish Vets Redeem Themselves

The "A" Division witnessed the Kingfish Vets going undefeated this weekend with victories over Villanova 15-7 and Princeton 18-6. The wins help the Vets remain in the running for the championship as they move into first place based on total points. Technically they share the lead with Asphalt Green and Greater Philly, two teams that are undefeated with fewer contests played.

In the "B" Division the race is wide open with four teams tied for first place in total points. At the present time the Villanova Wildcats, Patriots, Lehigh, and Greater Philly Franklins all share top billing with six points, although the Franklins are currently undefeated having played fewer games.

Next competition takes place this Saturday, February 11^th, with games in both divisions. Key match-ups will feature two undefeated teams in the "A" Division squaring off at 11:30, as Greater Philly takes on Asphalt Green, while in the "B" Division two first place teams also meet with the Franklins taking on the Patriots at 2:50 PM. Admission is free for all spectators.

Greater Philly and Asphalt Green Dominate

In the first action for the Main LIne League "A" Division, Greater Philly and Asphalt Green go undefeated, while the Kingfish Vets split to remain in the hunt for the championship. Asphalt Green started off strong with a victory over the Vets 16-9. They may have caught Kingfish a little winded due to the new format requiring consecutive games for some teams, which saw the Vets taking on Asphalt Green after just finishing a tough game against Harrisburg. Asphalt Green went on to win handily over the Harrisburg HAWCS 23-8 in their second game.

Greater Philly opened their season with a win over Villanova 15-6, followed by a 9-4 victory over a much improved Patriots squad.

The next competition takes place at Villanova on Saturday, February 4th, with games in both the "A" and "B" Divisions.

Franklins and Lehigh Go Undefeated

The Main Line League "B" Division opened this weekend with some great competition. Both the Franklins and Lehigh University started off their seasons on the right foot with two wins apiece. The Franklins bested YOE Polo 15-8 and then LaSalle University 6-3. Lehigh University opened with a win over Franklin & Marshall 13-8, followed by a victory over the Drexel Dragons, 11-7.

The defending champion Patriots were a little weaker than last season due to the fact that they are now fielding an "A" Division team as well. The depletion in talent led to a split as they lost to 2011 runner-up K & M 5-11 and then bounced back to beat the Villanova Wildcats 11-6.

The Main Line League hosts competition at Villanova University during the winter each year, with this season including 19 teams in two divisions. Next competition for the "B" Division occurs February 4th, while the "A" Division begins January 29th.

 

Main Line League Schedule Posted

The Main Line League will kickoff its competition on January 22nd this season with the Greater Philly Franklins taking on YOE Polo to open the schedule. This season the senior division is the largest in its history, with 19 teams participating in two divisions, separated according to ability.

New to the division this year are Asphalt Green from New York City ("A" Division) and LaSalle University from Philadelphia ("B" Division). Other clubs have also added teams to offer more competitive opportunities for their members. Both the Patriots and Villanova University added a squad to the mix in each of the brackets.

In the "A" Division look for the Kingfish Vets and Greater Philly to be two of the stronger returning teams, while Asphalt Green comes in with a talented and experienced roster that will also contend for the title. The "B" Division could be wide open with YOE probably the frontrunner as the season opens. The league wraps up in mid-March with championships for each bracket.

Complete Schedule

2nd Annual Cutino Cup Set for April 14-15

MORAGA, Calif. -- To honor and continue the legacy of a Hall of Fame coach, American Water Polo announces the Second Annual Peter J. Cutino Cup for Masters level athletes.

The inaugural event of the American Water Polo Masters Cup Series, the Cutino Cup will take place on Saturday-Sunday, April 14-15, 2012 in the East Bay area of Northern California at the Soda Aquatic Center at Campolindo High School in Moraga, Calif.

