3 UCI Players Earn All-America Recognition

Jan. 29, 2010

IRVINE, Calif. --- Three UC Irvine men's water polo players have earned 2009 All-America honors by the Association of Collegiate Water Polo Coaches.

Junior driver Brandon Johnson was named to the All-America second team after scoring 49 goals this season.

Senior Tom Kruip was selected to the third team after leading UCI with 50 goals while senior Cole Bielskis (48 goals) was named to the honorable mention team.

Fifth-year head coach Marc Hunt was earlier named Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Coach of the Year, the second time in the last three years that he has received the award.

Hunt led UCI to a final national ranking of fifth, the program's highest of the season. The `Eaters were 17-12 overall and finished fifth in the MPSF Tournament with a 2-1 mark. UCI lost by just one goal (6-5) to eventual tournament finalist and third-ranked California in the quarterfinals before defeating UC Santa Barbara (12-9) and Pepperdine (14-8) to claim fifth place.

Brandon Johnson was named to the All-MPSF second team while Tom Kruip and Bielskis were honorable mention.

Ten UCI players earned MPSF All-Academic distinction: Kyle Baxter, Greg Enloe, Sam Figueroa, James Frank, Derrik Jarvis, Griffin Lerman, Harvey Newland, Kelly Noecker, Nick Pfeil and Brian Pickford.