Welcome Back Wolverines!
August 3rd, 2008

     The Schedule has just been updated with the latest information about the 2008 season. Coach Drew will start conditioning practices tomorrow morning. You are highly encouraged to attend these training sessions. However, if you are unable to participate you should be seriously conditioning on your own.

  If you are a new recruit or an interested walk-on, tryouts are held the first week of school. Officially pre-season begins on August 18th, but we understand if you can't make it to practice until September 2nd. If you have any questions don't hesitate to contact our Recruiting Team.

Team Banquet
November 26th, 2007

     This year's banquet will be at Cottage Inn Restaurant this Saturday, December 1st at 7:30PM. There will be a buffet dinner followed by an awards ceremony. Please be sure to invite your parents and friends. This is a formal event, so dress to impress (ties are required). The team's meal will be complementary. However, there will be a $20 charge per plate for parents, friends, and dates. We're looking forward to seeing you there.

Miami (Ohio) Tourney
October 7th, 2007

By: Sameer Oak

     Last weekend we traveled to a tournament at the University of Miami in Ohio. The weekend included lots of water polo and camping. We ended up in 8th place with a record of 1 win and 3 losses. We had a couple of offensive opportunities that we couldn't capitalize on and we didn't really start playing until the 4th quarter in some games. The last couple of days at practice, we have been working heavily on shooting and transitioning so hopefully this will help in our game play.

    We also camped for two nights while we were there because there were no hotels available. It was a lot of fun eating s'mores by the campfire and talking. The camping was a really good team bonding experience. Overall, the weekend showed that we have tons of potential that we just need to utilize well.

Spartan Invite Highlights Strengths and Weaknesses
Sept. 17, 2007

by Ben Cousineau

    The weekend at Michigan State was definitely a good starting point for the Michigan team. It was the first time the team traveled as a whole, all of the starters were present, and the team had significant practice time beforehand. The games were all a lot closer then the standings indicate; every play was contested, the team's defensive effort was phenomenal. The mistakes made during the Tennessee tournament were virtually nonexistent. Michigan drew far many more six-on-fives then it gave up, and the six-on-five defense limited the impact of the number of goals scored in the penalty-periods. The only glaring difficulty the Michigan team had was on offense. Michigan failed to capitalize and shot percentages were low. However, shooting is the easiest thing to work on during practice and it is early in the season yet. There is great expectation that Michigan will come out later on in the tournaments as an offensively dominate team.

     The Michigan B Team had great success this weekend, tying with Michigan State's much larger and more experienced counterpart. The Wolverines came out with great intensity and played their hearts out, and were rewarded with some truly outstanding goals. Notable offensive moments came from Eric Kumbier and Andrew the Singapore Slinger.

Saturday Night Lights in the Eyes of Freshman
Sept. 17, 2007

By Dan Basile:

     I've seen hundreds of swim meets, swum millions of yards, and raced against the best of them. But up until yesterday, I never experienced the excitement and energy of a sport where the team matters more than the individual. This past weekend was my first water polo tournament, where I had the opportunity to compete for the University of Michigan at the Spartan Invite.  Soaking in the environment and learning about the game, I experienced the tournament mostly as an observer.

    The A team arrived early in the morning prepared to face some of the best club teams in the nation. Throughout the day the U of M teams showcased its strengths'our defense was impenetrable.  However, we showed that we have plenty of room to improve: especially on our shooting.  Despite numerous opportunities in the first two games, the A team could not get its shots in the back of the net.  As the day progressed players became less confident in their shooting ability and the offense struggled to produce many shots, and as a result few goals. At one point, Coach Bob said that the team will focus heavily on shooting in upcoming practices.  Nonetheless, the team had more bright spots than weak spots, and with better shooting we have the potential to go far this year. The defense and goaltending were exceptional, allowing on average 5 goals per game. The players did a great job pressing, stopping 6 on 5s and not allowing the ball in the hole. I noticed that our players were stronger, faster, and did a better job of setting up plays and getting in position. Overall, Coach Drew and Bob seemed pleased with our performances; despite our losses, the team showed that with time we have the potential to do quite well.

