Bucknell University Athletics
Men's Water Polo Rides Seasoned Squad To Solid 2000 Campaign
12/14/2000 7:00:00 AM | Men's Water Polo
Dec. 14, 2000
Lewisburg, Pa. - The Bucknell men's water polo team completed a tough 2000 schedule with a 21-21 final record under the guidance of first-year coach, John Zeigler. The Orange and Blue battled through the competition and only two weekends in Freas Pool to a solid finish in 2000. The Herd finished with a 3-5 record in the Southern Division of the Collegiate Water Polo Association, a 3rd place finish at Southern Championships and a return to the Eastern Championship finishing 7th.
Former player John Zeigler, in his second stint as head coach of the men's water polo team, led the Bison to their first 20-win season since the 1985 campaign. The Orange and Blue began their long trek early in September and finished mid-way through November with a solid .500 record after having played 42 contests, the most in the history of the men's water polo program. The season included 15 contests versus nationally ranked opponents and a victory over 13th ranked Queens, 12-11.
Leading the Bison through all the calm and rough waters were senior co-captains Kevin Permisohn (Silver Spring, Md./Springbrook) and Justin McCarty (St. Louis, Mo./St. Louis Country Day School). Permisohn will graduate as the second-leading all-time assist man for the Orange and Blue. Over the course of a stellar four-year career, which included three captainship's, Permisohn finished with 142 career goals and 213 assists. His 213 career assists ranks him second all-time behind the legendary Scott Schulte '80. Permisohn will also finish his Bucknell career in the seventh slot for career-best points at 355. He is the 2000 recipient of the coveted Scott Schulte award and a member of the first team All-Southern Conference. The Scott Schulte Award goes to the individual who contributes the most to the Bucknell water polo program.
One of the recipients of his Permisohn's assists was McCarty who finished the season with 32 tallies. McCarty was a major player on the team for Coach Zeigler as his leadership qualities and hard shot were utilized in times of need for the Bucknell water polo team. Playing primarily at the 2-meter position, McCarty finished his career at Bucknell with 94 goals and 75 assists.
Although they were not named as captains for the 2000 season, four other seniors were present and valuable members on the roster. Tate Greditzer (St. Louis, Mo./John Burroughs), James Miante (Annapolis, Md./Broadneck), Alex Russell (Dallas, Texas/Hotchkiss School) and Chris Kempton (New York, N.Y./Deerfield Academy) all contributed to the program in their own special way. Greditzer was the second leading goal scorer for the Bison in 2000 with 65 goals and was named as the teams co-offensive MVP. At the end of the campaign he was selected to the second team All-Southern Conference. He also snagged 32 steals and drew 30 ejections during the season. Greditzer finishes his four-year career at Bucknell with 178 goals and 93 assists.
Miante, a driver for the Bison, had his finest season wearing the Orange and Blue in 2000. Over the course of a 42-contest schedule, Miante tallied 36 goals and 36 assists for Bucknell and finishes his career at Bucknell with 86 goals and 102 assists. Miante, perhaps one of the hardest working members of the team was recognized by Coach Zeigler as a co-recipient of the coaches award for the individual who demonstrates the most work ethic, dedication and goes above and beyond what is asked of him. His teammate, Kempton, mustered 40 points for the Orange and Blue on 20 goals and 20 assists. Kempton nearly doubled his career statistics in 2000 alone as he completes his four-year stay at BU with 41 goals and 49 assists.
The junior class, two members strong in 2000, was the possessor of the water polo bookends for Coach Zeigler. Goalie David Kennedy (St. Louis, Mo./St. Louis Country Day) and 2-meter man Ryan McCarty (St. Louis, Mo./St. Louis Country Day) stepped into a more demonstrative role in 2000 for the water polo team. Kennedy, with one year under his Speedo as a starting goalkeeper, started in 40 contests for the Orange and Blue. Narrowly missing shutouts versus Penn State-Behrend and Grove City, Kennedy finished the 2000 ledger with a .550 save percentage while making 393 total saves. His 393 saves puts him into the Bucknell record books for the most saves in a single season, overthrowing the previous record of 300 set during the 1991 season. Kennedy was named Bucknell's defensive MVP for his efforts during the season.
The leading goal scorer for the Bison was the younger McCarty who recorded 72 goals from his 2-meter position. In only three years with the water polo team, McCarty has tallied 124 goals and 43 assists. At the conclusion of this past season, McCarty was named as Bucknell's co-Offensive MVP, sharing the award with his teammate, Greditzer. McCarty was a force for the Bison in 2000 and will be a stronger presence next year as a senior.
Sophomore Chris Saxton (Palo Alto, Calif./Palo Alto) stepped into a more active role in 2000 and responded well to the pressure by scoring 22 goals and handing out 21 helpers. Saxton's teammate, Daniel Lonnerdal (Davis, Calif./Davis) registered 19 goals in 2000 on the way to being named Bucknell's most improved player during the 2000 season. Also contributing to the Bison cause from the Class of 2003 were Stephen Schwanhauser (Ridgefield, Conn./Ridgefield) and Adam Yerkes (Orlando, Fla./Winter Park). Schwanhauser and Yerkes, also members of the Bucknell swimming team, combined to score seven goals and tally seven assists for the water polo team.
Coach Zeigler was blessed this past season with a strong freshmen class of four individuals, rich in quality but not quantity. First-year player Jamie Saettele (St. Louis, Mo./Ladue Horton Watkins) garnered rookie of the year honors from his coach after touching the back of the net 48 times during the season. In addition to being the third leading scorer for the Orange and Blue, Saettele also finished his inaugural campaign with 18 assists and 23 ejections drawn. Freshman goalkeeper Ryan Gens (Owings Mills, Md./McDonogh School) saw action in ten games as he adjusted to the college game. Other members of the men's water polo team were freshmen John Kearney (Ventura, Calif./Cate School) and Scott Afzal (Ellicott City, Md./McDonogh School). Kearney scored 12 times on the season and Afzal recorded nine goals. Afzal was named co-recipient of the coaches awad
As the 2000 season came to a close for the men's water polo team, Coach Zeigler knew that the program was losing several fine players to graduation but had young talent waiting in the ranks. The team has much to be proud of and much to look forward to in 2001.
