Air Force Water Polo Announces Incoming Freshman Class For 2010 Season Incoming class features 11 players
June 7, 2010
Air Force water polo head coach Jeff Ehrlich is proud to announce the incoming freshman class for the 2010 season. This year's group of freshmen features 11 newcomers.
Ken Appel 6-4/190 Goalie Riverside, Calif. (Martin Luther King) High School: Lettered three years in water polo … two-time team MVP … third-team All-CIF selection as a senior … registered 340 saves, 35 steals and 11 assists in senior campaign … three-time recipient of “Mr. Defense” award … two-time first-team all-league selection … second-team all-league honoree in 2007 … four-year scholar-athlete … named Academic All-American by USA Water Polo (2007-08) … member of National Honor Society and National Society of High School Honors … owns top times of 21.9 (50 freestyle) and 51.9 (100 free). Personal: Son of Steven and Diane Appel ... hobbies include scuba diving and exploring the world … hero is his dad … plans to major in civil engineering … favorite foods are steak and French toast, scrambled eggs and bacon … favorite music is alternative rock, country or “anything” … favorite quote: “I, I’m the One comforting you. What are you afraid of—or who? Some man or woman who’ll soon be dead? Some poor wretch destined for dust?” – Isaiah 51:12.
Michael Cooper 5-11/165 Driver Lake Elsinore, Calif. (Lakeside) High School: Three-year letterwinner in water polo … team captain as a senior … offensive player of the year … registered 104 goals, 51 assists, 54 steals and 63 drawn ejections as a senior … Sunbelt League MVP … first-team All-CIF and All-Valley selection … member of the Inland Empire Senior All-Star water polo team … three-time recipient of the scholar-athlete award … winner of Academic Excellence award and Top Scholar Award … class valedictorian … owns top times of 23.28 (50 freestyle) and 56.95 (100 butterfly). Personal: Son of Kevin and Peggy Cooper ... hobbies include snowboarding, swimming and hanging with friends … plans to major in aeronautical engineering … favorite food is any kind of fruit … favorite music is classic rock … favorite quote: “The first qualification of a soldier is fortitude under fatigue and privation.” –Napoleon Bonaparte.
Brad Duncan 5-11/150 Utility Fresno, Calif. (Clovis West) High School: Recipient of “The Poloist” award … named a CA/HI ninth-team All-American … club team finished 19th at Junior Olympics … named to Principal’s Honor Roll … owns top times of 23.7 (50 freestyle), 52.0 (100 free) and 1:00.1 (100 backstroke). Personal: Son of Laura and Jeff Duncan … hobbies include basketball and ukulele … hero is Robin Shin … plans to major in business … favorite food is baby-back ribs … favorite music is “everything” … favorite quote: “I give you a five.”
Andrew Hamilton 6-4/210 2M Off./Def. Mechanicsburg, Pa. (Cumberland Valley) High School: Team captain as a senior … scored 82 goals, 34 steals and 32 drawn ejections in 24 games … two-time All-American (2009 and 2010) … two-time first-team all-state honoree … team won state championship in 2008 and finished third in 2009 … chosen for the National Zones Northeast Division in 2008 and 2009 … runner-up state freshman of the year in 2006, despite missing two-thirds of the season with a broken hand … named to all-freshman team … Academic All-American … named to National Honor Society … owns top swim times of 21.9 (50 freestyle) and 48.8 (100 free). Personal: Son of Doug and Jana Hamilton … hobbies include video games, Bible reading, badminton, skateboarding and volleyball … hero is Jesus Christ … plans to major in biology … favorite food is Chinese … favorite music is Angels & Airwaves, Owl City, System of a Down and Linkin Park … favorite quote: “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.” –Philippians 4:13.
Kyle Mahan 5-11/150 Utility Corinth, Texas (Guyer) High School: Two-time team captain … three-time first-team all-region … first-team all-state in 2010 ... honor graduate … member of National Honor Society … owns top swim times of 22.57 (50 freestyle), 50.08 (100 free), 1:56.00 (200 free) and 5:10 (500 free). Personal: Son of Senior Master Sgt. John Mahan and Carrie Mahan … hobbies include water polo, swimming and hanging out with friends … heroes are his parents … plans to major in biology … favorite food is pasta … favorite quote: “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.” –Wayne Gretzky.
