May 25, 2007
Air Force water polo head coach Jeff Ehrlich is proud to announce the incoming freshman class for the 2007 season. This year's group of freshmen features 14 players, including three walk-ons.
Aaron Blore
6-1/160
Goalie
Bellevue, Wash. (Newport HS)
High School: Four-year letterwinner in water polo ... team finished second in the state in 2006, third in 2004 and 2005 and fourth in 2003 ... team captain ... two-time state defensive MVP ... two-time state all-tournament team selection ... silver medalist at National Junior Olympics in 2004 ... member of USA Water Polo National Development/Cadet team ... also lettered four years in swimming ... earned Knight Valor award for over 100 hours of community service ... recipient of President's Award for Educational Excellence. Personal: Son of Michael and Kathryn Blore ... heros are Superman and his dad... hobbies include music ... plans to major in astronautical engineering ... favorite quote: "Courage is not the absence of fear, but the conquest of it."- Unknown.
Gavin Fluhart
6-1/175
Utility
Chula Vista, Calif. (Eastlake HS)
High School: Four-year letterwinner in water polo ... member of CIF qualifying team in 2006 ... team captain ... recipient of coach's award ... member of 2006 San Diego Shores Junior Olympic team ... named offensive water polo player of the year in 2004 and most inspirational water polo award in 2003 ... also lettered four years in swimming ... earned Swimmer of the Year Award ... finished third in the 50 free and sixth in the 100 free at the 2007 San Diego CIF Division I Championships ... named to Principals' Honor Roll ... recipient of San Diego Union-Tribune All-Academic Team Award. Personal: Son of Michael and Jill Fluhart ... owns best times of 22.34 in the 50 freestyle and 49.0 in the 100 free ... hero is his youngest brother, Micah, who is battling leukemia for a second time ... hobbies include surfing, snowboarding and skateboarding ... plans to major in electrical engineering ... favorite quote: "Persistence breeds success".
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Charley Ford
6-0/215
2M Off.
Clovis, Calif. (Clovis HS)
High School: Has played water polo for seven years ... finished senior season with 39 goals and 27 assists ... tallied 67 goals and 43 assists for his career ... named team MVP ... earned senior student-athlete award ... president of National Honor Society ... High Honor Roll ... Rotary Club top 100 ... helped build Boys' and Girls' Club ... volunteered at local hospital and with the Special Olympics. Personal: Son of Charley and Beth Ford ... owns best times of 1:09 in the 100 breaststroke, 1:59 in the 200 freestyle and 5:22 in the 500 freestyle ... hero is Lance Armstrong ... hobbies include fly fishing ... would like to become a pilot after graduation ... plans to major in economics ... favorite quote: "To be the best you have to work harder than the rest."
Bobby Geiger
5-11/180
Driver
Buellton, Calif. (Santa Ynez HS)
High School: Lettered four years in water polo ... team captain and two-time MVP ... team won LPL championship ... gold medalist at Junior Olympics ... second-team All-American ... two-time All-CIF selection ... three-time all-league selection ... tallied 124 goals in senior season ... also lettered four years in swimming ... team captain and MVP in swimming ... league MVP ... won league in 50 freestyle and 100 butterfly ... scholar-athlete of the year ... volunteered with Relay for Life and Special Olympics ... Personal: Son of Paul and Deby Geiger ... owns best times of 22.9 in the 50 freestyle, 52.6 in the 100 free and 59.8 in the 100 butterfly ... hero is his dad ... hobbies include surfing, snowboarding and water polo ... plans to major in English ... favorite quote: "If you're going through hell...keep going."
Robert Hemker
6-1/180
2M Def.
Missouri City, Texas (Hightower HS)
High School: Played on newly formed district water polo team in 2007 ... notched 20 goals, 14 assists and 18 drawn ejections ... also lettered four years in swimming ... two-year team captain ... four-time district finalist and regional qualifier ... regional finalist as a senior ... graduated cum laude. Personal: Son of Rob and Rebecca Hemker ... owns best times of 26.80 in the 50 backstroke and 57.60 in the 100 back ... hobbies include rock climbing, surfing, skiing and snowboarding ... plans to major in engineering ... hero is Dwight Eisenhower ... favorite quote: "Hard work will eventually pay off."
Kurt Lemmen
6-3/210
2M Off./Def.
Orlando, Fla. (Edgewater HS)
High School: Has played water polo for four years ... four-year team MVP and leading scorer. Personal: Son of Jay and Janey Lemmen ... owns best time of 1:01:11 in the 100 breaststroke ... plans to major in civil engineering.
Evan Lomeli
6-3/185
2M Off.
Roseville, Calif. (Oakmont HS)
High School: Has played water polo for four years ... team finished in third round of section in 2006 ... league MVP in 2006 ... first-team all-league and all-section in 2006 ... second-team all-league selection in 2005 ... earned athlete of the week and athlete of the season honors in fall 2006 ... Academic All-CIF selection 2003-04 ... earned academic merit award in 2006 and 2007 ... two-time all-league selection in swimming ... Special Olympics volunteer and recreational swim coach. Personal: Son of Ron and Jennifer Pointer ... owns best time of 24.5 in the 50 freestyle ... hero is his mom ... hobbies include snowboarding, tubing, ultimate frisbee and taking naps ... plans to major in math or physics ... favorite quote: "You're not trying hard enough to have fun until someone gets hurt."
