2006 Season Preview

Over the last seven years under the direction of head coach Jeff Ehrlich, the Air Force water polo team has compiled a 101-97 record and has been ranked in the nation's Top 20 in six of the last seven seasons, with the highest ranking of 13th. The Falcons finished 2005 with a 12-15 record, with seven of the losses by two or fewer goals including a 4-2 loss to 10th-ranked UC Davis in the WWPA Tournament. Another tough contest was a 7-6 loss to Eastern Champion St. Francis, which defeated Navy by a single goal in their championship game.
Air Force qualified for the Western Water Polo Association Championship and started the tournament matching up with UC Davis, a team that had beaten Air Force 10-3 just three weeks earlier. With the Aggies leading 2-1 at the half, UC Davis came up on top with the 4-2 victory. In the extra-man category, the Falcons were 0 for 5 while Davis was 1 for 4. Shooting 10% (2 for 22) did not help the Falcons' cause but credit the Aggie goalie with 15 saves. Senior captain Jeff Donaldson and freshman Joey Brewer were the only two Air Force players to score in the game. Denver Saunders was the Falcons' Player of the Game with 11 saves and 2 steals. In the second game of the tournament, Air Force matched up with UC Santa Cruz, a team the Falcons had beat twice during the season. This game was close throughout, with lead changes back and forth. Both teams took 18 shots and once again Air Force was 0 for 3 on the man-up situation. With two seconds remaining and the score tied at 6-6, UC Santa Cruz tipped in a half-court shot on the buzzer to win the game. It was a heartbreaking loss and cost Air Force from finishing the season ranked in the Top 20 for the 21st year in a row. The Falcons ended the season with a 11-10 overtime win over Pomona College, with seven Falcons getting on the scoreboard. Another positive to the season-ending win was scoring 4 of 6 on the extra man situation, while shooting 34% (11 of 32).
"We were able to take 21 players on at least one trip last year and gave our JV squad several games against some excellent club teams," said Ehrlich. "Of the 21 players who had a chance to travel in 2005, the Falcons lose just four players, one of whom started."
"Our 2006 edition of Air Force water polo should be a much improved team over the 2005 season and our goal will be to finish in the top 10 by the end of the season," continued Ehrlich. "We will have a chance to potentially play 15 teams ranked in the top 10 from last year. This team will need to improve in the extra-man category, bring their shooting percentage up to 40% and play consistent water polo each and every game."
Air Force will look to senior captains Danny Kimmich and Blake Pickell for leadership in and out of the water. Kimmich was a starter last year while Pickell came off the bench to provide that extra spark. Other seniors to contribute to the team leadership will be last year's Most Valuable Player, Kyle Schafer, who tallied 25 goals, 18 assists, 25 steals along with winning 93 sprints. Saunders, who had 186 saves and 38 steals in 2005 should anchor the defense while back-up goalie Chris Nitzel is back after taking a year off. Weightlifting captain Matt LeBlanc was another player to come off the bench and make things happen. LeBlanc had 11 goals on the season and drew eight ejections against his opponents.
The junior class consists of four players who were a big part of the 2005 team. The top scorer, with 40 goals and 18 assists, Clark Condict, will be one of the go-to players this year. Condict was second on the team in steals (37.5) and drawn ejections (32) and first on the team in prevent scores (10). The Falcons' second leading scorer, Justin Berry, had 33 goals on the season and led the team with drawn ejections (41) and steals (41). Berry will be the primary two-meter man and should be another go-to player when the Falcons need a goal.
Damon Jones from Kaneohe, Hawaii, was first to come off the bench and plays very good two-meter defense. The last junior is Chris Pace, probably the hardest worker on the team. Pace owns several Falcon Club records and is hoping after graduation to join the Air Force's combat control unit. The coaching staff hopes that his work ethic will spread to the entire team.
The sophomore class includes two players, Tyler Hewko and Joey Brewer, who were in the 11-man rotation last season. Rookie of the Year Hewko was the most consistent player of the year with the highest stat total. He had 12 goals, led the team in assists with 20 and had 20 drawn ejections and 37 steals. Hewko plays great defense and is a coach's dream with regard to attitude and loyalty. Brewer came to Air Force with the best credentials, as a first-team high school All-American, and has one of the best shots on the team. Brewer had 12 goals and nine assists on the season and started throughout the spring season. Brewer is always looking for ways to get better and help his teammates get better. Kevin Williams, a lefty who earned a varsity letter last year, will really help at the two meter position with his 6'2", 220 lb. frame. Williams was one of the top players out of Chicago and has a great future with Air Force. Other sophomores who will contribute this season are goalie Eric Gobrecht, Miles McMullan and Kevin McDonald. McMullan and McDonald both traveled to Navy this spring and hope to move up to the traveling squad.