       For most of the day, I was there to watch the games and learn the little nuances of the sport.  Luckily, Coach Bob told me that I could play the second game for the B team. The B team match against MSU didn't get underway until 8:30PM: setting the stage for what would turn into an intense game underneath the lights.   A small crowd had gathered at the pool and began cheering for State, so our players and fans countered with a 'Go Blue' cheer of their own. The atmosphere of the crowd, the cold weather, the dark sky and pool lights made for an adrenaline-filled match between these two great rivals.  I waited for my chance to get in the game, and as I watched the intense match, I was itching for a chance to play. When the third quarter began, the game was tied 1-1 and Coach Bob called me into the game, so I lined up for the sprint. Never had I played a real water polo game before'here was my chance to shine.

       I swam as fast as I could for the ball for the ball, my opponent and I reached it at the same time, yet somehow he fouled me and I kept the ball. As play started, I tried to keep to the game plan and do what I had learned in practice the past few weeks, which I was able to do for the most part. I kept pressing my man when on defense, and then tried to move off him and/or break free for a drive when I was on offense. My heart was racing, and my mind was just trying to keep up. My best contribution was when State had a 6 on 5 and as they set up someone made a cross-pool pass to the player I was guarding. I leapt up and stole the ball with my left hand (which is my dominant hand) and ended their man-advantage.
I made a few mistakes, yet I think I did pretty well considering my experience. Those 5 minutes in the pool made me hungry for more and left me anticipating my next chance to get back in and make some plays.  I left the game to watch an exciting finish in the fourth quarter as Michigan matched each of State's goals with some incredible shots. The game ended in a 3-3 tie'most everyone wanted the game to continue.  During the hand shakes, both teams politely gestured and said 'Re-match in Ann Arbor.'

In the end, this game opened my eyes to how fun and energetic water polo can be.  Moreover, our team proved we have the potential to go very far this year.  Even though this is my first year, I know we can win and I'm ready for some more!

Knoxville, Tennesee
September 16, 2007

By: Eric Kumbier

            The Michigan Men's Water Polo Team traveled to Knoxville, Tennessee for the Hillbilly Tournament September 1st and 2nd.  It was the team's first tournament of the 2007 season, and most players view the tournament as a fun way to get back in the groove of playing water polo.  Overall, the team finished 2-2, but showed signs of cohesion despite it being so early in the season.  The team's defense was solid, holding all opponents to 7 goals or less.  In the first game of the tournament the Wolverines defeated host Tennessee 15-1 in a game where the starters only needed to play in the first quarter.  In the second game Michigan fell short against Purdue, losing a hard fought battle 7-4.  Michigan bounced back and beat Miami B 8-6, while giving reserve players a chance to play.  The team wrapped up tournament play with a disappointing loss to Indiana by the score of 7-3.

            Matt Gauss led the Wolverines in scoring with six goals, followed by Ryan Pryor, who added five.  Matt Burke netted four scores while BJ Jacobs, Matt Rowland, Eric Kumbier, Joe Zatkoff, and Tim Raben each had two.  Also scoring goals were John MacDonald, Jared Halonen, and Tyler Roehm, who each had one.  Tim Raben led the team in assists with four, and Matt Gauss led the team in kick outs drawn with nine.  In net John MacDonald saved 15 of 23 shots, yielding a 65% save percentage.  Brad Hoff saved 11 of 24 shots, with a save percentage of 46%. 

Midwest open
July 29, 2007

A new addition to our team, Justin Thoresen, is organizing a team for a master's tournament in Chicago called the Midwest Open.

He needs some more players. The entry fee is nominal and negotiable: definitely no more than $45. Transportation from Ann Arbor will also be provided. The tourney is August 3-5th, and the team will be leaving Friday, August 3rd around noon.

2007 Uniform Orders
July 20, 2007

This year we will be purchasing a set of 35 warm-up jackets for the team.  These jackets will be owned by the team, and give us a refreshingly sharp look at tournaments.  The jackets will be exactly the same as the ones ordered last year.  They will be navy blue with a yellow and white stripe down the side and horizontally across the back.  A yellow block 'M' will be on the chest with the words 'Water Polo' embroidered beneath.  

If you are a current player, fan, or alumni that would like your own personal jacket, you can place your order today by following the instructions below.  We must receive all orders and payments by August 1st, so we can ensure that we will have our warm-ups for the first tourney of the season. 

