Water polo loses title match to top-ranked Michigan team

UA members named to the first team were seniors Ryan Kaneshiro, a wingman, goalie Sean Matt and 2-meter guard Jeff Ono.

Named to the second-team were seniors Tracy Lassen and Travis Prentice, both are 2-m sets.

"I was pleasantly surprised by the number honored. I think that is the most in CWPA history, which has been around more than 20 years," said head coach Michael Wissot, who was given the Southwest Conference Coach of the Year award.

The Wildcats finished 11-1 overall, 8-0 in conference play. The team's only loss was to Michigan at the CWPA national championship match, held at Northwestern University.

"I didn't even know until I read it in the collegiate magazine," Matt said. "It was well chosen, everybody on the list has been around this team a long time."

Honorable mention qualifiers were senior wingman Justin Kerfoot, junior goalie Greg Stewart and senior driver Bryan Kimball.

In addition, freshman Michael Roney was named to the All-Rookie team.

"When you have so many seniors do as well as this unit, you hope the younger players will take it all and learn from it," Wissot said.

The five All-Americans were selected to the same spots on the All-Conference team, with Jeff Ono the conference's Most Valuable Player.

"We certainly expect to win the conference next year, but losing that much talent, it's going to take a couple of seasons to get back to that point," Wissot said.