July 27, 1999
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - The Olympic Club of San Francisco announced plans today to annually recognize the nation's top collegiate female and male water polo players, in honor of one of the nation's most-celebrated water polo figures, Peter J. Cutino. The Cutino Award will be presented for the first time in January 2000.
The namesake of the Cutino Award is one of the greatest figures in United States water polo history, whose achievements as a coach in the sport are unmatched. The long-time University of California (1963-88) and Olympic Club coach has led 21 teams to the national championship, guiding eight NCAA champions and 13 United States National Champions. Cutino has been the nation's coach in the Olympic Games, Pan-American Games, World Championships, World University Games, Maccabiah Games and many other international tournaments. He has also been honored 17 times with the "Water Polo Coach of the Year" award and was elected to the U.S. Water Polo Hall of Fame.
Included in Cutino's championship teams were three Olympic Club teams. The Olympic Club squads of 1991 and 1993 were national champions under Cutino tutelage and helped solidify The Olympic Club's distinguished water polo tradition.
Founded in 1860, The Olympic Club of San Francisco is the oldest athletic club in the United States. Today, it hosts nearly 8,000 men and women of all ages. Individuals enrich their lives through participation in the club's wide range of organized sports, fitness opportunities and social activities. Teams and individuals representing The Olympic Club have reached regional, national and international recognition in a wide variety of sports.
The annual award will be presented to the nation's top male and female collegiate water polo players, as voted on by a distinguished panel of collegiate coaches. Each winner will receive a trophy recognizing their individual achievements and a perpetual trophy will remain on display at The Olympic Club.
"The Olympic Club is honored to be the founder of the Peter J. Cutino Award," said G. Edward Rudloff, Jr., President of The Olympic Club. "The club has a long and illustrious history of success in the world of water polo reaching as far back as the turn of the century. It is most appropriate that the home of the Cutino Award is here in San Francisco at The Olympic Club."