Hosted by Tri Valley Water Polo, the event will feature five levels of competition for both men's and women's teams as independent competition will occur for athletes in 20 & Over, 30 & Over, 40 & Over, 50 & Over and 55 & Over divisions.  Due to the breadth of the tournament, the host reserves the right to combine age groups if less than three teams enter and will give the option for a team to compete in the next lower age division (although teams will be allowed to make some "roster adjustments" as need).   

Each team is guaranteed a minimum of two games during the two-day event that offers a high quality water polo experience for Masters Water Polo.  Officiating will be coordinated by Jeff Roy.

As the event is intended to honor more than just the name Pete Cutino, but the legacy he created and the vision he left for what water polo can be at all levels of competition, all proceeds from the tournament will remain at the four host sites. 

To achieve this goal, local club teams will help set-up the course and run the desk at each age group pool.  In addition to the learning experience of helping out at an event of this caliber and meeting many great players of the game who will be in attendance, the local clubs will be raising funds for their efforts and assist in growing the sport of water polo in the local area - a region in which Cutino made his name and consistently gave back to the community.

Complete results of the 2011 Cutino Cup are available by clicking here.

About Pete Cutino
A legendary California coach and educator in swimming and water polo for over 40 years, during his 26-year tenure as the head coach of the University of California-Berkeley Cutino won eight NCAA titles and compiled a 519-172-10 career  record to rank among the all-time victory leaders in the history of water polo in the United States.

"The ability to name the Cup after an icon in water polo like Coach Cutino is a way we can honor those who have provided so much to the sport. Pete Cutino is undeniably one of the greatest," states Dan Sharadin, Director of American Water Polo.

Cutino also served as a US National and Olympic Team Coach as well as a member of the FINA Technical Water Polo Committee and the chair of the Men's International Olympic Committee.

"Pete was an instrumental part of so many lives," according to University of California head men's water polo coach Kirk Everist. "Those of us lucky enough to have been able to call him "Coach" know that our lives where forever impacted by his presence, his teachings and his never ending pursuit to bring out the best in all of us. Remembering his legacy with Masters competition is a perfect tribute."

A member of six Hall of Fames, Cutino's legacy is also remembered by the San Francisco Olympic Club which in 1999 established the Peter J. Cutino Award, the Heisman Award equivalent presented to the top male and female collegiate water polo players each year.

In September of 2004, Peter J. Cutino Sr. passed away, a loss felt by all the athletes, coaches and fellow aquatic enthusiasts who came into contact with him over his years on deck.

"Pete made all of us love the sport of Water Polo and because of that many of his "boys" still love to play the game and the Peter J. Cutino Cup will be a fitting way to honor Pete's sizable impact on each and every one of us," adds Everist.

To Register for the Cutino Cup
Payment & Fees: $450 per team by March 15 or $525 late entry fee by March 31.

Paypal to CCUMastersPolo@gmail.com or make checks payable to Tri Valley Water Polo.  Additional information, registration forms and address information for the tournament are available on the Cutino Cup website at http://www.CutinoCup.com. 

All athletes on a team will need to be registered as a member of American Water Polo to compete.  To minimize costs to the athletes, a discounted membership fee is available for current USA Water Polo athletes.

For additional information on the Masters Cup Series and the benefits of American Water Polo membership, access the AWP website at: http://www.americanwaterpolo.org or contact Dan Sharadin at 610-277-6787 or office@americanwaterpolo.org

About American Water Polo
Located near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, American Water Polo (AWP) is among the leaders in a new generation of scholastic and Masters sports organizations whose purpose is to provide opportunities for athletes of all ages to enjoy the sport of water polo.

More than just an administrative service, AWP's mission is to provide opportunities for individuals of all ages to be involved in the sport of water polo and to provide its members with the highest degree of customer satisfaction at an affordable price.

Focused on giving unrivaled service to its members, American Water Polo offers insurance coverage and competitive opportunities for teams at an affordable rate by operating leagues and competitions, as well as providing assistance for individual teams to do so independent of the national office.

Main Line League

The Main Line League Senior Division information is now posted. This year is expected to have the most teams in recent years with competition in both an "A" and "B" division, combining local college teams with AWP club programs.

