Air Force Water Polo Announces Incoming Freshman Class For 2009 Season Incoming class features 15 players
June 4, 2009
Air Force water polo head coach Jeff Ehrlich is proud to announce the incoming freshman class for the 2009 season. This year's group of freshmen features 15 players.
Nick Adagio 6-0/185 Driver Great Falls, Va. (Gonzaga College HS) High School: Has played water polo for four years ... three-year letterwinner ... team captain ... has scored 64 goals in his varsity career ... played for Navy AC club team ... also lettered three years in swimming ... captain of swimming team ... recipient of swimming Most Improved Award in 2008 and Captain's Award in 2009 ... swimming All-American ... owns top times of 21.64 (50 freestyle), 48.25 (100 free), 1:49.72 (200 free) and 5:15.07 (500 free). Personal: Son of Floyd and Stacy Adagio ... would like to become a fighter pilot ... favorite food is Italian ... is an Eagle Scout.
Alex Arcidiacono 6-0/180 Driver La Jolla, Calif. (La Jolla HS) High School: Three-year letterwinner in water polo ... offensive player of the year as a senior ... named to the Union-Tribune all-city team in 2008 ... received the Senior All-Star Water Polo Award from the Aquatics Council of San Diego ... owns top times of 22.8 (50 freestyle), 49.5 (100 freestyle) and 2:05.72 (200 IM) ... three-time recipient of the All-American Academic Sports Award from the Union-Tribune ... graduated with academic distinction. Personal: Son of Peter and Kristin Arcidiacono ... hobbies include surfing, playing guitar and jet skiing ... plans to major in engineering ... hero is Miles McPherson ... favorite food is cheeseburgers ... favorite music is classic rock (The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Creedence Clearwater Revival, The Rolling Stones) ... favorite quote: "I don't see why not." -Caleb McCutcheon.
Colin Corvino 6-1/175 Driver Hinsdale, Ill. (Fenwick HS) High School: Two-year letterwinner in water polo ... played in just 20 games in senior season, due to injury/illness, finishing with 16 goals, 18 assists and seven steals ... team won its sixth-consecutive state championship in 2009 ... six-year member of Windy City Club team, which finished seventh at Junior OIympic tournament ... three-time selection to Midwest Zone team ... Illinois State Scholar ... Presidential Award winner ... also lettered three years in swimming ... owns top times of 23.4 (50 freestyle), 52.4 (100 free) and 56.4 (100 butterfly). Personal: Son of Robert and Ann Corvino ... hobbies include camping, hiking, piano and guitar ... an Eagle Scout ... plans to become a pilot after graduation ... hero is Byrd Ryan ... favorite food is pizza ... favorite music is classical rock (The Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin) ... favorite quote: "If you want something you've never had, you have to do something you've never done."
Ryan Fattal 5-10/155 Driver Seal Beach, Calif. (Los Alamitos HS) High School: Four-year letterwinner in water polo ... scored 16 goals, four assists and 10 steals in senior campaign despite missing 12 games with a broken nose ... winner of the Coach's Award as a freshman ... owns top times of 23.08 (50 free), 49.7 (100 free), 1:45 (200 free), 4:44 (500 free) and 24.72 (50 fly) ... named to Principal's Honor Roll in sophomore and senior years ... on honor roll as a freshman and junior. Personal: Son of Ron and Maria Fattal ... has a sister, Rachel ... hobbies include reading, writing, hanging out, watching movies, anything athletic, trivia and other mind puzzlers and video games ... plans to major in economics ... heroes are his grandfathers ... favorite meal is Thanksgiving dinner ... favorite quote: "Fear profits a man nothing." -from Thirteenth Warrior.
Michael Fish 6-2/170 Goalie Manhattan Beach, Calif. (Mira Costa HS) High School: Team co-MVP as a senior ... recorded 170 saves, 15 steals and five assists in senior campaign ... first-team All-CIF Southern Section selection and first-team All-Bay League in 2008 ... named to Daily Breeze's All-Area team in 2008 ... freshman-sophomore defensive MVP in 2004 ... named a Scholar-Athlete and on honor roll every semester ... holds top times of 24.2 (50 free) and 58.4 (100 free). Personal: Son of Mark and Kathy Fish ... hobbies include basketball, volleyball, camping and boating ... plans to major in engineering ... his parents are his heroes ... favorite food is baby back ribs ...favorite music is rock, alternative, Rise Against the Machine, Pennywise and Defense Breaks Down ... favorite quote: "The early bird gets the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese." -Jon Hammond.
