2005 Headlines

July 7, 2006

TIM HUTTEN, 4 FORMER ANTEATERS NAMED TO USA SENIOR NATIONAL TEAM

IRVINE, Calif. --- UC Irvine's , who will be a senior in the fall, and four former Anteater standouts have been named to the USA Men's Senior National Team.

Hutten was a second-team All-American last season after scoring 64 goals for the Anteaters.

Former UCI players on the national team include two-time Olympian , (2004 Olympian), (2004 Olympian) and Rick Merlo, who was an All-American at UCI in 2003 and 2004.

Head coach for the USA team is . The squad competes in the FINA World League Preliminaries at Victoria, Canada, July 14-16.

June 28, 2006

FORMER UCI STANDOUTS BAILEY, MERLO NOTCH GOALS IN USA WIN OVER AUSTRALIA

SYDNEY, Australia --- Former UC Irvine men's water polo All-Americans Ryan Bailey and Rick Merlo scored one goal each in Team USA's 13-12 win over Australia at the Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Center Wednesday.

Two other past Anteater All-Americans are also on the national team's roster --- Jeff Powers and goalkeeper Genai Kerr.

Team USA is preparing for the preliminary round of the FINA World League Series in Victoria, Canada, July 14-16.

May 30, 2006

DREASON BARRY FINALIST FOR PETER J. CUTINO AWARD

IRVINE, Calif. --- UC Irvine's Dreason Barry is one of four finalists for the Peter J. Cutino Award that will be presented during an awards dinner at the Olympic Club's Lakeside Clubhouse in San Francisco this Saturday (June 3). This is the seventh year of the award.

The award, considered the most prestigious individual honor in American collegiate water polo, is named after former college player and legendary Cal coach Peter J. Cutino. The award is given annually to the top male and female players in the NCAA.

Barry, from Eugene, Ore. (North Eugene HS), was a second-team All-American for the Anteaters in his senior season last fall. A three-time All-American, Barry led UCI in scoring with 66 goals this season and scored 212 in his career. The other male nominees for the 2006 Cutino Award are USC's Juraj Zatovic, Stanford's Thomas Hopkins, and from Pepperdine.

May 16, 2006

EIGHT PLAYERS NAMED CONFERENCE SCHOLAR-ATHLETES

IRVINE, Calif. --- Eight UC Irvine players were recognized as 2005-06 Big West Conference Scholar-Athletes during the department's annual banquet Monday night at the Crowne Plaza Hotel.

A total of 152 UCI student-athletes earned the award this year. The men's water polo honorees are Dreason Barry, Andrew Dunn, Matt Garcia, Tim Hutten, Curt Merlo, Ryan Naylor, Ty Newland and Joe Wynne.

Requirements for the award include maintaining a minimum 3.0 grade-point average (GPA) over three quarters or a 3.2 GPA over two quarters for freshmen and transfers. Student-athletes must also earn letters in their respective sports.

The Scholar-Athlete Award was implemented by the Big West Conference to honor those student-athletes that have maintained a high level of scholastic excellence while participating in intercollegiate athletics. UCI expanded the award to include teams that do not participate in Big West-sponsored sports.

February 2, 2006

FOUR MEN’S WATER POLO PLAYERS EARN MPSF ACADEMIC ALL-CONFERENCE HONORS

Woodland, Calif. – UC Irvine men’s water polo players Andrew Dunn, Matt Garcia, Jesse Hatch and Ty Newland were named to the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Academic All-Conference team, executive director Al Beaird announced Thursday.

To be eligible for the award, each student-athlete must maintain a 3.0 or better grade point average, be at least a sophomore academically, attend the institution for one full academic year and have played in 50 percent or more of the games.

January 18, 2006

UCI'S MARC HUNT NAMED SOUTHERN PACIFIC ZONE ELITE COACH OF YEAR

IRVINE, Calif. --- UC Irvine head coach Marc Hunt was named Southern Pacific Zone Elite Men's Coach of the Year by USA Water Polo. He was honored at the recent USA Water Polo Awards Luncheon.

Hunt led the Anteaters to a final national ranking of fourth in his first season as UCI's head coach. The team finished 18-12 overall and 6-2 for second place in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation. UCI women's coach Dan Klatt was named Women's Development Coach of the Year in the Southern Pacific Zone by USA Water Polo.

December 26, 2005

BARRY, HUTTEN NAMED ALL-AMERICANS

IRVINE, Calif. --- UC Irvine senior Dreason Barry (Eugene, OR/North Eugene HS) and junior Tim Hutten (Los Alamitos HS) have been named to the 2005 All-America second team by the American Water Polo Coaches Association.

