Michigan State University 2002









 

History of Michigan State Men's Water Polo


Click on images to open larger one

  • 2007 - The momentum coming off their national championship helped the Spartans overcome the loss of their coach and maintain focus to put together a number of impressive tournament titles through the year. George Shereda coached the Spartans to their 3rd consecutive Big Ten title and an undefeated season. The Spartans returned to the CWPA national tournament as the top seed. After a dominating performance in the opening rounds the Spartans again found themselves in the championship game. In the championship game, the Spartans had a hard fought battle with the Mustangs of Cal Poly; however the Mustangs handed the Spartans their only loss of the season on overtime. The Spartans, like most teams, are proud of their second-place finish but, like in 2005, thoughts quickly turn to the following year and a shot at redemption.

    Post-season awards were as follows:
    Captain Jon Haga: Big Ten MVP, 1st team All Big Ten, 1st team all CWPA
    Evan Perry: 1st team All Big Ten, 1st team all CWPA
    Ben Shantz: 1st team All Big Ten, 1st team all CWPA

  • 2006 - MSU defended their Big Ten title by beating the University of Michigan Wolverines 8-6 in the Big Ten championship at Purdue University after defeating a motivated Purdue team in the semifinal game. MSU then went on to their 2nd CWPA nationals in as many years with a determination not to finish the way they had the previous year. They defeated Notre Dame in the opening round in a game that proved to be more difficult than anticipated, and then found their momentum rolling over Florida International University and the Arizona Wildcats along the way to a championship game rematch with the Lakers of Grand Valley State. Grand Valley scored the first goal but it would be their only lead of the game as the Spartans won 6-4 with scoring coming from Captain Jon Haga (3 goals), Captain Matt Schaffer (1 goal), Captain Greg Jenkins (1 goal) and sophomore Evan Perry (1 goal). Sound goalkeeping from Jared Swider anchored the Spartans on the defensive end, staving off any late surges the Lakers made. The Spartans finished the season as Big Ten Champions and National Champions, earning MSU’s 2nd national championship.

Jon Haga earned 1st team All Big Ten, 1st team all CWPA, and Big Ten MVP and National Tournament MVP honors on the season. Greg Jenkins and Matt Schaffer joined him on the 1st team All Big Ten and both earned 2nd team all CWPA honors. Jared Swider was recognized with 2nd team All Big Ten and 2nd team all CWPA. Coach Brian Fickies was named CWPA Coach of the Year.

  • 2005 - Placed 1st at the Big Ten Championships in East Lansing.  The Spartans won the championship game against the University of Michigan. By winning that game they went undefeated for the Big Ten season!  During the regular season the Spartans went undefeated at the Navy Open, Purdue Invitational and Wolverine Invitational.  MSU then went to the National Championships hosted by Williams College in Williamston, MA.  At the Championships MSU defeated Washington, Texas and Arizona on their way to the national title game.  In the finals the Spartans fought a hard game and came up one goal short to Grand Valley State University.  The Spartans had a very successful season losing to only two teams.  

Big Ten All-Conference Awards were given to Scott Voltz (1st Team and MVP), Jon Haga (1st Team), Greg Jenkins (1st Team), Matt Schaffer (1st Team).  Jon Haga, Greg Jenkins, and Scott Voltz also received All-Tournament Awards at the National Tournament.

  • Click for larger image2004 - Placed 2nd at the Big 10 Championships in Ann Arbor, MI.  The Spartans played their final game against the University of Michigan Wolverines coming up one goal shy in the closing seconds.  Throughout season play The Spartans had a collection of tournament victories including first place finishes at prestigious tournaments such as Northwestern, Purdue and IU.  The lowest tournament finish the Spartans earned was a 3rd place finish in the first tournament of the year hosted by Tennessee.

    Big Ten All-Conference awards were given to Scott Voltz (1st team goalie & MVP), Jon Haga (1st team), Matt Schaffer (2nd team), and Greg Jenkins (3rd team)

  • 2003 - Placed 2nd at the Big 10 Championships in Bloomington, IN.  MSU played a hard fought game in the championship game against the University of Michigan but ended up losing by 1 in sudden death overtime.  U of M went on to represent the Big Ten conference at the National Championships in College Station, TX and won.
  • Click for larger image 2002 - Placed 1st at the Big 10 Championships in East Lansing, MI. A large crowd of MSU and U of M came to watch the championship game the showed to be an exciting one. In the four meetings between the two juggernauts MSU came out each time by 1 goal.

    MSU then went on to the National Championships hosted by the defending champion Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo, CA. MSU defeated Georgia Tech, Texas A&M, and the University of Massachusetts but lost a close intense battle to Cal Poly to take third place honors and finish the year with a record of 30-3, each loss by one goal.

