Team-of-the-Decade Honors for both Cal Poly Men’s and Women’s Water Polo

Cal Poly News & Events
January 20, 2010
Original Article

SAN LUIS OBISPO – With nine national championships between them in the last decade, Cal Poly’s Men’s and Women’s Water Polo squads were named the teams of the decade by the Collegiate Water Polo Association.

Members of the association and visitors to its Web site voted on the “Team of the Decade” awards. The Cal Poly women’s team won the designation outright, and the men’s team shared the honor with Michigan State University.

The women’s squad – the most honored women's national collegiate club program in the history of the sport, according to CWPA – captured five of the last 10 National Collegiate Club Championships, with seven title game appearances. The Mustangs earned titles in 2003, 2004, 2005, 2008 and 2009, with Cal Poly ranking as the only program to capture three-consecutive national championships. The women’s team won eight Pacific Coast Division titles in the last 10 years – every year of the decade except 2001 and 2004.

The Cal Poly men’s team won four championships in the last 10 years – in 2001, 2002, 2004 and 2007. The team appeared in the championship game six times. And the Cal Poly squad also won eight of the last 10 Pacific Coast Division titles, from 2000-04 and again from 2006-08.

“The process of championship caliber performance begins before the actual season starts. Cal Poly men’s and women’s water polo teams understand this process and perform above average in the pool and in the classroom,” said Everette Brooks, coordinator of clubs and organizations for Cal Poly’s Student Life and Leadership office. “Both men’s and women’s water polo teams expect to win a National Championship every year,”

The Men's and Women's Water Polo teams are part of the Club Sport Program at Cal Poly. The university fields some 22 club sports teams including women's lacrosse, sailing, the Cal Poly Triathlon Team, and more.