Barry led the Anteaters with 66 goals this season and scored 212 in his career. This is the third All-American honor for Barry, who was named to the second team in 2002 and 2004.

Hutten, who earned his first All-American honor, notched 64 goals for UCI this year.

The Anteaters, under first-year head coach Marc Hunt, finished 18-12 overall and 6-2 in the MPSF en route to a final national ranking of fourth this season.

November 30, 2005

BARRY, HUTTEN, WHITE RECEIVE ALL-MPSF HONORS

IRVINE, Calif. --- Three UC Irvine players have received postseason recognition from the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation.

Senior Dreason Barry (Eugene, OR/North Eugene HS) and junior Tim Hutten (Los Alamitos HS) were named to the All-MPSF second team. Barry led the Anteaters with 66 goals this season and scored 212 in his career. Hutten notched 64 goals for UCI this year.

Senior Nate White (Mt. Hermon/San Lorenzo Valley HS), who scored 38 goals this season, was named to the All-MPSF honorable mention team.

USC's Juraj Zatovic was named the MPSF Player of the Year and the Trojans' Jovan Vavic was selected the Coach of the Year.

UCI, under first-year head coach Marc Hunt, finished 18-12 overall and 6-2 in the MPSF this season.

November 28, 2005

UC IRVINE FINISHES SEASON 18-12 OVERALL UCI ENDS SEASON 18-12: The UC Irvine men's water polo team ended the season with an 18- 12 overall record after going 1-2 to finish fourth in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Tournament at USC over the weekend.

The Anteaters, who were seeded second after a 6-2 league record, opened the tournament with a 7-6 win over Pacific for the team's sixth consecutive victory. Senior Dreason Barry scored his fifth goal of the game with 2:10 remaining for the win.

UCI lost to Stanford, 11-5, in the semifinals Saturday as the Cardinal opened the game with five straight goals. Barry and junior Tim Hutten led the Anteaters with two goals each.

Cal topped UCI, 9-7, in the third place game Sunday as the Bears jumped out to a 4-0 lead. Barry and junior Cole Bitter scored two goals apiece while senior goalkeeper Joe Wynne had 11 saves.

SCORING LEADERS: Dreason Barry led UCI in scoring with 66 goals this season and ended his career with 212 goals in four years of competition. He was named to the All-MPSF Tournament team after scoring nine goals over the weekend.

Tim Hutten followed in scoring this season with 64 goals, Nate White had 38, Cole Bitter 24, Andrew Dunn 19 and Chris Peters nine.

IN GOAL: Senior Joe Wynne had 111 saves in 16 games while sophomore Matt Garcia had 99 saves in 14 starts.

COACH HUNT: Marc Hunt concluded his first season as head coach at UCI with the 18-12 record. He replaced legendary coach Ted Newland, who stepped aside after 39 seasons. Newland continues to assist the Anteater program as Coach Emeritus.

November 22, 2005

UC IRVINE'S NATE WHITE NAMED MPSF PLAYER OF WEEK

IRVINE, Calif. --- UC Irvine senior driver Nate White has been named the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation co-Player of the Week in men's water polo.

White scored three goals in helping the Anteaters to a 9-7 win over UC Santa Barbara last Sunday to clinch the No. 2 seed for UCI in the MPSF Tournament at USC this weekend. He scored consecutive goals in the third quarter to break a 3-3 tie. White has 35 goals on the season. He shared this week's honor with Stanford goalkeeper Sandy Hohener.

Coach Marc Hunt's Anteaters have won five straight games and seven of the past eight. UCI (17- 10, 6-2 MPSF) opens against seventh-seeded Pacific at 1:00 p.m. Friday in the MPSF Tournament at USC's McDonald's Swim Center.

November 17, 2005

UC IRVINE MOVES TO 4TH IN NATION; HUTTEN NAMED MPSF PLAYER OF WEEK

IRVINE, Calif. --- UC Irvine moved up two spots to fourth in this week's Collegiate Top 20 poll. USC remained at No. 1, California is second and Stanford third. UCI junior Tim Hutten (Los Alamitos HS) was named Mountain Pacific Sports Federation co-Player of the Week for the second straight week. Hutten scored a total of five goals as the Anteaters notched two more wins last week. He shared this week's MPSF honor with USC's Juraj Zatovic.

Hutten led UCI with three goals in an 8-7 over previous No. 3 UCLA last Thursday and had the assist on the game-tying goal in the fourth quarter as UCI came back from a 7-5 deficit.

Hutten added two goals in an 11-5 non-conference win over Cal Baptist Saturday. He leads UCI in scoring with 58 goals on the season.

