History and a Pitt vs. Penn State Rivalry

Dear Polo Fans:

The examination of a singular moment in Eastern water polo history—originally suggested by Scott Schulte and Mike Schofield—led to a deep dive (for me) about Puerto Rican involvement in NCAA men’s polo over the last four decades. This is perhaps not a new story—there have been waves of players from the island who have contributed significantly to the success of American collegiate teams—but the backstory of the Pitt program, which from 1975 – 78 was a top contender for Eastern honors, is particularly noteworthy due to Head Coach Miguel Rivera’s efforts of to engineer Panther success.

From what appeared to be a humble beginning—Bucknell’s 21-20 win over Pitt in what essentially was the Eastern final—emerged a far-more detailed story, one that reflects the many waves of Puerto Rican players coming to the mainland, specifically West Valley College in California and UMass in Massachusetts.

Really old guys at the pool
Sorry, they were not that old!

Following are the list of stories related to the central piece, which is about the November 13th, 1977 the Eastern Water Polo League (EWPL) Southern Division Championship match, where Bucknell rallied from two goals down with 18 seconds left to send the match into overtime:

The Game of a Lifetime: Bucknell 21, Pittsburgh 20, Sudden-Death Overtime in 1977 NCAA Qualifier

Scott Schulte, who played a major role in the match and ended up the NCAA all-time leading goal scorer, spoke w/Swimming World.

On The Record with Scott Schulte, Bucknell, CWPA and USA Water Polo Hall of Famer

Jorge Machicote, arguably the best player on the Pitt 1977 team, spoke with Swimming World about his journey from Puerto Rico to Pittsburgh and back.

Caps of Pitt
Pitt’s vintage caps.
Pitt Cathedral of Learning
Pitt’s Cathedral of Learning

Jorge Machicote, Puerto Rican and Pitt Water Polo Player: Not a Fighter But I Will Drown You in the Pool

Jay Fisette, the Bucknell co-captain who in 1977 scored the tying goal in regulation for Bucknell, then in 1978 coached Pitt against his former team, spoke with Total Water Polo.

Fisette Recounts Epic 1977 Bucknell-Pitt Championship Match

Miguel Rivera, the coach who built Pittsburgh into an instant winner due to an influx of talented players from Puerto Rico, spoke with Water Polo Plant.

Miguel Rivera and the Fantastic, Unbelievable and True Story of Pitt Water Polo and Puerto Rico

Willo Rodriguez, current head coach for the Puerto Rican national team, spoke with Swimming World about his past as a junior national team player and the sport’s future—both on the island and the mainland:

West Valley’s Willo Rodriguez on The Past, Present & Future of Puerto Rican Water Polo

Most importantly, Water Polo Planet has put up a message board topic about Puerto Rican water polo players in general and the 1977 game in particular. All are welcome to contribute their thoughts.

Pittsburgh Renegades Water Polo Club

Bucknell versus Pitt

There have been many folks who made time for interviews or assisted with background information on the games, the teams and the times. My thanks to them for their invaluable contribution to what has been an extremely rewarding endeavor. Following are some of the many people who helped make this project possible.

Chip Brenner; copy editor

James Smith; editor, Totalwaterpolo.com

Nikola Malezanov; publisher, Water Polo Planet; head coach, Washington & Jefferson men’s and women’s program

Jim Staresinic; publisher, Water Polo Planet; head coach, University of Pittsburgh women’s team

Craig Lord, Editor-in-Chief, Swimming World

Brent Rutemiller, Publisher, Swimming World, Executive Director, International Swimming Hall of Fame

Ed Haas; Director of Communications, Collegiate Water Polo Association

Paul Barren; former referee and high school water polo coach; CWPA Hall of Fame member

Jay Fisette; co-captain, 1977 Bucknell men’s team; head coach, 1978 Pitt Panthers

Barry Ford; member, 1977 Pitt Panther men’s team

Mark Gensheimer; member, 1977 Bucknell men’s team; CWPA Hall of Fame member

Mike Graff; head coach, Pittsburgh Renegades; board chair, USA Water Polo

Manfredo Lespier, former player, Puerto Rican national team; UC Irvine water polo

Jorge Machicote; member, Pitt Panther men’s team; former player, Puerto Rican national team

Rick Renner; co-captain, 1977 Bucknell men’s team

Miguel Rivera; former head coach, Pitt Panther men’s team; former player, Puerto Rican national team

Willo Rodriguez; current head coach, Puerto Rican men’s national team; head coach, West Valley College

Papo Ruiz; member, 1977 Pitt Panther men’s team

Mike Schofield; member, Pitt Panther men’s team; former coach, Navy men’s team, CWPA Hall of Fame member

Scott Schulte; member, 1977 Bucknell Bison men’s team; CWPA Hall of Fame member; USAWP Hall of Fame member

Mark Sickle; former Bucknell men’s team member (class of 1976)

Carlos Steffens; former player, Puerto Rican national team; three-time All-American at Cal-Berkeley

Luis Toro; member, Pitt Panther men’s team; former player, Puerto Rican national team

My heartfelt thanks to them all; this project has been deeply rewarding, particularly in a time when there’s so much sadness and frustration due to the coronavirus crisis.