The freshman class will be eight strong and could have several players not only make the traveling squad, but also break into the top-11. Alex Churnside, from Villa Park, Calif., was a high school All-American and the top scorer on the Villa Park High School team. Churnside is a very intense and physical player who will make an immediate impact on the 2006 team.Jason Fung, from Honolulu, Hawaii, attended the Prep School last year and was also a high school All-American. Fung is an excellent two-meter guard but can also take some sets and has good speed. Fung will get a chance to travel and could be in the top-11 by the end of the season. Another high school All-American and CIF Player of the Year, Jack Hines will add some good size to the two-meter defense. Hines is from Riverside Poly and is 6' 2", 205 lbs. with good speed (1:50.0 in the 200 freestyle). Another freshman who could shake things up is goalie David Ostrom from Mission Viejo, Calif. Ostrom was South Coast Player of the Year and Orange County Register Player of the Week. Ostrom was also a pitcher on the Mission Viejo High School team, which makes him an excellent counter-attack passer. The coaches are hoping Ostrom will step up and get a chance to travel this year.
Other excellent players from their respective areas are Ben Cumnock-Francois from San Antonio, Texas, a team captain and all-state selection. Cumnock-Francois also swims a 1:57 in the 200 individual medley. Tim Martin, also from San Antonio, Texas, was team captain and a first-team all-region selection. Martin plays two-meter offense and could be a surprise to this year's team. Jordan Rozsa, a driver from Los Altos High School in Hacienda Heights, Calif., was an all-league and All-CIF selection. Finally is Andrew VanTimmeren from Jenison, Michigan. Van Timmeren has good speed and was an all-state selection. Each of these freshmen has recently finished an intense five and a half week basic training course to get them ready for a military academy. While their counterparts were enjoying the summer and playing water polo, these freshmen were getting beat down with mental and physical challenges.
On the coaching side, Capt. Craig Thomas will be leaving for a three-year tour in Guam with his wife, Lara, and expected newborn. Coach Thomas was a favorite with the team and will be missed greatly. He spent much time working with the goalies and is still one of the top goalies in Air Force history. To replace Thomas, Ehrlich is pleased to announce the hiring of Scott Smith from San Diego, California. Smith has been involved in coaching water polo and swimming for over 25 years at all levels. Smith guided the women's program at Pomona-Pitzer to the NCAA Division III National Collegiate title in 2005. Smith, who holds a bachelor's degree in physical education from Fresno State and a master's degree in education from Azusa Pacific, was a scholarship water polo player and swimmer for NCAA Division I Fresno State University, placing as high as sixth in the nation. Smith still plays at the master's level and will be getting in the water with the Falcons' two -meter men. On the volunteer coaching side, Jeff Heidmous, who put Air Force water polo on the map, will be helping with individual fundamentals and is still on staff as vice-assistant to the physical education department.
With respect to facilities, the Air Force water polo pool was refurbished for the 2003 season and includes the following additions: a new filtration system, a new gutter system level with the pool water and deck; a toe ledge 360 degrees around the pool for easy exit; a new deck and pool tiles for brighter color; eight lane-markers and an AF logo at the bottom of the pool; bulkheads removed to give the team the full 20x40 yard water surface, all seven-feet deep; stadium-quality fold-down seating; two refrigerated drinking fountains; pull-up and bar-dip bars for landwork; 18 speakers mounted throughout the ceiling tiles; upgraded white lighting to double the brightness; and a new ventilation system that controls air temperature and humidity. Logos will be placed on the west wall, along with a banner for each of the 15 teams in the Western Water Polo Association on the north wall. "This will be a great venue for future competitions and camps," said Ehrlich.
"The 2006 schedule will be the best and toughest to ever be assembled at the Academy." said Ehrlich. The Falcons' slate starts with a tournament at UC San Diego before the team returns home to host three tournaments, the most in Air Force history. The Falcons will host Navy and NCAA runner-up Stanford Sept. 9-10 in their first annual honor award competition, before hosting the East Meets West Tournament with Brown, MIT, La Verne and Cal Baptist the next weekend. Air Force will then host WWPA opponent UC Davis and 10-time NCAA champion California, while the "B" team will also get several games in with these opponents.
After hosting three weekend tournaments, the Falcons will travel to USC to compete against the top 12 teams in the nation. At the end of October, Air Force will travel to UC Davis for the Aggie Shootout and play UC San Diego, UC Davis, Santa Clara and Long Beach State, coached by one of Ehrlich's former players, two-time Olympian, Gavin Arroyo. One week later, Air Force will travel to Loyola Marymount and Claremont to play four WWPA games vs. LMU, Redlands, Claremont and Chapman. The Falcons end the season at the WWPA Tournament, hosted by Pomona-Pitzer College Nov. 17-19. "Our parent, relative, and friend support will once again be our eighth player and will be a big factor in our team success," commented Ehrlich. "Our goal is to play in the championship game at the end of the season and have a shot at qualifying for the NCAA berth. Our man-up, shooting percentage, health, team chemistry, and work ethic will lead the 2006 team to this goal."

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