Games will take place primarily at Villanova University with a few satellite contests at various universities throught the season. All teams will be guaranteed ten games including a championship.

To access the information, CLICK HERE.

Donate to Save Maryland Water Polo

COLLEGE PARK, Md. -- In order to Save Water Polo, a steering group of alumni, parents and friends is working with athletic department staff to raise $4,205,366 in cash donations by June 30, 2012.

You can help us to avoid program elimination for Maryland Water Polo by making a donation now, either online or by mail or fax. No donation is too large or too small.

Should we not be able to save our sport, donations will either be re-designated or refunded, depending on the date of donation. Please see the Donor FAQ or Gift Agreement for details.

Teams will work to raise funds independently, but in order for the University of Maryland to continue to comply with the non-negotiable requirements of the federal Title IX law, to save a men's program, we must also reach the fund raising goal for a women's program with similar squad size and scholarship commitments, and vice versa.

Make your gift to SAVE MARYLAND WATER POLO today. If you'd like to speak with a staff member about your gift intentions, contact Julie Potter at (301) 314-7077 or potter@umd.edu.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A Letter from the University of Maryland Women's Water Polo Team

The Save Maryland Water Polo website can be found here - please give today.

Our existence depends on you.

Thank you -

University of Maryland Women's Water Polo

Illinois Girls Winter League Information Available

CHICAGO, Ill. -- Information on the Girls' Illinois Winter League is now available on the American Water Polo website by CLICKING HERE.

Founded by Ed Prystalski in December 2010, the league provides competition for girls in high school.

Cost: $400/team. Checks should be made payable to Illinois Water Polo and sent directly to:

Ed Prystalski
1409 W. Chicago Ave
Chicago, IL 60642

For more information, contact Ed Prystalski 773-316-1625, ede1108@comcast.net

The league features:

* Six minute quarters
* Two-minute break between 1st and 3rtd qtrs
* Three-minute break at half
* Two time-outs
* No overtime

2011 NCAA Championship to be Streamed Live

BERKELEY, Calif. -- The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) will stream all four games of the 2011 NCAA Men's Water Polo Championship live this weekend on NCAASports.com.

The championship features No. 1-ranked and Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (MPSF) champion the University of California-Los Angeles, No. 2/MPSF runner-up the University of Southern California, No. 10/Western Water Polo Association (WWPA) champion the University of California-San Diego and No. 13/Collegiate Water Polo Association Eastern Champion Princeton University battling over the course of two-days to decide which program returns home with the 2011 NCAA Championship.

Action begins at 4:00 p.m. Eastern/1:00 p.m. Pacific on Saturday, December 3 when top-seed USC meets No. 4 seed Princeton, before No. 2 seed UCLA faces No. 3 seed UC-San Diego at 6:00 p.m. Eastern/3:00 p.m. Pacific.

On Sunday, December 4, competition wraps-up with the third place game at 4:00 p.m. Eastern/1:00 p.m. Pacific and the championship contest at 6:00 p.m. Eastern/3:00 p.m. Pacific.

Fans can access the coverage by CLICKING HERE or by clicking on the video link on NCAASports.com and scrolling down to Men's Water Polo.

NCAA Announces Men's Water Polo Graduation Success Rates

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. -- Student-athletes wishing to play men's varsity water polo should consider the information recently released by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) as the organization announced the latest Division I and II Graduation Success Rates.

The report shows that East Coast institutions have the best graduation rate as  Brown University, Bucknell University, Fordham University, Princeton University and St. Francis College (N.Y.) recorded perfect Graduation Success Rates to top the list.  Only the University of California-Davis and Stanford University proved the equal of the East Coast institutions.

Overall, the Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) has seven of the Top 10 success scores in the nation with the United States Naval Academy ranking ninth with a 95, while the University of California-Los Angeles completes the Top 10 with a 90.

