CMC75 Moments: 1968 Men's Water Polo Edges Redlands to Clinch First SCIAC Title

As part of the buildup to the 75th Anniversary celebration for Claremont McKenna College (visit CMC's 75th Anniversary Countdown Page to learn more), we are reliving many of the great moments from CMS athletic department history over the 75-day countdown from April 17 to July 1. If you were a part of this great moment and would like to add to the memories, or if you would like to submit your memories of your own favorite CMS Athletics moment, fill out the form on our main 75th Anniversary page.

Great Moments in 75 Years of Athletics
1968 Men's Water Polo: Stags 8, Redlands 6

The Claremont-Mudd men's water polo team earned a pair of second-place finishes in the SCIAC in 1966 and 1967, but headed into 1968 hoping to bring home the program's first league title. A one-goal loss at Redlands was the only league blemish in the first half of the schedule, and a 10-5 win over Pomona-Pitzer in the second-to-last game gave the Stags a chance to clinch, but they would need a win over Redlands, this time at home, in order to do it.

Redlands put up a good fight again, but the Stags came out on top in the rematch, taking an 8-6 win to secure the first trophy for the water polo program and begin a stretch of five straight seasons in which they won or shared the SCIAC crown. Robin Durnin and Steve Markowitz led the way with three goals apiece to help secure the first-place finish. Durnin and Karl Graeber were first-team All-SCIAC and All-District honorees, while Rick James and Cliff Rediger were named to the second team.

Karl Graeber:

In the mid 1960's the Claremont-Mudd men's water polo team lagged behind the rest of the SCIAC schools despite bring on top of the conference in swimming. Two problems plagued the Stags: few players competed for all four years, and very few ever played before they came to CMS. Starting in 1966, Robin Durnin became our first experienced recruit, and we earned a pair of second-place finishes in the SCIAC in 1966 and 1967. Of the four honorees on the 1968 championship team, three never competed before becoming Stags, but all stayed with the program four years and loved the game.  It didn't hurt that three of the four were also All-Americans in swimming!

1968 Men's Water Polo Roster
Head Coach: Dez Farnady
Brock Bernstein (Manager, CMC)
John Golgren (Manager, CMC)
Tom Arai (CMC)
Randy Boelsems (CMC)
Jeff Bryson (CMC)
Joe Busch (CMC)
Al Cornwell (CMC)
Peter Cowden (CMC)
Robin Durnin (CMC)
Gene Goltz (HMC)
Peter Good (CMC)
Karl Graeber (CMC)
Jim Hager (HMC)
Ken Hardie (CMC)
Will Hitchcock (CMC)
Greg Hubbard (CMC)
Rick James (CMC)
Jon Johnson (HMC)
Eric Jones (CMC)
Jim Lambert (CMC)
Bob Leach (CMC)
Mason Lee (CMC)
Dave Markovitz (CMC)
Cliff Rediger (CMC)
Bill Smith (CMC)
David Tempkin (CMC)
David Watumull (CMC)