Coach Marc Hunt's Anteaters (16-10, 5-2 MPSF) have won four straight games, six of their last seven and eight of their past 10. UCI ends the regular season with a MPSF game at UC Santa Barbara Sunday at 1:00 p.m. before competing in the MPSF Tournament at USC Nov. 25-27.

November 10, 2005

PETERS' GOAL LIFTS UCI TO 8-7 UPSET OF UCLA

Irvine, Calif. – UC Irvine senior Chris Peters scored a goal with 40 seconds remaining to give the Anteaters an 8-7 upset over UCLA at the Anteater Aquatics Complex Thursday.

November 9, 2005

TIM HUTTEN NAMED MPSF CO-PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Irvine, Calif. -- UC Irvine junior Tim Hutten was named Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (MPSF) Co-Player of the Week after adding six goals in two games last week.

Hutten scored two goals in an 8-5 upset over Stanford and added four goals in a 10-7 victory over Long Beach State.The two-meter man leads the team in scoring with 53 goals.

Hutten shared the award with USC's Adam Shilling.

UCI will host UCLA Thursday (Nov. 10) at 7:00 p.m. at the Anteater Aquatics Complex.

August 30, 2005

MARC HUNT PROMOTED TO HEAD COACH AT UC IRVINE; TED NEWLAND NAMED COACH EMERITUS

IRVINE, Calif. --- Marc Hunt has been appointed men’s head water polo coach at UC Irvine while coaching legend Ted Newland has been named Coach Emeritus, announced by Athletic Director Bob Chichester.

Hunt, a two-time All-American player for the Anteaters, was an assistant coach with the Anteater men’s program for the past four years and he also served as interim women’s head coach in 2003-04.

Newland will continue his involvement and assistance with the UCI program. He leads all collegiate water polo coaches in victories after building a record of 714-345-5 as the Anteaters’ head coach the past 39 years.

“This makes for a smooth transition since Marc has been associated with the program as a player and coach. I am confident that he will do a very good job in continuing the successful tradition that Coach Newland has built,” Chichester said.

“Coach Newland is an icon of the sport,” Chichester added. “His coaching strategies and teaching abilities have made him a major figure in water polo and he is a great ambassador for the sport. Ted has not only developed some of the top national and international players during his tenure at UCI, but he has impacted many others who have gone on to excel in other areas of life. I have very much appreciated the opportunity to work with Ted and look forward to his continuing in his new role assisting Marc and the program.”

Hunt led the Anteaters with 60 points, including seven two-point goals, as a senior in 1993 in leading UCI to an 18-11 record, a berth in the NCAA Tournament and a final national ranking of fourth. He earned first team All-America honors that season.

Hunt was named a third team All-American in 1992 when he scored 32 goals as the Anteaters finished fourth in the nation. In the summer of 1993, he competed in the World University Games, winning a gold medal, and also in the United States Olympic Festival for the South team that captured the bronze medal.

He went on to play for the U.S. National Team from 1993-96, then competed for the Sydney (Australia) University Lions club team that finished third in the National League in 1999. Hunt served as assistant coach for the Corona del Mar High School boys' and girls' teams for two seasons, winning boys' CIF titles both years and finishing as CIF runner-up in one girls' season.

Hunt paid tribute to the man who is affectionately called ‘Newland’ by his players.

“Newland is not only a great coach, but a great teacher of life. He has an extraordinary ability to give love to his players, or ‘sons’ as he calls them,” Hunt said.

“He not only developed me as a student-athlete, but he developed me as a human being. He has been mentoring me for over 16 years and along with patience, he has given me a lot of love. I look forward to his continued impact on my coaching career and my life. I love my Old Man.”

Hunt, who turns 34 in September, is looking forward to assuming the head-coaching role at UCI.

“Not only is UCI one of the top academic institutions in the country, it is probably the most tradition-rich water polo program ever created,” he said. “It is an honor to be an integral part of the program and take it the next step into the future. With an athletic administration that is extremely supportive and hard working, I look forward to UCI’s continued success in and out of the water,” Hunt added. Newland, 77, guided UCI to NCAA titles in 1970, 1982 and 1989. His ’82 squad went 30-0 en route to the national championship. UCI has finished ranked in the nation's top five 24 times in the past 36 years and Newland's Anteaters have competed in 21 of the 36 NCAA tournaments conducted. In addition to the three NCAA titles, UCI has finished as NCAA runner-up six times, third place four times, and fourth on five occasions.

“The key to success in everything you do is always self-discipline and self-motivation,” Newland said. “The hardest thing to do every day is get up at 3:50 a.m. and if you can do that, everything else all day will be easy.