To receive the fan price of $100 please follow the link to the team's store.

To receive the alumni price of $75 you must do the following:
            1) You must be registered on the team's booster list
            2) Email Tyler Roehm for special instructions on how to order

To receive the current player price of $60 you must:
            1) You must be a member of the 2007 Water Polo team
            3) Email Joe Zatkoff for special instructions on how to order

Congratulations Michigan State
November 27, 2006

 Congratulations to Michigan State for winning the 2006 Men's Collegiate Club Championships and defeating Grand Valley State in what was a great game for both teams. Please go to http://www.collegiatewaterpolo.org for details on the entire tournament and join me in congratulating MSU on their victory against a tough field. The Big Ten Conference has now won more NCCC Championships than any other Collegiate Club Conference. MSU winning Nationals means that the second place team from our conference (Big Ten) gets a seed at Nationals next year.

Water Polo Wants Big Ten and You
September 25, 2006

By Michael Eisenstein, for the Daily   

Locker room chatter is solely about it.

A coach's countdown leads up to it.

National club championship hopes rely on it.

For the Michigan Men's club water polo team, winning a Big Ten championship is the only way the Wolverines can enter the National Club championships - the team's benchmark for success in recent years.

In club water polo, only the winners of conference tournaments are invited to the nationals, making it imperative to win the conference championship.

Intensifying the race to the nationals is Michigan's loss last season in the Big Ten Championship game to Michigan State - preventing the Wolverines from winning a Big Ten title for the third year in a row.

With last year's season-ending loss leaving a bitter taste in its mouth, Michigan cannot think about anything besides returning to the National Club Championships. And that requires a return trip to the conference title game.

It's a reachable goal considering the success the water polo team has had recently. Michigan has won three National Club Championships, six Big Ten Championships and has four second-place finishes in the Big Ten in the past 15 years.

Led by co-captains and Big Ten first team members John Thomas and Dan Kurdys, new coaches Drew Hansz and Bob Sala have the team hitting its stride two tournaments into the season.

The first tournament for the Wolverines took place two weeks ago in East Lansing, where Michigan State hosted the Spartan Invitational.

"Everyone was a little rusty because it was our first tournament and the coaches were just starting to get a feel (for the team)," Zatkoff said of the team's 2-2 performance.

But the Wolverine Invitational, held last week, was a much different story.

Zatkoff said he felt strongly that the team performed much closer to its potential in the most recent tournament. Zatkoff also said the performance was even more impressive because of the tough week of practice preceding the Wolverine Invitational, resulting in the team playing tired. Returning starter junior John MacDonald was enthusiastic in reaction to the better overall showing by the Wolverines.

But Michigan's loses to No. 1 Michigan State and No. 2 Grand Valley State show that the team must play even better in order to make the National Club Championships. For now, the Wolverines have fixed their focus on beating their main rival, Michigan State, whom they will likely face in the Big Ten Championships, and there are still three more tournaments for the 12th-ranked Wolverines to continue improving.

Looking to the future, the team also has good prospects for the years to come. Freshmen Paul Reynold, Ben Cousineau and Matt Rowlend are the future and have already begun to contribute this year.

This cycle of good talent coming into the program is not out of the norm for water polo. According to Zatkoff, most people on the "A" team have about eight to ten years experience. But if people without experience want to get involved in water polo, a "B" team also exists. It consists mostly of people with only swimming experience, often because their high school did not have a water polo team. Zatkoff said the easiest way to get involved is to check out the team's website and fill out a recruitment form.

But for right now, with 53 days until the Big Ten tournament, Michigan only has a conference championship on its mind.

Wolverine Invitational
September 19, 2006

    This weekend concluded our second official week of the season. Our first tournament, which took place in East Lansing, provided a chance for all of us to work out a few of those summer time kinks as well as gain a little game experience. Our new coaches switched up the line ups and moved everyone around to ensure the entire team saw some playing time. With great effort exhibited by everyone we had a good showing at the Spartan Classic.

