Air Force Academy

Sept. 6, 2001

U.S.A.F.A., Colo.- The Air Force water polo team began its season last Saturday with a scrimmage against the Denver Masters club team. The Falcons were divided into three different teams with the Air Force starters making up the A team and the C4C's (Fr.) making up the C team. Team A won seven of its eight matches, with a tie in its second match of the morning against the Denver Masters. C3Cs (Jr.) Scott Butler, Micah Peterson and Brandon Shroyer all played well, with Shroyer working to secure his slot as the starting goalie in next week's Triton Tournament in La Jolla, Ca., hosted by UC San Diego. C2C (Jr.) Chris Smith and C1C (Sr.) Brian Hasbrouck also had an impressive weekend. Team B took second in the scrimmage with C3Cs Mitch Adams, Eric Baber, Kelly Greiner, and Kirk Reimer all having excellent games while trying to secure slots on the Falcons' traveling squad. The freshman team fell to last place but not without some strong performances from Murphey Morgan, Chris Nary, Josh Shadrick, and Eric Swenson.

The Falcons enter this weekend's Triton Tournament after finishing last year with a 3-1 record, losing their only match of the weekend to UC San Diego, 9-6. Air Force defeated Pamonona-Pitzer, 15-5, La Verne, 10-8, and Loyola Marymount, 9-8.

The 2001 season could prove to be quite challenging for head coach Jeff Ehrlich and assistant coach Craig Ackley as they lose eight of their top nine players to either graduation or injury. The coaches feel very good about the team's improvement during the spring and hope to still be as competitive as ever. The 2001 team was able to win the New Mexico Water Polo Tournament, April 20-22, then came back the following week to split with the alumni team, which consisted of five senior graduates and a host of other top Air Force players from the past.