If you enjoyed this piece / my work, please consider contributing to the following entities:

Swimming World—become one of the ISHOF’s “One in a Thousand” contributors

Total Water Polo—contribute to supporting free water polo content here

Water Polo Planetbuy a shirt to subsidize costs for one of the world’s most vibrant online polo forums

Enjoy!

Michael

Playing games at CMU and update for game schedule in Clevaland

Squad of water polo players.

On a nice Saturday afternoon, the Renegades had two games on the CMU campus. First it was a game with Pitt. Then another with Case Western.

Fun to see so many of the players bring along their children to watch and cheer.

Next week, a squad of players from Pittsburgh goes to Cleveland for the Lake Erie Classic for two days of water polo play with a masters tournament there.

Lake Erie Classic Game Times for Pittsburgh Renegades

Saturday

  • 12:30 Pittsburgh (home) vs CWPC Orange (away)
  • 3:30pm Pittsburgh (home) vs Akron (away)
  • 5:45pm Motor City (home) vs Pittsburgh (away)

Sunday

  • 11:45am CASE (home) vs Pittsburgh (away)

Update of full schedule (subject to change, of course)

Sat, 4/13 HOME VS AWAY
8:00 AM CASE COLUMBUS YOUTH
8:45 AM CWPC BROWN LOS NINOS
9:30 AM DYNAMO 616
10:15 AM WILMINGTON CASE
11:00 AM ANN ARBOR LOS NINOS
11:45 AM AKRON COLUMBUS YOUTH
12:30 PM PITTSBURGH CWPC ORANGE
1:15 PM CBUS 616
2:00 PM CWPC BROWN MOTOR CITY
2:45 PM WILMINGTON COLUMBUS YOUTH
3:30 PM PITTSBURGH AKRON
4:15 PM CBUS LOS NINOS
5:00 PM CWPC ORANGE DYNAMO
5:45 PM MOTOR CITY PITTSBURGH
6:30 PM CBUS DYNAMO
7:15 PM AKRON WILMINGTON
8:00 PM ANN ARBOR 616
Sun, 4/14
8:00 AM CBUS MOTOR CITY
8:45 AM CWPC BROWN COLUMBUS YOUTH
9:30 AM ANN ARBOR DYNAMO
10:15 AM LOS NINOS 616
11:00 AM MOTOR CITY WILMINGTON
11:45 AM CASE PITTSBURGH
12:30 PM CWPC ORANGE ANN ARBOR
1:15 PM AKRON CASE

 

CMU women played five games at Notre Dame

Women water polo players from CMU at Notre Dame

The CMU Women Tartans had an intense weekend of water polo at the 2019 Irish Invitational hosted by the University of Notre Dame, where they went 1-4!

On offense, we saw goals from 6 different Tartans (Tori 14, Annalisa 5, Akari 4, Sofia 3, Claudia 2, Sam 1). The Tartans also had some great assists (Sofia 3, Aru 2, Annalisa 1, Claudia 1, Tori 1), and kick outs drawn (Tori 11, Annalisa 5, Claudia 4, Akari 2, Sam 2, Aru 1, Sofia 1). On defense, CMU totaled 44 steals (Annalisa 16, Tori 14, Aru 5, Akari 4, Claudia 2, Olivia 2, Alyssa 1). Our goalies had 30 saves (Annalisa 16, Alyssa 14).

Final scores:
  • vs. Purdue: 6-3 L
  • vs. Notre Dame Blue: 14-8 L
  • vs. Michigan State A: 8-3 L
  • vs. Michigan B: 8-4 W
  • vs. Notre Dame Gold: 11-7 L

Update via the team’s Facebook page.

Updated: Out of town visitors joined for scrimmage on Tuesday, January 22, 2019, at CV

Update:

Salem’s women water polo players came up Interstate 79 in a team van for a long-session of continual water polo play, scoreless, scrimmage-style. Salem had two on its bench. Renegades had three. Everyone got lots of action.

In the future weeks, Salem’s first games of the season include the opponents of Harvard and Bucknell.

Salem’s squad features three players from Australia (all from Brisbane area), and two from California, plus others from Italy, Greece, Romania, Ohio and The Netherlands. Nearly all of the Salem players are freshmen too.

Prior

The event is confirmed. Water polo practice on Tuesday, January 22, 2019, is going to include some out of town college players from Salem, WV. Get over to play, watch, help, cheer, or swim in the other pool from 7:30 to 9 pm.

If you are interested, give Coach Mark a call or text, 412-298-3432.

Top of CV logo
Chartiers Valley — Colts know how to do water polo!
Doors to use for CV High School
Enter this door at the CV school, near the football field.
Hallway in the CV school.
When you enter the building, follow the signs. The swim pool is across from the gym. However, the doors at the cafeteria are now being used to enter the swim pool area too.
Open door to the swim pool.
Door to the swim pool at CV. See you on deck.