    The team had an impressive performance this weekend at our very own Wolverine Invitational. Although the A team started off a little rusty with a sloppy victory over Illinois we stepped up and played well in our victory over Ohio. Saturday night concluded with a night match against MSU. MSU got off to an early lead in the game with a few fast breaks. The later part of the game was much closer than the score led to believe with excellent plays by our young team. Our only game Sunday found us in a match-up with GVSU. We threw up a good fight but even with stellar performances from Jon Thomas and Paul Reynolds we were unable to defeat the Lakers.

    When asked about the team's performance coach Bob Sala had this to say: 'I've been very impressed with the work I've seen thus far and hope to see the intensity only increase as the season continues.' These past two weeks have shown us little blurbs of greatness and we all feel confident this will be another successful season.

Wolverines Start The Season Strong
September 10, 2006

    The Michigan Men's Water Polo team had an impressive showing this weekend at the Spartan Classic. With many new and young members, the team was able to field both an A and a B team. Some new members, like Artun Kirkali and Bob Schnittman, experienced their very first water polo tournament and learned a great deal. On a whole, the weekend was a great learning experience for everyone. Having had only three regular season practices, the tournament gave the new coaches an opportunity to see everyone play, and gave the team an opportunity to shake out the off-season cob-webs.

    The A-team started the tournament with a victory against Michigan State B. Soon after, they matched up against the Boilermakers of Purdue. Michigan controlled the game until the third quarter, when Purdue gained ground on the Wolverines and tied the score. For the sake of time, OT was forfeit and the tie game was decided in a shoot out. Unfortunately, the Boilermakers came out on top. Later on that day, the wolverines played United in the outdoor pool. Both teams had to endure the cold and rain that engulfed East Lansing Saturday afternoon. After a long struggle, United narrowly escaped with a win over the Wolverines. Despite the two losses, the A-team managed to stay focused for their Sunday morning game. With standout defensive performances across the board, it was no surprise that Michigan beat the Hoosiers 15-7. Overall the A-team managed to place 7th.

    Coach Drew Hansz was excited by the level of play demonstrated this weekend. He plans, having reviewed game footage, to emphasize shooting more in practice: 'Twenty-five pushups for every shot not on cage should be enough incentive!

water polo looks to repeat
october 4, 2005

By Eileen Hengel, For the Daily

Repeating is never easy, especially when you're coming off a Big Ten Championship and a third-place national finish.

But that's the goal of the Michigan men's club water polo team, and, if early results are any indication, it is well on its way to accomplishing it.

Starting the season strong with a 6-2 record, the team heads into the Hoosier Invite at Bloomington and Big Ten Championship in East Lansing in search of a repeat.

Losing much of their starting team from last season, the Wolverines rely heavily on not only the performance of the few returning players but also the play of a select group of freshmen.

Bringing substantial speed to the team, freshman Matt Burke easily found a starting position on the A team this season. Nevertheless, returning members, such as fifth-year senior Ryan Wyatt, senior John Thomas and junior Dan Krudys remain the reason for Michigan success through the beginning of the season.

"(Wyatt) has been playing with the team for almost 10 years. He brings a level of experience and skill that is hard to achieve without the time and effort he puts into his game," assistant coach Dan Perout said.

The season began before class started with two practices daily. In its first outing at the Spartan Invitational on Sept. 10-12, Michigan played against the Michigan Masters, a team consisting of graduated students throughout Michigan. Michigan narrowly escaped with a 13-12 victory.

"Our first tournament was difficult because we were just coming together as a team, and a lot of the success involved in water polo comes from anticipating the cuts and moves of your teammates," Perout said.

Michigan faced Michigan State twice throughout the year, first at the Michigan State Invitational, losing 2-10, and second at the Boilermaker Invitational Sept. 16-18, falling 4-5.

"In the first game (Michigan State) basically out swam us," Perout said. "In the second game, I really think that we played the best we could have possibly played but sometimes the ball just doesn't fall your way."

As the season progressed, the team started coming together while still learning from its losses.

"The losses to Michigan State were difficult because they are our biggest rival," junior Glenn Legacki said. "But I think we learned a lot from the game, and we're probably going to have to face them again at Big Tens.

Though the losses proved hard on the team, it experienced significant victories over Illinois, 8-6, Miami (Ohio), 16-11, and Purdue, 12-10.

"With each tournament, I believe, we become more and more of a team," Perout said.

