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Considering Notre Dame? |
Consider Water Polo too! We're always glad to meet and discuss our program with any incoming/potentially incoming Notre Dame students. 2006 was another tremendous season for Irish Water Polo. Though a club sport which receives only a bare minimum of official funding, Water Polo is one of the most competitive non-varsity programs at the University. Each year, through diligent team fundraising, we play host to and travel to a national lineup of fellow club teams. Tournament trips this year included the University of Dayton, Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, the University of Tennessee, and (an annual highlight) a four-day trip to Tampa, FL to compete in the USF Invitational. Past trips have included Texas A&M, Virginia Tech and North Carolina. The Irish also provided some of the most exciting games in the country during the 2006 campaign, as they continued to assert themselves as one of the top teams in the Great Lakes Conference. Despite the loss of five starters from last season's team, the Irish grew up fast behind the leadership of Patrick Connors, Steve Shepard, and Jon Kelly, who served as tri-captains for the '06 campaing. The season culminated with a terrific championship game at the Great Lakes Conference Tournament, which was won by Grand Valley State 11-8. The Irish then advanced to the CWPA's National Championship Tournament for the second time in three seasons, where they battled #2-seed Michigan State for the entire game before falling 12-8. Irish 2-Meter man Tom Fletcher and utility player Steve Shepard were named to the Great Lakes All-Conference First Team. Kelly, Colin Dunn, and goalie Dave Mazur received Second Team honors as the Irish finished #17 in the final CWPA Poll. With six starters as well as numerous key reserves returning, the Irish hope for another trip (and even higher finish) at next season's national tournament. If you are a current high school student considering Notre Dame and interested in playing collegiate water polo, download our recruiting questionnaire and send it to us. The tradition here in South Bend is second to none, and we're always looking for guys who want to help us continue building it. You can also e-mail us your information at wpolo@nd.edu Go Irish! Patrick Connors, Jon Kelly, & Colin Dunn Captains, 2007-08 Season |