Austin McKenzie
5-8/155
2M Def.
Newberg, Ore. (Newberg HS)
High School: Has played water polo for five years ... team finished second in Oregon State Championship Tournament in 2003, third in 2004 and first in 2005 and 2006 ... captured first place in the 16 & Under and 18 & Under Kearns Invitational Tournament in 2005 ... recorded 20 goals and 20 assists in senior season, while adding 51 steals ... third-team all-conference selection ... earned President's Scholarship for Academic Achievement (University of Portland) ... Personal: Son of Grady and Jill McKenzie ... owns best times of 25.26 in the 50 freestyle, 56.00 in the 100 free and 1:05.71 in the 100 breaststroke ... hobbies include hiking and martial arts ... plans to major in aerospace engineering ... favorite quote: "If you see a turtle sitting atop a fence post, you know it didn't get there by itself."
Matt Shields
6-2/200
Utility
Gilroy, Calif. (Bellarmine College Prep)
High School: Has played water polo for four years ... team won CCS for 10 straight years ... winners in West Catholic Athletic League ... team captain ... All-WCAL and All-CCS selection ... academic All-American ... coached fifth grade girls' basketball. Personal: Son of Mel and Kim Shields ... owns best time of 4:53 in the 500 freestyle ... hero is his dad ... hobbies include outdoor activities ... plans to major in foreign affairs ... would like to become a fighter pilot after graduation ... favorite quote: "And shepherds we shall be, for Thee, my Lord, for Thee/Power hath descended forth from Thy hand that our feet may swiftly carry out Thy command/So we shall flow a river forth unto Thee, and teeming with souls shall it ever be, In Nomine Patris, Et Filii, Et Spiritus Sancti."
Ethan Still
6-0/190
2M Def.
Cypress, Texas (Cy-Fair HS)
High School: Has played water polo for three years ... helped lead team to its highest-ever finishes at the regional tournaments in the past two seasons ... led team in goals scored, steals and ejections ... two-time all-region selection ... two-time team MVP ... team captain ... member of Youth Southwest Zone team ... also served as swimming team captain ... earned 110% Award and Most Improved Award for swimming ... graduated Magna Cum Laude ... Academic All-American ... member of National Honor Society and German National Honor Society ... recipient of Math Academic Achievement Award ... Eagle Scout. Personal: Son of Greg and Ginny Still ... owns best time of 1:03.58 in the 100 breaststroke ... heros are his parents ... hobbies include water polo and reading ... plans to major in foreign area studies ... favorite quote: "If your coach isn't yelling at you, that means he doesn't think you're very good"/"Dad, I must be a hero!"
Andrew Strawbridge
5-11/175
Driver
San Jose, Calif. (Bellarmine College Prep)
High School: Has played water polo for seven years ... section champion and co-league champion ... finished season with 23 goals and 52 assists ... named Most Inspirational ... volunteered with the Special Olympics. Personal: Son of Jean and Steve Strawbridge ... owns best times of 24.0 in the 50 freestyle, 52.0 in the 100 free and 1:05 in the 100 breaststroke ... hero is his father ... hobbies include video games and watching sports ... plans to major in biochemistry ... would like to attend medical school after graduation ... favorite quote: "Accept the challenges so that you can feel the exhilaration of victory." -Gen. George S. Patton.
Kurt Wallin
6-0/155
Utility
Temecula, Calif. (Murrieta Valley HS)
High School: Has played water polo for seven years ... team won Division 5 CIF championship ... led team in assists in junior and senior seasons ... team's third-leading scorer ... first-team all-league and all-division selection ... named to The Californian's first-team ... Junior Olympics honorable mention All-American ... named to all-academic team. Personal: Son of Bill and Vicki Wallin ... owns best times of 22.7 in the 50 freestyle and 1:03 in the 100 breaststroke ... hero is his cousin, Scott ... hobbies include snowboarding, wakeboarding, surfing, hanging with friends and going to the movies ... plans to major in civil or aeronautical engineering ... would like to become an engineer and a fighter pilot after graduation ... favorite quotes: "Whats life without a bit of a risk", "Do you feel lucky?".
Mark Beeman
5-8/150
Driver
Monrovia, Calif. (Monrovia HS)
Four-year varsity starter ... played club water polo for eight years ... played for Rose Bowl in 2002 Junior Olympics ... captain of 2006 team ... led team to CIF playoffs for first time in 38 years ... all-league selection ... owns best times of 22.6 in the 50 freestyle and 52.0 in the 100 free.
Matt Versage
6-3/210
2M Off.
Merced, Calif. (Merced HS)
Four-year varsity letterwinner ... first-team all-league selection ... second-team all-section pick ... owns best times of 21.9 in the 50 freestyle and 48.3 in the 100 free ... attended the Academy Prep School.
