Air Force Water Polo Announces 2005 Team Awards
3/14/2006 12:00:00 AM | Water Polo
USAFA, Colo. - Air Force head water polo coach Jeff Ehrlich is proud to announce the recipients of the 2005 team awards, as given out during the team's annual awards banquet last Saturday.
Heading up this year's award winners is junior Kyle Schafer (Irvine, Calif.), named the 2005 Air Force water polo MVP. Schafer, who won 93 of 113 sprints for the Falcons this season, scored 25 goals and 18 assists on the year and was named a second-team All-WWPA selection for his performance. In addition, Schafer was named to the AWPCA All-Academic Team for the third-straight season, along with teammate Danny Kimmich (Jr., San Diego, Calif.).
The Falcons' captains' awards were given to Jeff Donaldson (Sr., Riverside, Calif.), Peter Larsen (Sr., Colorado Springs, Colo.) and Zach Carey (Sr., Houston, Texas). Donaldson served as the Falcons' Academy-recognized captain, while Larsen and Carey served as the warm-up and weightlifting captains, respectively.
Newcomer Tyler Hewko (Laguna Hills, Calif.) was named Air Force's rookie of the year after tallying 11 goals and a team-best 20 assists in his freshman campaign. Meanwhile, junior Matt LeBlanc (Los Angeles, Calif.) was named most improved, finishing the season with 10 goals and six assists.
The award for offensive player of the year was shared by sophomores Clark Condict (Irvine, Calif.) and Justin Berry (Windermere, Fla.). Condict was the team's top scorer this season, notching 40 goals and 18 assists, while Berry added 33 goals and six assists. Sharing top defensive player honors were Donaldson and goalkeeper Denver Saunders (Jr., Roseville, Calif.). Donaldson was the Falcons' top 2-meter defender all season, while Saunders notched 179 saves in the net in his first season as Air Force's starting goalkeeper.
The final three awards handed out at the Falcons' annual banquet included nods for the Hardest Worker, Most Inspirational and the inaugural Derek Argel Memorial Award. Sophomore Chris Pace (Santa Ynez, Calif.) was chosen as the recipient of the Hardest Worker award, Blake Pickell (Jr., Santa Ana, Calif.) was named Most Inspirational, and Larsen was given the Derek Argel Memorial Award, named for the former Air Force water polo player who was involved in a fatal aircraft crash in Iraq last May. The Derek Argel Memorial Award will be awarded annually to the player who demonstrates perseverance and an incredible work ethic, those attributes which most exemplify the character of Argel.
Air Force is slated to go on its annual spring training trip at Navy next month, April 21-23.
Heading up this year's award winners is junior Kyle Schafer (Irvine, Calif.), named the 2005 Air Force water polo MVP. Schafer, who won 93 of 113 sprints for the Falcons this season, scored 25 goals and 18 assists on the year and was named a second-team All-WWPA selection for his performance. In addition, Schafer was named to the AWPCA All-Academic Team for the third-straight season, along with teammate Danny Kimmich (Jr., San Diego, Calif.).
The Falcons' captains' awards were given to Jeff Donaldson (Sr., Riverside, Calif.), Peter Larsen (Sr., Colorado Springs, Colo.) and Zach Carey (Sr., Houston, Texas). Donaldson served as the Falcons' Academy-recognized captain, while Larsen and Carey served as the warm-up and weightlifting captains, respectively.
Newcomer Tyler Hewko (Laguna Hills, Calif.) was named Air Force's rookie of the year after tallying 11 goals and a team-best 20 assists in his freshman campaign. Meanwhile, junior Matt LeBlanc (Los Angeles, Calif.) was named most improved, finishing the season with 10 goals and six assists.
The award for offensive player of the year was shared by sophomores Clark Condict (Irvine, Calif.) and Justin Berry (Windermere, Fla.). Condict was the team's top scorer this season, notching 40 goals and 18 assists, while Berry added 33 goals and six assists. Sharing top defensive player honors were Donaldson and goalkeeper Denver Saunders (Jr., Roseville, Calif.). Donaldson was the Falcons' top 2-meter defender all season, while Saunders notched 179 saves in the net in his first season as Air Force's starting goalkeeper.
The final three awards handed out at the Falcons' annual banquet included nods for the Hardest Worker, Most Inspirational and the inaugural Derek Argel Memorial Award. Sophomore Chris Pace (Santa Ynez, Calif.) was chosen as the recipient of the Hardest Worker award, Blake Pickell (Jr., Santa Ana, Calif.) was named Most Inspirational, and Larsen was given the Derek Argel Memorial Award, named for the former Air Force water polo player who was involved in a fatal aircraft crash in Iraq last May. The Derek Argel Memorial Award will be awarded annually to the player who demonstrates perseverance and an incredible work ethic, those attributes which most exemplify the character of Argel.
Air Force is slated to go on its annual spring training trip at Navy next month, April 21-23.
Ryan Brown Interview Sept 9, 2025
Tuesday, September 09
Macey Donathan Interview Sept 9, 2025
Tuesday, September 09
Laura Busby Interview Sept 9, 2025
Tuesday, September 09
Football Press Conference - September 9th, 2025
Tuesday, September 09