Men's Water polo swims under the radar
february 8 , 2005

By Billy Heisler, For the Daily

The Michigan men's water polo team often fades behind the hype and marketing of the University's major sports. Yet this group of poised individuals has tales of camaraderie, commitment and accomplishment that equal those that are constantly in the spotlight.

In late August of 2003, a group of players assembled, immediately forming a balanced, focused and cohesive unit. All but the incoming freshman experienced a bitter end to their previous season. The Wolverines were denied a spot in the National Championship by Michigan State, losing by one goal in the qualifying round. But the team had every reason to be confident about its chances of taking home a national title. With their final season approaching, senior star goalie Jeff Bronson and coach Vaughn Cooper wanted to leave it all in the pool, harboring no regrets. The rest of the team shared this vision, practicing hard and playing each game as if it were its last.

After finishing the regular season with a strong 18-4 record, the polo players ferociously awaited a possible rematch with the Spartans in the qualifying tournament, the Big Ten Championship. This tournament included nine of the eleven Big Ten schools, each team jockeying for the single open spot in the National Championship tournament in Texas. As fate would have it, Michigan State was the only team that stood in Michigan's way of a trip to Texas.

But this time, the Wolverines reigned supreme.

Michigan arrived at Nationals with a high level of confidence.

'We knew we were going to take it the second we got there,' senior Patrick Emaus said.

Michigan defeated Dartmouth, Georgia Tech and Yale in the first three rounds, blowing each of them out of the water. When the finals came rolling around, the polo players went on a tear, sinking California Polytechnic University and claiming the National Championship as their own.

In 2004, the Wolverines ' with extra efforts from new coach Alex Zimmer and core seniors and captains Brad Gregorka, Rob Palmerlee and Ryan Wyatt ' had another outstanding season, finishing third in the nation at Notre Dame.

Despite the loss of many star players due to graduation, Michigan believes that its tradition of excellence and sportsmanship will prevail. This past season's departing stars have stepped up to take on the formidable challenge. Sophomore Dan Kurdys will serve as the team's president and co-captain.

'My goals for this coming season are to focus more on professionalism and organization, to uphold the competitive standards set by the seniors and to maintain a good combination of academic and playing ability,' Kurdys said.

He also hopes to reach out to the community by volunteering at local high schools to teach the sport to the younger players, something that the team has done over the past few off-seasons.

Champions! water polo takes national title
november 11, 2003

By Gabriela D'Jaen, Daily Sports Writer

The men of Michigan's club water polo team left for the National Collegiate Club Championships on Nov. 6 with a clear goal for its four-day trip: To put up a fight for the national title while showcasing the abilities of all players on the team.

After a 14-3 victory over Dartmouth and a 13-4 win over Georgia Tech, the Wolverines faced the No. 1 team in the nation, Cal-Poly State. Michigan started out with force and was leading 3-0, but Cal-Poly State rallied back to 4-4. With 38 seconds left on the clock, Michigan freshman John Thomas shot the game-winning goal.

'There is a reason we call him John T. Money,' coach Vaughn Cooper said. 'He hits big shots.'

Cooper expressed feelings of immense satisfaction with the performance of the entire team, especially the seniors.

Junior defender Brad Gregorka was named the Most Valuable Player of the tournament, showing his versatility by scoring four goals against Georgia Tech and three out of the five goals against Cal-Poly. Junior Ryan Wyatt and goalie Jeff Bronson were also named All-Tournament First Team.

'From day one, we emphasized the importance of team, I'm glad the bounces went our way,' Cooper said.

The road to winning a national title is always demanding, but one individual on the team surpassed all expectations. Six months ago, Rob Palmerlee was strapped to a backboard in the hospital, staring at the ceiling for 10 hours.

He was told he had broken his neck and was going to have to spend three months in a halo, eliminating any possibility of playing water polo for a year.

'I was racing my girlfriend through an inflatable obstacle course, and felt a snap in my neck, but I finished the race anyways,' Palmerlee said.

Palmerlee went through intensive physical therapy. Showing diligence and determination, he was practicing with the team by early October.

On Oct. 26, Michigan played against Michigan State for the Big Ten Championship. In double-over time, sudden death, Michigan received a penalty shot off of a technical foul, and Palmerlee was told to take the shot.

