May 8, 2007
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIF. -
California senior standout John Mann is one of three nominees for the 2006-07 Peter J. Cutino Award as the nation's top male collegiate water polo player, it was officially announced by the Olympic Club of San Francisco. The other two nominees for the Cutino Award are Juan Delgadillo from USC and Ty Lackey from UC San Diego. The presentation of the award is slated for June 2, 2007 at the Olympic Club's City Clubhouse on 524 Post Street in San Francisco. Mann is the first Cal athlete to be nominated for the Cutino Award since Attila Banhidy was an award finalist in 2003-04.
One of the top players in school history, Mann led the Golden Bears to both the NCAA and MPSF titles this past fall - Cal's NCAA-record 12th national crown. He was earlier picked first-team All-America for the third year in a row, first-team NCAA All-Tournament, MPSF Tournament MVP and All-MPSF first team. In 2006, Mann was the Bears' leading scorer with 80 goals in 33 matches, and finished his college career with 218 goals. He is a member of the USA National Team as well.
The namesake of the Cutino Award, Pete Cutino, was the Bears' legendary and beloved water polo coach from 1963-88 and is one of the greatest figures in United States water polo history. The long-time Cal and Olympic Club coach led 21 teams to national titles, including guiding the Bears to eight NCAA championships. Cutino had been the United States' coach in the Olympic Games, Pan-American Games, World Championships, World University Games, Maccabiah Games and many other international tournaments. He was also honored 17-times with the Water Polo Coach of the Year award and was elected to the United States Water Polo Hall of Fame.
Included in Cutino's championship teams were three Olympic Club teams. The Olympic Club squads of 1991 to 1993 were national champions under Cutino's 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.
The annual Peter J. Cutino Award is 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.