“I always think of myself as a teacher, not a coach,” he said. “I would rather be lucky than good anytime because the harder you work, the luckier you become.”

At UCI, he has coached 113 NCAA All-Americans and 11 of his players have gone on to compete in the Olympics 22 times. Five former UCI players were members of the 2004 United States Olympic Team.

Newland, the 1989 NCAA Coach of the Year, has received that honor on three other occasions and has been conference Coach of the Year eight times. He led UCI to eight conference titles. Newland was inducted into the U.S. Water Polo Hall of Fame in 1995 and Occidental College's Hall of Fame one year later.

He also served as UCI's head swim coach in the 1970s, leading the Anteaters to three NCAA Division II championships. Prior to arriving at UCI in 1966, he initiated the water polo programs at Newport Harbor and Corona del Mar High Schools. He led CdM to its first CIF water polo championship in 1965.

Newland served as head coach for the U.S. teams in the World University Games a total of five times: 1999 in Spain, 1995 in Japan, 1991 in Great Britain, 1979 in Bulgaria and 1973 in Russia. He has previously coached the U.S. National Team and American squads in the . He has been president of the American Water Polo Coaches Association and served as secretary-rules editor of the NCAA Water Polo Committee. He is the only coach to have had two teams in the top four of the Outdoor U.S. Water Polo Championships, and he has accomplished that three times. Over all levels of his coaching career, he has won over 5,300 games.

July 28, 2005

POWERS; MERLO HELP USA TO 11TH PLACE VICTORY OVER CUBA Irvine, Calif. – Former UC Irvine All-Americans Jeff Powers and Rick Merlo added goals in the U.S. men's national water polo team's 10-6 victory over Cuba in the 11th place game at the FINA World Championships in Montreal Thursday.

Powers scored two goals, while Merlo notched one to help Team USA to the win. Former UCI All- American Ryan Bailey played 13 minutes but did not score.

July 26, 2005

POWERS SCORES A GOAL IN USA’S LOSS TO GERMANY Irvine, Calif. – Former UC Irvine All-American Jeff Powers scored one goal in the U.S. men's national water polo team's 5-3 loss to Germany at the FINA World Championships in Montreal Tuesday. Powers (San Luis Obispo, Calif.) scored the only goal of the second quarter with a quick backhand shot from the hole position.

USA led 3-1 after the first half, but the Germans scored four goals and shut out the Americans in the second half for the victory.

The USA will play Cuba for eleventh place at 9:30 a.m. on Thursday (July 28).

July 25, 2005

ITALY KNOCKS USA OUT OF MEDAL ROUND

MONTREAL --- Italy defeated Team USA 6-5 Sunday in the FINA World Championships in Montreal, sending the Americans into the ninth-place bracket. The U.S. will face Germany on Tuesday.

UCI's trio of Ryan Bailey, Rick Merlo and Jeff Powers went scoreless versus the Italians.

July 22, 2005

BAILEY, POWERS SCORE ONCE FOR USA IN LOSS TO &

MONTREAL --- Former UC Irvine All-Americans Ryan Bailey and Jeff Powers scored one goal each in the U.S. men's national water polo team's 8-4 loss to Serbia and Montenegro in group play at the FINA World Championships in Montreal Friday.

Adam Wright and Jesse Smith also scored while goalie Brandon Brooks had 11 saves for the Americans (2-1). Aleksandar Sapic scored six goals for Serbia and Montenegro, which improved to 3-0.

July 20, 2005

UCI PRODUCT JEFF POWERS SCORES 4 GOALS IN TEAM USA'S WIN OVER CUBA

MONTREAL --- Former UC Irvine All-American Jeff Powers scored four goals to help the U.S. men's national water polo team defeat Cuba, 13-6, at the FINA World Championships in Montreal Wednesday.

Team USA's led all scorers with five goals. Ryan Bailey, another former Anteater standout, scored once while UCI product Rick Merlo did not score in 12 minutes of action. Goalie Brandon Brooks had six saves for the Americans.

The U.S. (2-0) plays Serbia and Montenegro, also 2-0, in group play Friday.

July 18, 2005

3 FORMER ANTEATERS ON U.S. NATIONAL TEAM

IRVINE, Calif. --- Three former UC Irvine standouts are members of the U.S. National Team that is competing in the 2005 FINA World Championships in Montreal.

Ryan Bailey, Rick Merlo and Jeff Powers are UCI's representatives on the 13-player roster. Bailey and Powers competed in the 2004 Summer Olympics while Merlo was a first-team All- American as a senior for the Anteaters last fall.

The USA opened with a 7-4 win over Japan Monday as Powers scored two goals.