'They tossed me the ball, and I looked at the ball and then at the cage, the whistle blew and I shot it cross cage,' Palmerlee said. 'I heard the crowd go crazy and soon my whole team was in the water, I can't describe the feeling, it was just incredible.'

Michigan beat the Spartans, 4-3, and held them scoreless for the last 21 minutes of the game thanks to goalie Jeff Bronson blocking 18 shots.

Palmerlee reflected on his aspirations before heading to Nationals.

'We'd like to show the nation what Michigan water polo is all about. We are the blue-collar work horses,' Palmerlee said at the time. 'We don't have studs, we're just guys that want to have fun.'

The Wolverines' season has been one of teamwork and dedication. The team spends at least three hours in the pool every day, and travels to tournaments across the country on weekends.

'Our season is pretty short, but it's still a major time commitment,' goalie Jeff Bronson said. 'We've had two off weekends since we've gotten to school, but the experience is very rewarding.'

The hard work has paid off, and the success of this team can be attributed not only to the time spent, but also to the surplus of talent on the team.

'In past years, if you looked at the goals scored column you've seen a couple guys who had most of the goals and a couple others trickling here and there,' senior co-captain David Arscott said. 'This season we have eight 20-goal scorers, a pretty significant number of people.'

The team is stacked with depth, rotating players through the six field spots to keep everyone fresh.

'We have a substantial number of subs,' co-captain Dean Malmgren said. 'Just to compare it to other teams, some will only have one sub. That extra depth gives us a large advantage.'

Malmgren, who arrived at the University four years ago as a golfer and swimmer, had never played water polo. His accomplishments show that you can become a big-time water polo player inside of four years.

The club water polo program has existed at the university since 1968. Since the Big Ten water polo conference was created in 1989, Michigan has won seven conference titles, including two national titles.

michigan club polo has one elusive goal
september 9, 2003

By Jamie Josephson, For the Daily

Splashing into its fall campaign with the return of experienced veterans and the addition of fresh talent, the Michigan men's water polo club is no longer settling for second best.

The past three years have been marked by heartbreaking losses in the finals of the Big Ten Championships. And each season, the difference has been a single goal. Molding a comfortable home at the runner-up position, Michigan polo came up short against the Spartans twice and Purdue once.

"We've been working harder every year, and right now, we are in the best shape we've ever been in," said president and captain Dean Malmgren, who is looking to take that extra step this season.

Kicking off its crusade at the Michigan State tournament this past weekend, the team's impressive first-place performance set the tone for its championship campaign. Taking home the bacon against Purdue in the finals (9-5), the squad also destroyed MSU B (16-8), Illinois (18-4), and Indiana (14-6) along the way.

Malmgren says the squad's strategies to achieve first place glory included staying consistently motivated for every tournament. Drowning its opponents in a 2-2 split last year at the Claremont Convergence Tournament against four Division III Varsity teams, the club is looking forward to returning to Southern California Oct. 9-14 to prove its championship potential.

Entering the season with all but one player returning, the team's cohesion will be one of its strengths.

"We are here because we want to be; we simply love this sport," senior holeset Rich Magner said.

Malmgren insists that digging for the extra edge in the close games is the main focus. The nail-biters will no longer be about physical ability, but rather mental endurance.

As one of the smallest squads physically in the Big Ten, Malmgren insures that what the team lacks in size, it will make up for in speed and skill. Looking to a talented incoming freshman class as a welcoming addition, the team president regarded these new assets with high expectations.

"We freshmen look to make any kind of impact we can from the bench," freshman addition Jon Thomas said.

According to Malmgren, the raw enthusiasm and encouragement from these newcomers can push the team that much further.

Vice president Larry Kennedy explained that the squad's "club" status provides another means to achieving its first-place goal. Club athletes' egos are in check and their label causes them to work that much harder to earn respect. Sponsoring fundraising events from can drives to selling t-shirts offer humbling experiences for the athletes.

Though Big Ten glory and national recognition would be undeniable achievements for the club, Magner acknowledged that having more than half the team attend pre season was a true victory in the sense of athletic commitment.

"Polo may not be our whole life, but it is a close second," Magner said.