“Success for student-athletes is ultimately measured by how well they do in the classroom,” said NCAA President Mark Emmert. “There is room for greater progress, and we continue to work hard to that end, but today we celebrate this important milestone.”

On a national level, water polo continues to rate among the best performing sports ranking fourth with a 85 Graduation Success Rate to trail only lacrosse (88), gymnastics (87) and tennis (86) and rank well in front of the NCAA average score for all sports of 80.

The NCAA developed the Graduation Success Rate to more accurately assess the academic success of student-athletes. The rate holds institutions accountable for transfer students, unlike the federal graduation rate. The GSR also accounts for midyear enrollees and is calculated for every sport.

Under the calculation, institutions are not penalized for outgoing transfer students who leave in good academic standing.  The outgoing transfers are included in the receiving institution’s GSR cohort.

By counting incoming transfer students and midyear enrollees, the GSR increases the total number of student-athletes tracked for graduation by 37 percent. 

The most recent Division I Graduation Success Rates are based on the four entering classes from 2001-2002 through 2004-05. Nearly 105,000 student-athletes are included in the most recent four classes using the GSR methodology, as compared to about 76,500 in the federal rate. 

The NCAA also has released the latest Division II graduation rate data, including the division’s Academic Success Rate. This is the sixth year the NCAA has released the Division II ASR, which is similar to the Division I GSR and also includes student-athletes not receiving athletically related financial aid.

In the CWPA, Salem International University (86), former league member Queens College (N.Y.) (80), Mercyhurst College (62) and Gannon University (60) rate between the University of California-Davis (100), University of California-San Diego (95) and California Baptist University (60).

Division III student-athletes are not covered by the federal graduation rate methodology, because it only includes student-athletes who receive athletics financial aid.  Therefore, the data for Division III are used to analyze success rates within the student bodies.  In all, students who entered Division III institutions in the fall of 2004 showed a federal graduation rate of 65 percent, while the latest four-year average is 63 percent.

The Division III Presidents Council in 2009 approved exploring the possibility of calculating graduation rate and academic-success rates for Division III student-athletes. A pilot program using graduation-rate data collected from volunteering institutions began this past spring. Results are expected later this fall.

NCAA Releases Women's Water Polo Graduation Success Rates

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. -- Looking to attend college and playe collegiate water polo on the varsity level?  The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) recently released the organization's Women's Graduation Success Rates in Division I, with some surprising results.

Overall, 20 teams recorded perfect success rates of 100 led by Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) institutions Brown University, Bucknell University, George Washington University, Hartwick College, Harvard University, Princeton University and the University of Maryland as the CWPA recorded the most perfect scores of any conference. 

Joining the CWPA institutions at the top of the list are California State University-Bakersfield, University of California-Berkeley, University of California-Davis, Colorado State University, Iona College, Marist College, University of the Pacific, St. Francis College (N.Y.), Santa Clara University, Siena College, Stanford University and Villanova University.

The University of Michigan (95) and Indiana University (88) complete the CWPA institutions on the 33 team list.

“Success for student-athletes is ultimately measured by how well they do in the classroom,” said NCAA President Mark Emmert. “There is room for greater progress, and we continue to work hard to that end, but today we celebrate this important milestone.”

On a national level, water polo continues to rate among the best performing sports ranking sixth with a 91 Graduation Success Rate to trail lacrosse (94), field hockey (94), skiing (94), fencing (93), gymnastics (92) and crew (91), while ranking well in front of the NCAA average score for all sports of 80.

The NCAA developed the Graduation Success Rate to more accurately assess the academic success of student-athletes. The rate holds institutions accountable for transfer students, unlike the federal graduation rate. The GSR also accounts for midyear enrollees and is calculated for every sport.

Under the calculation, institutions are not penalized for outgoing transfer students who leave in good academic standing.  The outgoing transfers are included in the receiving institution’s GSR cohort.

By counting incoming transfer students and midyear enrollees, the GSR increases the total number of student-athletes tracked for graduation by 37 percent. 