Dillon Fisher 5-10/175 Driver Orange, Calif. (Villa Park HS) High School: Lettered in water polo for four years ... team co-captain in 2007 and 2008 ... registered 63 goals, 74 assists, and 31 steals in senior campaign ... third-team All-American in 2008 ... two-time All-CIF Division II selection (first team in 2008) ... two-time first-team all-league selection ... CIF champions (Division II) in 2007 ... recipient of D. Haskins Award in 2007 ... winner of the Coaches Award in 2005 and Hardest Worker Award in 2006 ... played for Club SOCAL, which won the 18-and-under club championships in 2008 and the 16-and-under club championships and Junior Olympics in 2007 ... also won the 14-and-under Junior Olympics with Club Split in 2005 ... two-time Junior Olympics All-American (2005 and 2007) ... four-year Scholar-Athlete ... member of National Honor Society ... named to honor roll 2005-2007 ... owns top times of 22.83 (50 free), 50.62 (100 free) and 1:52.64 (200 free). Personal: Son of Gerald and Alma Fisher ... hobbies include surfing and reading ... plans to major in economics or mechanical engineering ... hero is Bruce Lee ... favorite food is Mexican food ... favorite music is Dirty Heads... favorite quote: "You gotta want it."
Ryan Hogan 5-11/170 Driver Carson City, Nev. (Bishop Manogue Catholic HS) High School: Team captain ... named most improved player ... recipient of Lance Bohlman Award ... scored more than 75 goals and drew more than 50 kick outs in his senior season to help lead his team to a 25-2 record ... member of National Honor Society ... named to honor roll ... selected for Who's Who Among American High School students ... owns top times of 22.5 (50 free), 49.7 (100 free), 1:49.4 (200 free), 5:00.2 (500 free), 53.2 (100 fly), 1:58.4 (200 fly) and 2:03.0 (200 IM). Personal: Son of Kevin and Kathy Hogan ... hobbies include skiing, beach volleyball, open water swimming and watching movies ... favorite food is sushi ... favorite music is country ... favorite quote: "When you arrive at a fork in the road, take it." -Yogi Berra.
Kyle Manger 6-1/180 2M Defense Harleysville, Pa. (North Penn HS) High School: Has played water polo for five years ... high school team won state championship in 2006 and 2007 ... state runner-up in 2005 ... registered 47 goals, 37 assists, 59 steals and 19 drawn ejections in senior campaign ... first-team all-state selection in 2007 and third-team honoree in 2006 ... selected to the Northeast Zone Team in 2007 ...owns top times of 4:48.42 (500 freestyle), 1:47.49 (200 free), 49.75 (100 free), 23.79 (50 free), 2:04.49 (200 IM), 59.26 (100 back) and 56.73 (100 fly) ... named to honor roll. Personal: Son of Walter and Susan Manger ... has an older sister, Ashley (22) ... attended the Academy Prep School ... hobbies include music, reading, video games, snowboarding, basketball and water polo ... plans to major in management ... would like to become a pilot ... heroes are his parents ... favorite quote: "Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it." -from Ferris Bueller's Day Off.
Mike Martin 6-1/175 2M Defense Coto de Caza, Calif. (Tesoro HS) High School: Team captain and offensive player of the year in 2008 ... second-team all-league selection ... recorded 52 goals, 15 assists and 33 steals in senior season ... owns top times of 21.51 (50 freestyle), 48.28 (100 freestyle) and 1:01.54 (100 breast) ... South Coast League champion in the 100 breaststroke in 2009 ... four-year Scholar-Athlete ... AP Scholar with Honor ... National Merit Commended Scholar. Personal: Son of Steve and Mary Martin ... hobbies include snowboarding, body surfing, eating and traveling ... plans to major in foreign area studies or chemistry ... hero is Richard Ira Bong ... favorite food is Chipotle ... favorite music is Bloc Party, Kings of Leon and Emmure ... favorite quote: "A young man who does not have what it takes to perform military service is not likely to have what it takes to make a living." -John F. Kennedy.
Jake Melia 5-6/120 Driver Henderson, Nev. (Coronado HS) High School: Earned the Sportsmanship Award for his club water polo team in 2007 and the Coaches Award in 2008 ... named to the Mountain Zone Team in 2005, 2007 and 2008 ... NIAA Scholar-Athlete in 2007 and 2008 ... named to honor roll all four years ... member of the National Honor Society. Personal: Son of John and Valerie Melia ... hobbies include water skiing ... plays piano and is in the Civil Air Patrol ... plans to major in military strategic studies ... hero is his brother, David ... favorite food is spaghetti ... favorite music is Sublime ... favorite quote: "If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader." -John Quincy Adams.
Mike Radosevich 6-3/190 2M Offense Temecula, Calif. (Great Oak HS) High School: Team captain and MVP ... named most improved ... winner of Scholarship Award, Passion Award and Integrity Award ... recorded 44 goals, 12 assists, 11 prevented goals, 31 steals and 12 drawn ejections in senior season ... a second-team all-league selection and All-CIF honorable mention by The Californian ... CIF Scholar-Athlete ... two-time CIF team member ... owns top times of 25.2 (50 free), 53.5 (100 free), 1:57.6 (200 free) and 5:16.0 (500 free) ... recipient of academic letter. Personal: Son of Kenneth and Paula Radosevich ... father was a 1980 Academy graduate ... hobbies include mountain biking and scuba diving ... an Eagle Scout ... plans to major in civil engineering ... heroes are his dad and Martin Luther King, Jr. ... favorite food is Italian or American ... favorite music is anything but country or classical ... favorite quote: "Right is right even when nobody is doing it, and wrong is wrong even when everybody is doing it." -St. Augustine.
Brad Rajchel 6-0/165 2M Off./Def. Winter Park, Fla. (Winter Park HS) High School: Played in state championship game in senior season ... team MVP ... named Central Florida Player of the Year in 2009 ... recorded 129 goals, 47 assists, 74 steals and 32 drawn ejections in senior season ... named outstanding offensive player in 2008 ... an all-conference, All-Central Florida and All-America honoree ... owns top times of 22.2 (50 free), 48.8 (100 free), 1:49.8 (200 free), 56.0 (100 fly). Personal: Son of Louis and Mary Rajchel ... hobbies include playing Frisbee, basketball, football and racquetball ... plans to major in biology ... favorite food is a Chipotle burrito ... favorite music is anything by Bob Marley ... favorite quote: "I firmly believe that any man's finest hour, the greatest fulfillment of all that he holds dear, is that moment when he has worked his heart out in a good cause and lies exhausted on the field of battle--victorious." -Vince Lombardi.
Cruz Smithson 5-11/205 2M Offense Capistrano Beach, Calif. (Servite HS) High School: Four-year member of varsity water polo team ... team MVP in sophomore, junior and senior seasons ... named Servite Athlete of the Year in senior season ... two-time league MVP (sophomore and senior seasons) ... OC Trinity League Athlete of the Year as a senior ... three-time first-team All-CIF selection ... two-time first-team All-American ... recorded 103 goals, 41 assists and 80 steals in his senior campaign ... team won CIF championship in freshman season ... MVP of his club team, which won a gold medal at the Junior Olympics in 2008 ... owns top times of 22.9 (50 freestyle), 50.1 (100 freestyle), 1:50.4 (200 free), 5:02 (500 free) and 57.2 (100 back) ... four-year Scholar-Athlete ... graduated with distinguished honors. Personal: Son of Christopher and Marion Smithson ... hobbies include water polo, music, friends and studying psychology and the human mind ... plans to major in biological medicine/psychology ... favorite music is everything but bluegrass ... favorite quote: "No one cares how much you know unless they know how much you care."
Garrett Womack 6-3/190 Utility Redlands, Calif. (Redlands East Valley HS) High School: Three-year letterwinner in water polo ... team captain and MVP during senior season ... registered 115 goals, 45 assists, 60 steals and 29 drawn ejections in senior campaign ... two-time All-CIF selection ... two-time first-team All-Citrus Belt League ...offensive player of the year as a junior ... named most improved in sophomore season ... also lettered two years in swimming ... owns top times of 22.9 (50 freestyle) and 52.7 (100 freestyle) ... five-time Scholar-Athlete ... NCAS National Student-Athlete ... USA Water Polo Academic All-American in 2008 ... named to Principal's Honor Roll every semester ... member of National Honor Society ... AP Scholar. Personal: Son of Darryl and Patty Womack ... hobbies include making movies, playing guitar and listening to music ... plans to major in civil engineering ... hero is his grandfather, Paul Womack ... favorite food is his mom's blueberry pancakes ... favorite music is classic rock ... favorite quote: "We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit." -Aristotle.
Michael Wong 5-11/165 2M Defense Alta Loma, Calif. (Los Osos HS) High School: Has played water polo for seven years ... earned three varsity letters ... three-year varsity starter ... team was a three-time CIF qualifier ... led team to first CIF title in 2008 ... three-time all-league honoree ... two-time All-CIF selection ... two-year team captain ... team MVP in 2008 ... defensive player of the year in 2007 ... owns top times of 21.7 (50 free) and 48.6 (100 free) ... recipient of Scholar-Athlete Award. Personal: Son of John and Debbie Wong ... plans to major in aeronautical engineering ... hobbies include snowboarding and graphic design ... hero is his father ... favorite quote: "The greatest mistake you can make in life is to be continually fearing you will make one." -Elbert Hubbard.