    Big Ten All-Conference awards were given to Dave Spoelstra (1st Team), Scott Voltz (1st Team goalie), Peter Ryan (1st Team), and Mike Jonson (3rd Team). Peter Ryan also received 1st Team honors at the National Tournament.

  • 2001 - Placed 6th at the Big 10 Championships in Bloomington, IN. A new, young Click for larger image generation of MSU polo took hold of the reigns. Some with little or even no experience at all surprised many by how far they had come and made the future of MSU polo look very promising.

    All-Conference awards were given to Dave Spoelstra (2nd Team), Scott Voltz (2nd Team goalie), and Todd Vanderwall (Honorable Mention)


  • 2000 - MSU wins National Club Championship in Seattle, WA as well as Big Ten championship in Ann Arbor, MI.  MSU's dedication and determination drove them undefeated in their last 4 tournaments of the year.  They defeated U of M in their home pool to win the Big Ten Championship. At the national championships MSU defeated the University of Florida, Miami of Ohio, defending champion Cal Poly, and in the finals defeated the host team the University of Washington in front of a large home-team favored crowd.

    All-Tournament National awards were given to goalie Brian Swank (2nd team), Jeff Rodgers (2nd team), Joe Brennan (2nd team), Pete Ryan (1st team), and coach of the year Brian Fickies

  • The wisdom of coach Brian Fickies 1999 - Placed 2nd at the Big 10 Championships in Madison, WI. After a dramatic win against favored U of M, MSU looses to Purdue to take 2nd place honors, however they still receive a bid to their first appearance in the National Club Championships which were held in Tucson, AZ. After MSU traveled across the country to play some of the top teams in the country, they played their last game against Purdue but ended up losing and finished in 6th place.

    All-Conference awards were given to Matt Skavnak (1st team), Andy Rollo (1st team), Brian Swank (1st team goalie), Scott Richardson (Honorable mention)
    MSU hole set Matt Skavnak takes MVP honors of the Big Ten tournament.

  • 1998 - Placed 3rd at the Big 10 Championships in Bloomington, IN.

    All-Conference awards were given to Matt Skavnak (1st team), Dave Swank (2nd team), and Kevin Bremer (Honorable mention goalie)

  • 1997 - Placed 5th at the Big 10 Championships in Ann Arbor, MI
    Brian Fickies takes over head coaching responsibilities and has retained that position ever since.  Brian brought an intensity and knowledge of the game that has resulted in success and enjoyment of the game a constant at MSU.

    All-Conference given to Kevin Bremer (Honorable mention goalie)

  • 1995 - Placed 3rd at the Big 10 Championships

  • 1994 - Placed 1st at the Big 10 Championships in Evanston, IL.

  • 1993 - Placed 1st at the Big 10 Championships in Ann Arbor, MI. Apollo, assisted with coaching the team this year, he played a little the prior year.

  • 1992 - Placed 5th at the Big 10 Championships in Madison, WI. Dan Brandenberg becomes the first non-player coach.

    Coach: Dan Brandenberg
    Key players: Matt Jones, Adam Jones, Chris Graff, Chris Blamey, Remy Blamey, Jeff Becker, Casey Hurbis, Mike Patrick, David Asselin, Matt Becker, Matt McCombs
    (most players were from Birmingham Groves, Ann Arbor Pioneer, and East Kentwood)

  • 1991 - Placed 4th at the Big 10 Championships in Bloomington, IN. New green caps were bought. Started moving the bulkhead during practices in order to practice better.

  • 1990 - First Big 10 tournament, placed 4th.  MSU water polo t-shirts were sold to raise money. Structured practices were finally started. A booth was opened at 'Student Clubs Day' to get word out about the club. New shot clocks and floating goals. The first home tournament was also held. High school students were encouraged to come to MSU and join the team.

    Top schools this year were: MSU, U of M, Ohio State, Purdue, and Wisconsin

  • 1989 - Water Polo becomes an official club sport and is registered with the university.

    Founding members: Mike Patrick, Casey Hurbis, Chris Graff, Matt Jones

  • 1985-88 - Practices were held Tuesdays and Thursdays at
    1986 MSU Water Polo teamthe IM West pool or the Jenison Field House.  Practies were mainly getting together when everyone could and having fun (diving off the highest platform was a big part of practice).  Team size was approximately 38 people including 3 female members.  Brian Post was considered the coach because he was the most experienced and eldest of the group.  There were some traveling to other schools but mainly it was to have a good time and play water polo.
    More pictures

    Members: Andrew Blackhurst, Rick Wagen, Brian Winters, Bill Hamm, Brian Kontz, Mike Hanchin, John Green, David Radzikiewicz, Jeff Backus, Brian Post and others

  • 1965 - Some members from 1965 include Dave Dixon, Ron Pohlanski, Mark Manrique, and Dennis Manrique. 1965 MSU Water Polo team