The most recent Division I Graduation Success Rates are based on the four entering classes from 2001-2002 through 2004-05. Nearly 105,000 student-athletes are included in the most recent four classes using the GSR methodology, as compared to about 76,500 in the federal rate. 

The NCAA also has released the latest Division II graduation rate data, including the division’s Academic Success Rate. This is the sixth year the NCAA has released the Division II ASR, which is similar to the Division I GSR and also includes student-athletes not receiving athletically related financial aid.

Among CWPA institutions, Salem International University (100) leads the way to rank as one of three institutions to record a perfect Academic Success Rate. Mercyhurst College (86) and Gannon University (80) round out the league's representatives among the 10 listed programs.

Division III student-athletes are not covered by the federal graduation rate methodology, because it only includes student-athletes who receive athletics financial aid.  Therefore, the data for Division III are used to analyze success rates within the student bodies.  In all, students who entered Division III institutions in the fall of 2004 showed a federal graduation rate of 65 percent, while the latest four-year average is 63 percent.

The Division III Presidents Council in 2009 approved exploring the possibility of calculating graduation rate and academic-success rates for Division III student-athletes. A pilot program using graduation-rate data collected from volunteering institutions began this past spring. Results are expected later this fall.

CWPA to Stream 2011 Men's Eastern Championship

BRIDGEPORT, Pa. -- The road to the 2011 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Championship will once again go through Cambridge, Mass. as Harvard University will host the 2011 Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) Eastern Championship on Friday-Sunday, November 18-20.

A match-up of the top four teams from the Southern Division and Northern Division Championships, the eight-team CWPA Eastern Championship will decide the league's representative to the four-team NCAA Championship set for December 3-4 at the University of California-Berkeley.

If you can not make it to Cambridge for the East Coast's biggest water polo championship, do not worry.  The CWPA, in partnership with Stretch Internet, will be streaming all 12 games live on Friday-Sunday for the league's fans at a cost of $10 per game or $25 for a weekend pass that allows viewers to watch every game from the comfort of their home or office.  In addition, each game will be archived so that fans can catch up on the action if they miss a game.

Fans can access the streaming page by clicking on the GameCentral link below:

Georgia Tech to Host Men's National Collegiate Club Championship this Weekend

ATLANTA, Ga. -- 16 teams will take to the pool, but only one will leave with the title of National Champion as the Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) will host the 2011 Men's National Collegiate Club Championship at Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech) in Atlanta, Georgia on November 11-13.

Featuring champions from 15 of the league's divisions (Atlantic, Big Ten, Florida, Great Lakes, Great Plains, Mid-Atlantic, Missouri Valley, New England, New York, Northwest, Pacific Coast, Rocky Mountain, Sierra Pacific, Southeast, Texas), along the Southeast Division runner-up Emory University, the tournament features 30-games over three days to decide which collegiate club program is the best in the nation.

Competing division championship teams include: University of Southern California (Pacific Coast), Texas Tech University (Texas), University of Michigan (Big Ten), University of Florida (Florida), Arizona State University (Rocky Mountain), St. Louis University (Missouri Valley), Yale University (New England), University of Oregon (Northwest), University of California-Santa Cruz (Sierra Pacific), Villanova University (Mid-Atlantic), University of Illinois-Chicago (Great Lakes), University of North Carolina (Atlantic), Georgia Tech (Southeast/Host), Columbia University (New York) and Illinois State University (Great Plains).  Emory makes the field at No. 16 due to Georgia Tech capturing the Southeast title and holding the No. 13 position in the tournament.

A complete schedule for the tournament is available by CLICKING HERE, and features links to directions to Georgia Tech's campus.

For fans that will be in the Greater Atlanta area over the weekend, ticket prices for the tournament are:

• General Admission: $25 Weekend Pass, $13 Day Pass
• Georgia Tech Students & Staff: $12 Weekend Pass, $5 Day Pass

In addition, for fans unable to attend the championship, the CWPA will once again offer live-streaming of all 30-games through the league's partnership with Stretch Internet.  The cost for a weekend pass to watch the entire tournament is $25, while individual contests can be purchased at a cost $10/game.  Fans can access the streaming page directly by CLICKING HERE, or by visiting the Multimedia Link on the front page of the CWPA website.

