Nettekoven, Weigle, Weldon Earn Postseason SCIAC Honors for CMS Men's Water Polo

CLAREMONT, Calif. - Aidan Nettekoven was named the SCIAC Men's Water Polo Defensive Player of the Year, Luke (Bear) Weigle earned the Newcomer of the Year, and Ben Weldon captured the league's Character Award, the league office announced today.

Nettekoven and Weigle also both earned spots on the All-SCIAC first team, while Cristian Pang and Thomas Walker were selected to the second team. 

Nettekoven had a strong season in goal for the Stags, recording 174 saves in 23 contests. In conference games, he had impressive .584 save percentage, with 90 saves and only 64 goals allowed. He had several huge efforts for CMS in close conference wins, including 19 saves in an 11-10 road win over Redlands, 17 saves in an 11-9 win over La Verne, and 16 saves in a 10-6 win over Cal Lutheran. He becomes the second straight CMS goalie to win the award, after Noah Smith captured it a year ago. 

Weigle led CMS in goals this season with 58 from his center position, including 25 in conference games. His prowess at the center position would commonly draw multiple defenders and open up scoring chances for the rest of the team. he also drew 40 exclusions (second-highest on the team was 14) and had 18 steals, while adding the game-winning goal in the closing seconds of an 11-10 win over Air Force. 

Weldon has contributed 14 goals in an injury-plagued senior season that has seen him and out of the lineup, but still providing leadership to the Stags as one of the team's four seniors. He will graduate this spring from Claremont McKenna with a degree in biochemistry. 

Walker and Pang finished 1-2 on the Stags in points during the regular season in a close three-way battle with Weigle. Walker ended with 46 goals and 18 assists for 64 points, with Pang tallying 36 goals and a team-high 25 assists for 61 points. Weigle is one point behind with 60 points, as the three will be in close contention for the team scoring lead throughout the postseason. 

CMS begins postseason play tonight, when it takes on Redlands in a SCIAC Opening Round game at Axelrood Pool, beginning at 7 p.m.