CMC75 Moments: 1987 Men's Water Polo Wins WWPA Title in Sudden Death

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 moments, fill out the form on our main 75th Anniversary page.

Great Moments from 75 Years of Athletics
1987 Men's Water Polo takes Third WWPA Title in Four Years

In 1987, the CMS men's water polo team was right in the middle of a dominant run of 11 straight SCIAC Championships, going 110-0 in that span, but the Stags had extended their reign of success beyond just the conference. The Stags also won the 1984 and 1986 Western Water Polo Association Championships, and were looking to make it three in four seasons. Rivals CMS and UC San Diego remained deadlocked through regulation of the championship match tied 7-7, and then through the first overtime session tied 8-8, sending the finals into sudden death. 

The Stags came through in the clutch, as Todd McKenzie found the net from in close off a pass from Rick Bregman for the championship winner, taking their third WWPA title and ending the year ranked No. 10 in the nation (all divisions). Bob Moore and Don Kuhn were named first-team All-WWPA and were joined on the All-SCIAC first team by Erik Jensen and Trip Montgomery with Derek Emge and McKenzie on the second team. McKenzie would go on to win the national title in the 100 free to lead the swimming and diving team to a second-place finish in the NCAA Championships, completing an impressive senior season in two sports that would earn him a place in the CMS Hall of Fame. 

Derek Emge:

The amazing 1987 water polo season included our march toward more than 100 consecutive SCIAC victories and culminated in a coveted top 10 ranking, a big trophy, and a crazy all-night drive back to campus. Yet, the victories and the numbers, as great as they were, barely scratch the surface of what it meant to be a Stag polo player in the '80s.  

Our team featured a player who had never lost a league game in high school or college, a single All-American, a coach who was in wonderment every time he proclaimed "It happened again, I got better looking," and an announced roster of six footers that in actuality looked like a bunch of leftovers from the local high school.  Yet, we were masterly forged into a brotherhood in and out of the pool, and there wasn't anything a single one of us wouldn't have done for our teammates. 

This brotherhood was tested by countless early morning workouts with words of encouragement echoing in our ears: "Let's Get Wet!" and "I can't believe you're not in the water yet!" It was strengthened through hours of hard work and exquisitely timed one-liners: "When you learn, you learn," "I love us," and "are you a Stag or Hen?" It was refined by spectacular performances and merciless good-natured ridicule.  We were a group with little individual ego but a ton of team ego.

We played for one another and relished in developing a habit of excellence. I can think of no better place to have learned such incredible life lessons. Every one of us, now more than three decades removed from that tremendous season, undoubtedly smiles with the memories of what it meant to be a team united; experience how the underdog can conquer; and what it means to be a Stag for life! 

1987 Men's Water Polo Roster
Head Coach: Mike Sutton
Morgan Bartz (Fr., CMC)
Rick Bregman (Sr., CMC)
Brendan Carroll (So., CMC)
Nat Coffman (Fr., CMC)
Lew Coppersmith (Sr., CMC)
Steve Daughters (Fr., CMC)
Derek Emge (Jr., CMC)
Adam Engleskirchen (So., CMC)
Pete Figura (So., CMC)
Erik Jensen (Jr., CMC)
Adam Kline (Fr., CMC)
Don Kuhn (Sr., CMC)
Dan Markert (Fr., CMC)
Todd McKenzie (Sr., CMC)
Trip Montgomery (Jr., CMC)
Bob Moore (Sr., CMC)
Tom Moore (Jr., HMC)
Brian Silver (Jr., CMC)
Ed Smith (Sr., CMC)
Mike Standlee (Fr., CMC)
Todd Thomas (Jr., CMC)