Sept. 3, 1997
Men's Water Polo Starts Season Ranked No. 1
BERKELEY, Calif. - The California men's water polo team, which finished 15-7 overall and third in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Tournament last season, is the No. 1 ranked team in the nation according to the American Water Polo Coaches preseason Top 25 poll. The Bears have also been tabbed as the favorite to win the MPSF title in a vote among the Federation coaches.
Last year, Cal failed to qualify for the NCAA Tournament for the first time since the 1985. The Bears, however, return a strong nucleaus of players, including All-Americans Brent Albright, Brad Kittredge and Peter Stern. Cal is led by head coach Steve Heaston, who is entering his ninth season with an 189-39 (.829) career record. Heaston has guided the Bears to NCAA titles in 1990, '91 and '92 and has been named NCAA Coach of the Year twice ('90 and '92) and conference coach of the year five times.
In the history of NCAA water polo, Cal has won 11 national titles, more than any other school in the nation.