The championship will be held at the Campus Recreation Center (CRC), a 300,659 sq.ft. facility that was completed in August 2004. Located off of Ferst Drive on the West side of campus, this state of the art facility is a unique expansion of the existing swimming and diving venue (Georgia Tech Aquatics Center) that served as the site of all swimming, diving and synchronized swimming competition as well as the swimming portion of the modern pentathlon during the Centennial Olympic Games in the summer of 1996.

Along with hosting the '96 Olympics, the GTAC played host to the 2005 Men's and Women's Atlantic Coast Conference Swimming and Diving Championships and was the site of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I Championships.

The 1,900-seat main stadium contains a competition pool and dive pool.

The competition pool is 50 meters by 10 lanes, with two movable bulkheads so that courses can be set up for 25 yards, 25 meters or 30 meters for water polo. It also features a movable floor which can be set from zero depth to seven feet, eight inches.

During the 1996 Olympic Games, the GTAC also included a temporary water polo pool with a seating capacity of 4,000. It was used for all competition except the finals, which were held in the main pool.

The original $21 million facility was funded entirely by the Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games (ACOG). Construction on the facility began in July 1994 and was completed in time to host the VIIth Synchronized Swimming World Cup in August 1995. The newly-renovated enclosure of the GTAC is part of an over $45 million expansion to the CRC.

Other test events held at the facility included the Nations Bank Pan Pacific Swimming Championships, the IXth Diving World Cup and the IXth Water Polo World Cup, as the National Collegiate Club Championship will continue a tradition of world-class events at the CRC.

The CRC continues a tradition of standout athletic facilities for National Collegiate Club Championship competition as Southern Utah University (2010), University of Florida (2009, 2001), Ohio University (2008), University of Arizona (2007), Miami University of Ohio (2006), Williams College (2005), University of Notre Dame (2004), Texas A&M University (2003), California Polytechnic State University (2002) and University of Washington/King City Aquatic Center (2000) most recently hosted the tournament.

In the history of the championship, Northwestern University (1993), the United States Military Academy (1994), the University of Dayton (1995), the University of Michigan (1996, 1998, 2003), Dartmouth College (1997), California Polytechnic State University (1999, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2007), Michigan State University (2000, 2006, 2008), Grand Valley State University (2005) and the University of California-Los Angeles (2009, 2010) have claimed titles. 

History could be made this year as UC-Santa Cruz, which captured the Division III National Collegiate Club Championship last year at Macalester College, can become the first program to win both the Division III and National Collegiate Club Championships.

In addition, several teams will have a chance to become the first East Coast program since Dartmouth College in 1997 to capture a National Collegiate Club Championship.  Since the Big Green claimed the prize against the University of Colorado, only four squads east of Michigan have qualified for the title tilt (Pennsylvania State University - 1998, University of Richmond - 1999, Villanova University - 2001, Florida International University - 2009), with none leaving the championship site with the a tournament.

National Collegiate Club Championship to be Streamed

ATLANTA, Ga. -- The Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) will stream all 30 games of the 2011 Men's National Collegiate Club Championship on Friday-Sunday, November 11-13 at the Georgia Institute of Technology's (Georgia Tech) Campus Recreation Center.

The CWPA, in partnership with Stretch Internet, will be streaming all 30 games live on Friday-Sunday for the league's fans at a cost of $10 per game or $25 for a weekend pass that allows viewers to watch every game from the comfort of their home or office.  In addition, each game will be archived so that fans can catch up on the action if they miss a game.

A match-up of 16 teams from 15 of the CWPA's divisions, the championship will feature 12 games on both Friday and Sunday before six placement games on Sunday to determine which collegiate club team is the best in the nation.

Fans can access the streaming page by clicking on the GameCentral link below: