BRIDGEPORT, Pa. — From the concrete canyons of Manhattan to the green serenity of upstate New York, the 11-team Men’s Collegiate Club New York Division spans the cultural and academic landscape of the Empire State.
The division is divided into a East and West Regions with Columbia University, New York University, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, the United States Merchant Marine Academy and the United States Military Academy (Army) comprising the East, while Binghamton University, Cornell University “A”, Cornell University “B”, Hamilton College, Syracuse University and the University of Buffalo make up the West.
HISTORY: Among the four founding divisions of the men’s collegiate club ranks created prior to the 1995 season – joining the Mid-Atlantic Division, the New England Division and the defunct Ohio Valley Division – the New York Division has seen eight teams capture the grouping’s crown. Led by nine-time champion Army (1995, 2008, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019), six-time titlist Columbia (2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2015) and four-time winner Cornell (2000, 2012, 2013, 2014), the New York Division has also seen the big plaque awarded to the Merchant Marine Academy (2004), NYU (2007) and former division members the Rochester Institute of Technology (1996), the University of Rochester (1997) and Colgate University (2003, 2005). Likewise, eight teams have placed second at the division championship led by Cornell (2002, 2010, 2011, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019), Army (2000, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009), Columbia (1996 2001, 2012, 2013), RIT (1997, 1998, 2003) and NYU (2005, 2014) along with former members Hartwick College (1995), Rochester (1998) and Colgate (2004). A New York Division team has appeared in the Men’s National Collegiate Club Championship title game once as Army claimed the 1994 championship by marching past the University of Dayton. Overall, the division has three National titles to its credit as RIT captured the 2000 and 2002 Men’s Division III National Collegiate Club Championships. Historically, the New York Division has experienced a quantity of success at the Division III Club Championship since its founding in 1999 as Rochester (1999), RIT (2001) and NYU (2004, 2005, 2008, 2019) have all placed second at the event.
New York Division Champion/Runner-Up
- 1995 – U.S. Military Academy / Hartwick College
- 1996 – RIT / Columbia University
- 1997 – University of Rochester / RIT
- 1998 – U.S. Military Academy / University of Rochester
- 1999 – U.S. Military Academy / RIT
- 2000 – Cornell University / U.S. Military Academy
- 2001 – U.S. Military Academy / Columbia University
- 2002 – U.S. Military Academy /Cornell University
- 2003 – Colgate University / RIT
- 2004 – U.S. Merchant Marine Academy / Colgate University
- 2005 – Colgate University / New York University
- 2006 – Columbia University / U.S. Military Academy
- 2007 – New York University / U.S. Military Academy
- 2008 – Columbia University / U.S. Military Academy
- 2009 – Columbia University / U.S. Military Academy
- 2010 – Columbia University / Cornell University
- 2011 – Columbia University / Cornell University
- 2012 – Cornell University / Columbia University
- 2013 – Cornell University / Columbia University
- 2014 – Cornell University / New York University
- 2015 – Columbia University / Cornell University
- 2016 – U.S. Military Academy / Cornell University
- 2017 – U.S. Military Academy / Cornell University
- 2018 – U.S. Military Academy / Cornell University
- 2019 – U.S. Military Academy / Cornell University
National Collegiate Club Champion/Runner-Up
- 1994 – U.S. Military Academy / University of Dayton
Division III National Collegiate Club Champion/Runner-Up
- 1999 – Wesleyan University / University of Rochester
- 2001 – Trinity University / RIT
- 2002 – RIT / Wesleyan University
- 2004 – Wesleyan University / New York University
- 2005 – Wesleyan University / New York University
- 2008 – Lindenwood University / New York University
- 2019 – Washington University in St. Louis / New York University
THE TEAMS: The New York Division encompasses more than its 11-programs and 10 academic institutions thanks to one of the longest tenures in the Collegiate Water Polo Association. The tenure combines with a competitive history which boasts some of the best players in a litany of excellent athletes on the collegiate club stage.
Binghamton University
A member of the New York Division-West Region, Binghamton University – also known as the State University of New York at Binghamton – is unique among the division’s programs for a trio of reasons – its standing as a state university, the experience of the athletes and the gender composition of the team.
“Something that makes our program significant is that because we are a state school, so most of the students are from New York meaning they probably have never played water polo,” notes Lauren Lester. “Our team introduces students to a whole new sport. We are also a co-ed team, with more girls joining every year, so it’s very exciting for the women to play in a different, more challenging setting than they would on an all girls team.”
“It’s a great environment where everyone can be themselves and have a great time playing a sport we love with our best friends.”
Thanks to athlete Ariella Levy, who is actively involved with Relay for Life to raise money for cancer research, the Bearcats are involved in the cause to eradicate the illness.
True to its three key differences among the other New York Division schools, the institution was founded in 1946 in Endicott, N.Y. as Triple Cities College to aid veterans of World War II. Founded by Thomas Watson – one of the founders of IBM (International Business Machines), the school became a satellite of Syracuse University and eventually broke off as Harpur College. In 1965, Harpur College joined the New York State System of Higher Education and became known as the State University of New York at Binghamton – or more commonly Binghamton University.
An interesting fact is the school’s main campus is shaped like a brain. The primary road on campus creates a closed loop to form the cerebrum and cerebellum, and the main entrance road creates the spinal cord which leads up to a traffic circle (representing the medulla). The main road is thus frequently referred to as The Brain. If someone is traveling to campus they must be aware of road closures. The connector road for the campus is closed for a portion of the year (in late Fall and early Spring), to allow for safe migration of salamanders across the road).
Listed as a “Public Ivy” in the book The Public Ivies: America’s Flagship Public Universities, the undergraduate acceptance rate is 40%. As of 2018, there were 14,021 undergraduate students and 3,747 graduate students enrolled at Binghamton, with 768 full-time faculty and a student-to-faculty of 20:1. 84% of undergraduate students at Binghamton are residents of New York state, with more than 60 percent from the greater New York City area and the remainder from all corners of the state. The remaining 16 percent of the undergraduate student body is made up of residents of other states in the U.S. (7.5 percent) and international students (8.5 percent) from around the world.
Binghamton offers more than 130 academic undergraduate majors, minors, certificates, concentrations, emphases, tracks and specializations and more than 60 master’s, 30 doctorate and 50 accelerated (combined bachelor’s/master’s) degrees. There also exist interdisciplinary programs that allow individualized degree programs at both the undergraduate and graduate level. The school offers several early assurance programs which guarantee acceptance to graduate/professional schools outside of Binghamton.
For more information on the Binghamton men’s water polo team, contact either Lauren Lester (llester1@binghamton.edu) or Ian Plank (iplank1@binghamton.edu).
- Instagram (@bingwaterpolo)
Columbia University
A seven-time New York Division Champion (2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2015) and four-time runner-up (1996, 2001, 2012, 2013), Columbia University of the New York Division-East Region was established in 1754 on the grounds of Trinity Church in Manhattan, and is the oldest institution of higher education in New York and the fifth-oldest institution of higher learning in the United States. The New York City institution is one of nine colonial colleges founded prior to the Declaration of Independence, seven of which belong to the Ivy League. The school exists in part due to the creation of Princeton University as Columbia was founded as King’s College by royal charter of George II of Great Britain in reaction to the founding of Princeton University. It was renamed Columbia College in 1784 following the American Revolution, and in 1787 was placed under a private board of trustees headed by former students Alexander Hamilton (not be be confused with fellow New York institution Lin Manuel Miranda) and John Jay (who went on to become the first Chief Justice of the United States). In 1896, the campus was moved to its current location in Morningside Heights and renamed Columbia University.
For 2020, Columbia’s undergraduate acceptance rate was 6.1%, making it one of the most selective colleges in the United States. Columbia has three official undergraduate colleges: Columbia College, the liberal arts college offering the Bachelor of Arts degree; the Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science (also known as SEAS or Columbia Engineering), the engineering and applied science school offering the Bachelor of Science degree; and The School of General Studies, the liberal arts college offering the Bachelor of Arts degree to non-traditional students undertaking full- or part-time study. Barnard College, an undergraduate college of the greater Columbia Community, is an all-women’s institution and an academic affiliate in which students receive a Bachelor of Arts degree that is conferred by the Columbia University board of trustees. Barnard students are also eligible to cross-register classes that are available through the Barnard Catalogue. Joint degree programs are available through Union Theological Seminary, the Jewish Theological Seminary of America, as well as through the Juilliard School. Success has been a hallmark of Columbia since its founding as its alumni and affiliates include: five Founding Fathers of the United States—among them an author of the United States Constitution and a co-author of the Declaration of Independence; three U.S. presidents; 29 foreign heads of state; ten justices of the United States Supreme Court, two of whom currently serve; 96 Nobel laureates; 101 National Academy members; 53 living billionaires; eleven Olympic medalists; 33 Academy Award winners; and 125 Pulitzer Prize recipients.
For more information on the Columbia men’s water polo team, contact either George Litvinov (gl2517@columbia.edu), Arnov Tandan (at3216@columbia.edu) or head coach Akhil Mehta (mehta.akhil@gmail.com).
Cornell University “A” & “B”
A four-time New York Division Champion (2000, 2012, 2013, 2014) and eight-time runner-up (2002, 2010, 2011, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019), Cornell University comprises one-third of the division’s West Region by fielding both “A” and “B” teams.
Led by Physics professor/coach/expert in particle physics Yuval Grossman, the teams have proven to be challengers for the crown in the division named for the Empire State consistently during the 21st Century.
While the “B” team is comprised of players picking up the sport and developing into future “A” athletes, the “A” team has been a consistent presence at or near the top of the New York Division for the past decade. Since 2010, the Big Red have appeared in the division title game every year with three victories and seven runner-up marks against division former and reigning division champion Columbia University (2010, 2011, 2015) and the United States Military Academy (2016, 2017, 2018, 2019) of the East Region.
Located in Ithaca, N.Y., and one of two Ivy League schools in the New York Division along with Columbia University, Cornell was founded in 1865 by Ezra Cornell and Andrew Dickson White to teach and make contributions in all fields of knowledge—from the classics to the sciences, and from the theoretical to the applied. These ideals are captured in Cornell’s founding principle, a popular 1868 Ezra Cornell quotation: “I would found an institution where any person can find instruction in any study.”
The university is broadly organized into seven undergraduate colleges and seven graduate divisions at its main Ithaca campus, with each college and division defining its specific admission standards and academic programs in near autonomy. The university also administers two satellite medical campuses, one in New York City and one in Education City, Qatar, and Cornell Tech, a graduate program that incorporates technology, business, and creative thinking. Since 2000, Cornell has been expanding its international programs. In 2004, the university opened the Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar. It has partnerships with institutions in India, Singapore, and the People’s Republic of China.
As of October 2019, 59 Nobel laureates, four Turing Award winners and one Fields Medalist have been affiliated with Cornell University. Cornell counts more than 245,000 living alumni, and its former and present faculty and alumni include 34 Marshall Scholars, 31 Rhodes Scholars, 29 Truman Scholars, 7 Gates Scholars, 55 Olympic Medalists, and 14 living billionaires. The student body consists of more than 15,000 undergraduate and 8,000 graduate students from all 50 American states and 119 countries.
Admission to the university is highly competitive. For Fall 2019, Cornell received over 49,000 applications and 5,183 were admitted, a 10.6% acceptance rate. The school currently has over 1,000 student organizations – including the women’s club water polo team.
Although the school’s nickame is Big Red (the school colors are actually carnelian – a play on “Cornelian” and Andrew Dickson White), a bear is commonly used as the unofficial mascot, which dates back to the introduction of the mascot “Touchdown” in 1915, a live bear who was brought onto the field during football games.
For more information on the Cornell men’s water polo team, contact either Andrew Triscari (ajt88@cornell.edu) or Alexander Alepuz (ama259@cornell.edu).
- Facebook (@CornellWaterPolo)
Hamilton College
The only Division III institution in the New York Division-West Region, Hamilton College was chartered in 1812 to honor inaugural trustee Alexander Hamilton. Hamilton has been coeducational since 1978, when it merged with its coordinate sister school Kirkland College.
Coached by student-athletes, the Continentals have consistently appeared at the Men’s Division III National Collegiate Club Championship and placed among the Top Five teams on multiple occasions.
Located in Clinton, N.Y., Hamilton is an exclusively undergraduate institution, enrolling 1,850 students in the fall of 2019. Students may choose from 55 areas of study, including 43 majors, or design an interdisciplinary concentration. Hamilton’s student body is 53% female and 47% male, and comes from 45 U.S. states and 46 countries.
For the Class of 2023 (enrolling Fall 2019), Hamilton received 8,339 applications and accepted 1,366 (16.4%), and 474 enrolled. The school is unique for its flexible curriculum. Team leader Evan Tatro notes that, “Beyond the courses required for a concentration, students have nearly total freedom over their course selection.” However, students do have to complete a quantitative and symbolic reasoning requirement, which can be fulfilled through courses in a variety of departments, and a writing requirement, for which students must take at least three writing intensive courses.
For more information on the Hamilton women’s water polo team, contact Evan Tatro (etatro@hamilton.edu).
New York University
The 2007 New York Division Champion and a two-time runner-up (2005, 2014), New York University is among three Division III programs in the division’s East Region along with Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, the United States Merchant Marine Academy.
A four-time Men’s Division III Collegiate Club Championship runner-up with previous second place marks in 2004, 2005 and 2008 prior to notching another in 2019, the Bobcats led by head coach Colin Hong have proven to be a force on the small college club national stage in men’s water polo.
“About a quarter of both our men’s and women’s teams every year are brand new to water polo, but we do our best to be as inclusive of a program as possible,” notes Hong. “We haven’t limited travel team sizes yet, and everyone who travels to tournaments with us is expected to play, which is awesome.”
Founded in 1831 by Albert Gallatin as an institution to “admit based upon merit rather than birthright or social class”, NYU’s historical campus is in Greenwich Village – the cultural heart of New York City. A highly selective institution that admitted 15% of more than 85,000 applicants in fall 2019, making NYU the most applied-to private university in the United States, the institution is organized into 25 schools, including 10 undergraduate school and numerous graduate schools. NYU is one of the top feeder schools for careers in finance and investment banking on Wall Street, accounting for 3.9% of hires in major financial institutions.
Labeled as one of the “New Ivies” and ranked as America’s “#1 dream school” by the Princeton Review for a number of years, NYU is unique in a number of ways. The university’s medical school, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, became tuition-free to all students in 2018, regardless of need or merit, becoming the only national top 10 medical school. The university’s other graduate schools are also highly ranked, including NYU School of Law as the 6th best law school in the nation, the Stern School of Business as the 10th best business school in the nation, the Tisch School of Arts as the 2nd best film school in the nation, and the Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences.
Multiple heads of state, royalty, a US Supreme Court justice, five State Governors, 17 billionaires, 37 Nobel Laureates, eight Turing Award winners, five Fields Medalists, 31 MacArthur Fellows, 167 Guggenheim Fellows, three astronauts, 26 Pulitzer Prize winners, 37 Academy Award winners, 30 Emmy Award winners, 25 Tony Award winners, 12 Grammy Award winners and numerous members of the National Academies of Sciences, American Academy of Arts and Sciences, United States Congress, and U.S. diplomats have been affiliated with the school as either faculty or alumni.
“We have a great alumni network at NYU, our coaches are NYU alumni, and we have a network of former players that help run our practices throughout the year,” adds Hong. “The support from our athletics office is amazing and we’re constantly trying to involve former members of our community as much as possible. This provides our current students with opportunity to talk to graduates, make connections, and to see that being on this team extends past the four years of undergrad most students are here for.”
For more information on the NYU men’s water polo team, contact head coach Colin Hong (cjh510@nyu.edu).
- Facebook (@NYU Water Polo)
- Website (https://gonyuathletics.com/sports/2008/8/11/GEN_0811083648.aspx?id=36)
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
The Engineers of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, located in Troy, N.Y., compete as part of the Men’s Collegiate Club New York Division-East Region along with Columbia University, New York University, the United States Merchant Marine Academy and the United States Military Academy.
A Division III institutions, RPI is among four programs in the group eligible for the Men’s Division III Collegiate Club Championship along with fellow division members Hamilton College, NYU and Merchant Marine.
Established in 1824 by Stephen van Rensselaer and Amos Eaton for the “application of science to the common purposes of life” and is the oldest technological university in the English-speaking world, RPI has five schools: the School of Architecture, the School of Engineering, the School of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences, the Lally School of Management & Technology and the School of Science. The School of Engineering is the largest by enrollment, followed by the School of Science, the School of Management, the School of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences, and the School of Architecture. There also exists an interdisciplinary program in Information Technology that began in the late 1990s, programs in prehealth and prelaw. All together, the university offers over 145 degree programs in nearly 60 fields that lead to bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees. In addition to traditional majors, RPI has around a dozen special interdisciplinary programs, such as Games and Simulation Arts and Sciences (GSAS), Design, Innovation, and Society (DIS), Minds & Machines and Product Design and Innovation (PDI).
In 2018, Rensselaer’s enrollment was 7,442 total resident students, including 6,590 undergraduate and 1,329 graduate. Over 71% of Rensselaer’s students are from out of state, while more than 20% of students are international. Rensselaer’s yield rate for the Class of 2021 surpassed 20 percent in the year 2018 with over 20,000 applications received by Rensselaer’s Office of Admissions.
For more information on the RPI men’s water polo team, contact Harry Waskow (Waskoh@rpi.edu) or head coach Kaedy Caiozzo (kd10grav@gmail.com).
Syracuse University
The men’s club team at Syracuse University fields a roster that runs the gambit with experienced athletes and newcomers dotting the water for the Orange of the New York Division-West Region.
“I really enjoy playing water polo for Syracuse because even though some players have a lot more game experience than others, they take the time to focus on bringing everyone else up to their level,” states Daniel Nagle. “We all work together really well, and have a great time doing it.”
Beyond water polo, the team has been a place for athletes to expand into new athletic ventures.
Senior Cameron Stewart, who will head off to The Ohio State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine, came to the sport late during his time at Syracuse.
“I had always heard about the water polo team, since I was on the swim team, but never really felt a need to try it,” recalls Stewart. “Well, I gave in my senior year and tried it and while I was looking for a team, I found a family. I wish I had decided to give it a try sooner.”
Further, the team features former military personnel as both Josh Pearl and Ryan Yon previously served in the United States at Fort Drum.
Located in Syracuse, N.Y., and founded in 1870, Syracuse has an acceptance rate of 47%. In 2018, 26% of the incoming students were students of color; 18% were first-generation college students; and 75% received some financial aid. Students came from 48 states, along with Washington, D.C., Guam and Puerto Rico. Nearly 600 international undergraduate students from 59 countries were also admitted.
SU offers undergraduate degrees in over 200 majors in nine undergraduate schools and colleges. Bachelor’s degrees are offered through the Syracuse University School of Architecture, the College of Arts and Sciences, the School of Education, the David B. Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics, the College of Engineering and Computer Science, the School of Information Studies, Martin J. Whitman School of Management, S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, and the College of Visual and Performing Arts. Also offered are Master’s and doctoral degrees online and in person from the Graduate School and from specialized programs in the Martin J. Whitman School of Management, Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, College of Law, among others. Additionally, SU offers Certificates of Advanced Study Programs for specialized programs for education, counseling and other academic areas.
For more information on the Syracuse men’s water polo team, contact either Connor Hanan (cdhanan@syr.edu) or Neema Djavadzadeh (cusemenspolo@gmail.com).
United States Merchant Marine Academy
The 2004 New York Division Champion, the Mariners of the United States Merchant Marine Academy, located in Kings Point, N.Y., are among three Division III institutions in the group’s East Region.
A diverse team which draws its roster from across the country in regions where water polo may or may not be popular, water polo at the Merchant Marine Academy is used by some members of the team as training in order to become faster and stronger swimmers to help prepare them for Navy SEALS training.
One of the five federal service academies, joining the United States Naval Academy, the United States Military Academy, the United States Coast Guard Academy and the United States Air Force Academy, Midshipman at the United States Merchant Marine Academy are required to have a sea year throughout their sophomore and junior years as water polo athletes as USMMA have traveled and seen the world.
Designated to service in the Maritime Industry, students at Merchant Marine do much more than just study normal academic curriculum. Provided practical courses ranging from welding, celestial navigation, advanced calculus and machine shop, the students earn skills as well as challenge themselves through standard classroom academia.
Per Commander David Pulis, the Assistant Academic Dean, Support Programs/Associate Professor of Marine Engineering/collegiate club coach, the students of Kings Point take on many roles. Other than college academics, they exercise military bearing and tradition as Midshipmen in the Naval Reserves to become future military officers. The Midshipmen of the United States Merchant Marine Academy take pride in high academic achievement, exemplary leadership in the Regiment, and performing at the peak physical standard. In addition to the practical skills learned at the Academy, Midshipmen spend a year at sea serving on commercial vessels all around the world as engine and deck cadets. These cadets play a crucial role in assisting and learning from the Officers in which they serve under. At all times, there are around 200 Kings Point Midshipmen serving on United States flagged vessels around the world.
Athletes at the Merchant Marine Academy note:
- “I enjoy playing water polo because it helps me escape from the academic stresses the academy imposes on us midshipman. I’ve been able to make strong friendships with players on the team and experience new things. What’s most significant about this program is that it doesn’t matter if you’re a first time player or a skilled player. The practices are still the same and everyone is given a fair opportunity and the more game time you get is a reflection of how much work you put in practice.
- “I look forward everyday on hitting the pool to play some polo. It’s good to workout while having some fun in the pool with my teammates.” “Tournaments are a great way to showcase your skills while having fun and meeting other water polo players. It’s a great time and my teammates and I agree we always feel refreshed coming back to the academy after a tournament. It’s a lot of fun.”
- “I love taking the time after classes to unwind in the pool with my Water Polo Brothers. We always have a lot of fun.”
For more information on the Merchant Marine men’s water polo team, contact Cdr. David Pulis (pulisd@usmma.edu).
United States Military Academy
The most successful program in the history of the New York Division, the United States Military Academy men’s water polo club holds nine championships (1995, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019) and five runner-up (2000, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009) placements to accompany the inaugural men’s collegiate club National Championship (1994).
Located at West Point, N.Y., the history of the Army water polo program is a storied one. Growing from the Army Swim Team in 1920 and competing in the team’s first competition against the New York Athletic Club (NYAC) that year, Army’s 100-years of water polo have seen the squad stand as a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I team and as a collegiate club, which it has remained since 1994. The players, called ‘Cadets,’ are commissioned as officers in the United States Army upon graduation – usually with a branch and first duty station in hand as they cross the stage.
The team is led by Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) Hall of Fame inductee, former United States National Team member and NYAC water polo chair Chris Judge who has led Army to the division crown for the past four seasons (2016, 2017, 2018, 2019) – tying the division record for most consecutive titles set by Columbia University fro 2008-to-2011.
This past year, the team held its annual Memorial Tournament which featured both club and varsity teams – including the varsity teams from the Air Force and Naval Academies marking the first all-Academy tourney in over 30 years.
Former team captain Jeffrey Stark ’19 noted in an interview with the school’s alumni magazine, “What I like most about water polo is the strategy behind the game. To most observers, it seems like a brutal sport, especially because of how physical it is.”
“Great water polo is hard to come by. But when you see it, there’s not much else that comes close.”
Administered by Colonel Michael Benson ’94 – a former player – the team appears to hold the high ground for now in the division with captain Mathieu Sanders ready to lead the Cadets to a record-breaking fifth New York Division Championship in 2021.
Interested candidates for admission to the U.S. Military Academy must apply directly to the academy and receive a nomination, usually from a member of Congress. Other nomination sources include the President and Vice President.Tuition for cadets is fully funded by the Army in exchange for an active duty service obligation upon graduation. Approximately 1,300 cadets enter the Academy each July, with about 1,000 cadets graduating.
The first school to have class rings, Army’s academic program grants a bachelor of science degree with a curriculum that grades cadets’ performance upon a broad academic program, military leadership performance, and mandatory participation in competitive athletics. Cadets are required to adhere to the Cadet Honor Code, which states that “a cadet will not lie, cheat, steal, or tolerate those who do.” The academy bases a cadet’s leadership experience as a development of all four pillars of performance: academics, character, physical, and military.
Most graduates are commissioned as second lieutenants in the Army. Foreign cadets are commissioned into the armies of their home countries. Since 1959, cadets have also been eligible for an inter-service commission in one of the other armed services provided that they meet that service’s eligibility standards.
For more information on the Army men’s water polo team, contact either Col. Michael Benson (michael.benson@westpoint.edu) or head coach Chris Judge (cwjudge@optonline.net).
University of Buffalo
The Bulls of the University of Buffalo, also known as the State University of New York at Buffalo, are a young water polo program staring to get their footing in the collegiate club ranks.
A New York state institution like Binghamton University, the school is the flagship campus of the State University of New York system, with the largest enrollment, largest endowment, and research funding as a comprehensive university center. The university was founded in 1846 by United States President Millard Fillmore as a private medical college and merged with the SUNY system in 1962. The university houses the largest state-operated medical school, dental school, education school, business school, engineering school, pharmacy school, and also features the only state law school, architecture and urban planning schools in the State University of New York System. The university offers over 100 bachelor’s, 205 master’s, 84 doctoral, and 10 professional areas of study.
For more information on the Buffalo men’s water polo team, contact Konstantin Nikolov (kpnikolo@buffalo.edu).