Jordan Rader 6-3/200 Utility Shingle Springs, Calif. (Ponderosa) High School: Four-year varsity starter … two-time all-section honoree … all-league selection … academic letter recipient … owns top times of 21.6 (50 freestyle), 47.5 (100 free) and 59.8 (100 breaststroke). Personal: Son of William and Connie Rader … hobbies include backpacking and shooting … plans to major in management with a minor in Spanish … favorite food is Chinese … favorite music is country and rock … favorite quote: “Well, we didn’t get dressed up for nothin’.” –from Braveheart.
Max Reilly 5-8/160 Driver Davis, Calif. (Davis) High School: Team captain … three-time winner of Most Inspirational award … record 58 goals, 70+ assists and 20+ drawn ejections in senior season … eighth-team All-American … named an Academic All-American by USA Water Polo … owns top swim times of 24.0 (50 free), 52.4 (100 free), 1:51.5 (200 free), 4:58.9 (500 free) and 57.8 (100 fly). Personal: Son of Marci Snodgrass and Peter Reilly ... hobbies include “working on my shot” and eating Panda Express … hero is Sully Sullenberger … plans to major in international relations … favorite food is sushi, burgers and Panda Express … favorite music is Bruce Springsteen … favorite quote: "We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, therefore, is not an act but a habit.” –Aristotle.
Cole Ryan 6-0/170 Driver Rolling Hills Estates, Calif. (Palos Verdes Peninsula) High School: Four-year letterwinner … two-year team captain … recipient of Coaches Award in 2008 … named Most Improved Player in 2007 … competed in National Junior Olympics (2007-2009) … AP Scholar … member of Science National Honor Society … owns top times of 24.00 (50 freestyle), 52.00 (100 free) and 1:59 (200 free). Personal: Son of Jennifer and Ree Ryan ... hero is his dad ... favorite food is In-N-Out Burger … favorite genre of music is rock … favorite musical artist is 12 Stones … favorite quote: “War is an ugly thing, but not the ugliest of things. The decayed and degraded state of moral and patriotic feeling which thinks that nothing is worth war is much worse. The person who has nothing for which he is willing to fight, nothing which is more important than his own personal safety, is a miserable creature and has no chance of being free unless made and kept so by the exertions of better men than himself.” –John Stuart Mill.
Pat Shields 5-9/150 Driver Gilroy, Calif. (Bellarmine College Prep) High School: Two-year varsity letterwinner … Central Coast Section champion during 2009 season … Academic All-American … recipient of Outstanding Academic Excellence Award … owns top swim times of 23.0 (50 freestyle), 53.0 (100 free) and 2:01 (200 free). Personal: Son of Mel and Kim Shields … older brother, Matt, is a senior on the Falcons’ water polo team … hobbies include soccer and outdoor activities … heroes are his parents … plans to major in political science or strategical warfare … favorite food is steak … favorite music is country … favorite quote: “Rise and rise again until docile lambs become conquering lions.”
Josh Stedman 6-0/170 Utility Brea, Calif. (Troy) High School: Two-time Freeway League MVP … Freeway League Athlete of the Year for 2009-10 season … All-American … first-team CIF-Division 5 honoree in 2008 and 2009 … registered 98 goals, 29 assists and 62 steals in senior season … won gold medal at Junior Olympics and National Club Championships … member of National Honor Society … owns top swim times of 21.67 (50 freestyle), 49.29 (100 free) and 55.90 (100 back). Personal: Son of Julie and Randall Stedman … hobbies include wakeboarding and dirt bike riding … hero is George Caster … plans to major in economics … favorite food is mashed potatoes … favorite music is classic rock … favorite quote: “I don’t measure a man’s success by how high he climbs, but how high he bounces when he hits bottom.” –General Patton.
Shane Welch 5-11/200 2M Offense Antelope, Calif. (Oakmont) High School: Team captain as a senior … two-time team MVP … led team in goals (108) and assists (61) as a senior, despite missing seven games … two-time first-team all-league and all-section honoree … second-team all-league in 2007 … CA/HI All-American … Oakmont High School Athlete of the Season in 2009 … Advance 28 Athlete of the Year in 2008 …two-time team captain and Most Dedicated Player for club team … two-time recipient of Academic Merit Award … owns top swim times of 22.4 (50 freestyle), 48.7 (100 free) and 1:48.1 (200 free). Personal: Son of Tammy and Ji Welch … hobbies include playing Xbox 360 with his brother, Nathan, and generally goofing around with his friends … hero is Superman … plans to major in aeronautical engineering … favorite food is In-N-Out Burger (Double Double and Animal Fries) … favorite music is “everything from the gangster raps of Snoop Dogg and Mac Dre to the occasional techno song or even a little bit of country.”
