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Saint John's University (Minn.) Announces 2008 Men's Club Schedule
COLLEGEVILLE,
Minn. -- St. John’s University of Collegeville,
Minnesota announced its men's collegiate club schedule today, in
addition to introducing some new faces who will join the Johnnies
this season.
A highlight of this season’s slate includes doubling the
team’s assigned Collegiate Water Polo Association Heartland
Division schedule with a trip to Chicago for a Midwest Divisions
Crossover tournament and a more organized Minnesota Open
Invitational.
Prior to the start of the season, the team will descend on
Collegeville for a one week summer camp that will feature outdoor
practice and training with alumni such as Luke Johnson, Dan Morgan,
Joey Chapman, Pat Stanaway and Tom Duxbury.
The schedule begins on September 13-14 as the Johnnies will travel
to Chicago to compete in an open tournament at Fenwick High School
against such schools as the University of Illinois at Chicago,
Northern Illinois University, Illinois State University, Marquette
University and the University of Notre Dame. The Tournament,
organized by St. John’s with the assistance of referee Perry
Korbakis and Fenwick Coach Dave Perry is meant to allow teams to
play outside of their divisions, as well as attract the attention
of the many high school players in the Chicago Area.
On September 27-28, Saint John’s will travel to defending
Heartland Division champion Grinnell College in Iowa to start the
CWPA schedule as the Johnnies will face Monmouth College, Grinnell
and Carleton College on Saturday. Sunday brings one of the best
early season match-ups in the conference as Saint John’s will
clash with Macalester in a rematch of the 2007 Heartland Division
semifinals. A year ago, Saint John’s edged out higher seeded
Macalester 5-4 to advance to the Heartland Division title game in a
match up of the #2 vs. #3 seeds.
The tournament will be a test of the teams’ talent as the
top four teams in the Heartland Division based on their 2007
championship tournament finish from a year ago (Grinnell, Saint
John’s , Monmouth and Macalester, respectively) will meet in
what could be an early showcase for the 2008 title tournament.
The following week, October 3-4, Saint John’s will be making
the short trip to Macalester College in St. Paul for the second
CWPA regional tournament of the year. Following games against Knox
College, Saint Mary’s University and Carleton on Saturday,
the Johnnies will meet Monmouth on Sunday.
Although a date has not been settled upon, The University of
Minnesota, Saint John’s, Macalester and Carleton will
continue the tradition of a one day, four team non-conference
tournament.
The postseason begins on October 25-26 for the Johnnies as the
2008 Heartland Division Championships will come to
Collegeville’s Warner Palestra. Due to the size and makeup of
the Heartland Division, as the division is comprised entirely of
Division III institutions, the top two teams from the championship
will advance to the Division III Club Water Polo National
Championship tentatively scheduled for a North Atlantic Division
site.
Led by captains Clarence Manuel and Bobby
Chapman, who are among six starters returning this season,
Saint John’s will look improve on their fifth place finish at
the 2007 Division III National Championship tournament and make a
run at the squad’s first national title.
Following the loss of left-hander Pat Stanaway to
graduation, the Johnnies will be looking for John Sarabia and Aaron
Sinner to fill the void. Around the perimeter, the return of
Mark Solinger and Chapman from last year’s
team should be more than adequate to keep the Johnnies rolling
through the season.
However, the team’s greatest strengths are at two-meters and
on the defensive end.
At two-meters, Trent Novotny and Manuel, a 2007
All-America selection, should give the opposing team’s
defense fits. On defense, Neil Wackwitz and
freshman Chase Miller will mind the cage, while
the two-meter position will be controlled and dominated by Novotny
and Marty Walsh.
In addition to the returning starters, another veteran will rejoin
the team after a one-year hiatus as senior Dan
Williams returns to the squad to join freshman
Jessie Otis and sophomore Marcus
Rein, who will join the Johnnies for the first time after
playing in the spring of 2007, to strengthen the lineup.
In addition to their competitive schedule, the team will look to expand water polo through a free water polo clinic for area high schools that will introduce athletes to the sport in hopes of growing its popularity in Central Minnesota, and working with SJU swim coach Bill Saxton to attract more swimming/water polo student-athletes to campus.
For more information on Saint John’s University water polo, contact Marty Walsh at waterpolo@csbsju.edu or check the team out on-line at: http://clubs.csbsju.edu/waterpolo
