Air Force Academy

May 4, 2010

The Air Force water polo team hosted its Alumni Weekend on May 1, 2010. The current team took on a group of alumni, while also playing a game versus the Denver Masters. Following is a quick recap of the weekend’s action:

Air Force Varsity vs. Air Force Alumni

Scoring Summary

1st Quarter

1-0   Team captain Bobby Geiger scores early

1-2        All-American John Christ puts the Alumni up by one

2-2        Sophomore Taque Patino knots the score

4-2        Freshmen Garrett Womack and Dillon Fisher close out the first quarter with two goals

2nd Quarter

4-3        Senior All-American and 2009 MVP Alex Churnside scores for the Alumni to start the second quarter

5-3        Junior Kurt Wallin puts Varsity up by two

5-4        Senior Co-Captain Jack Hines scores to bring Alumni within one

6-4        Freshman “Augie” Arcidiacono puts Varsity up by two

6-5        2005 Graduate Chas Horn scores

6-6        Senior goalie and 2008 MVP David Ostrom ties the score at six

7-6        Junior Matt Shields puts the Varsity back up by one

7-7        Three-time All-American Brian Pendergast scores his first goal of the game to tie the score with :17 left in the half

3rd Quarter

8-7        Freshman and WWPA Newcomer of the Year Cruz Smithson scores early to put Varsity back up by one

8-8        Scoring his second goal, Churnside ties the score

9-8        Patino scores his second goal of the game

10-8      Freshman Brad Rajchel scores his first goal of the game

10-9      Reimer brings the Alumni within one again

11-9      Womack scores his second goal of the game to close the third quarter

4th Quarter

12-9      Shields catches All-American goalie Charlie Toth off guard with a cross-cage bar in to put the Varsity up by three

12-10    Pendergast scores his second goal of the game

15-10    The Varsity tire out the Alumni with a three-goal run scored by freshmen Rajchel, Fisher and Arcidiacono

Members of the Air Force Alumni team (by age)

·         Coach Jeff Heidmous – USAFA class of 1977 – Associate AD, Department Head, Physical Education Department – Captain, MVP 1976

·         Fritz Wiegman – USAFA class of 1980 – Retired C-130 Instructor pilot – pilot for United – four-year letterwinner

·         Mike Brown – USAFA class of 1986 – Communications Officer – three-year letterwinnner

·         Cmdr. Mike Peterson – USNA class of 1990 – Weapon System Officer F-14 – Instructor USAFA Military Studies – Olympic Festival 1990

·         Maj. John Christ – USAFA class of 1996 – Civil Engineer, DF Instructor – MVP and All-American 1995

·         Brian Pendergast – USAFA class of 1997 – Head instructor of Aquatics USAFA – two-time MVP and three-time All-American (1994-96)

·         Maj. Mackie Contreras – USAFA class of 1997 – AOC for cadet squadron 31 – four-year starter and captain 1996

·         Capt. Charlie Toth – USAFA class of 2001 – Swim coach – Captain, MVP and All-American 2000

·         Capt. Charles Horn – USAFA class of 2003 – Intel – four-year letterwinner and All-WWPA

·         Capt. Garrett Erickson – USAFA class of 2003 – C-28 Pilot, Hurlburt, Florida

·         Capt. Trevor Warren – USAFA class of 2003 – Physics, Los Angeles AFB – Earning his Ph.D.

·         Capt. Kirk Reimer – USAFA class of 2004 – Analytical Scientist, Water polo coach – four year letterwinner, All-WWPA

·         2nd Lt. Tyler Hewko – USAFA class of 2008 – Force Support Officer at Tinker AFB – three-year starter and All-WWPA

·         Alex Churnside – USAFA class of 2010 – Acquisitions officer in Los Angeles – four-year starter and All-American

·         Jack Hines – USAFA class of 2010 – Analytical scientist in New Mexico – three-year starter and All-WWPA

·         David Ostrom – USAFA class of 2010 – Pilot training at Vance AFB – three-year starter and All-WWPA

Thanks to all Alumni for participating in Alumni weekend. An additional thanks to Kirk & Amanda Reimer for hosting a barbecue after the competition.

Air Force vs. Denver Masters

Air Force never had a lead until the last 29 seconds when Bobby Geiger recorded his sixth goal of the game to give Air Force the 14-13 victory.

 “This was the most enjoyable spring season I have had in my 11 years at Air Force,” said Ehrlich. “We are looking forward to an exciting 2010 season.”