Bucknell Men's Water Polo Announces Addition of Eight Recruits for 2005 Season
5/24/2005 8:00:00 AM | Men's Water Polo
May 24, 2005
LEWISBURG, Pa. - Bucknell head men's water polo coach John Zeigler announced Tuesday the addition of eight student-athletes who will compete for the Bison in the fall. The members of the Class of 2009 hail from five different states, including California, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois and Pennsylvania.
Sean Blumberg (San Mateo, Calif./San Mateo), Sandy Gilfillan (Pasadena, Calif./Polytechnic School), Gabriel Heiber (Aventura, Fla./Miami Beach), Alex Lampley (Reading, Pa./Governor Mifflin), Alex Lovell (Palos Verdes Estates, Calif./Chadwick School), Mark Masterson (Kihei, Hawaii/Marin), Tom O'Bryan (Riverwoods, Ill./Loyola) and Dan Schultz (Orinda, Calif./Miramonte) comprise the class, which joins 14 players from last year's squad that posted a 17-14 record and finished fifth at the season-ending Eastern Championships at Kinney Natatorium.
Blumberg was a four-year water polo letterwinner at San Mateo High School. A two-time co-captain of his high school squad, he was named the team's most versatile player as a junior in 2003-04 and the most valuable player as a senior in 2004-05. Blumberg was also a two-time all-league selection, earning a second-team citation as a freshman and a first-team nod as a junior.
"Sean decided long ago that Bucknell was his future home and brings impressive academic and athletic accomplishments to the squad," said Zeigler. "Hailing from a Northern California area rich in water polo tradition, Sean has been the go-to player on his team. His scrappy style of water polo should be successful at the collegiate level."
Gilfillan earned four letters in water polo and three more in swimming during high school. The water polo team captain and most valuable player as a senior, he earned all-league honors three times. After earning second-team plaudits as a sophomore and junior, Gilfillan was named to the first team as a senior. He also copped the Coaches Award as a junior member of the swim team. His brother, Whitney, will be a senior on Santa Clara's men's water polo team this fall.
"Sandy is the kind of person you talk to and walk away saying `wow, that is a future leader'," commented Zeigler. "I didn't know much about him when I first met him, but after sitting down with him for 15 minutes I knew he was someone that was right for our program. Competing in a tough Southern California league, Sandy has been asked to play many roles for his squad and will bring mental toughness, leadership and an aggressive style to our program. Much like he did in high school, I expect him to fill many roles for us."
A veteran of international water polo as a member of Venezuela's national teams, Heiber led his high school team to back-to-back state championships in 2003 and 2004, and a runner-up finish in 2005 when he was captain. He was named to the All-Dade Miami Herald First Team as a senior, and was honored with a second-team citation as a junior. He was also an honorable mention selection as a sophomore. Heiber has also participated on the Southeast Zone team for three seasons. While participating at the National Age Group Championship in July 2003 he was awarded All-America honors. Heiber also was a member of the South Florida team at the National Junior Olympics last summer and helped lead his squad to a fifth-place finish out of 47 teams. A native of Venezuela, Heiber played with a number of Venezuelan teams in international competition, including the Venezuelan U-18 and U-20 National Teams. He was selected by the coaches of 22 sports to lead the Venezuelan delegation at the Pan-American Maccabi Games held in Chile in 2003. Among his awards, Heiber was named the MVP and best offensive two-meter player by the Swimming Federation of the State of Miranda in 2001 and the Venezuelan Water Polo Revelation of the Year in 2002.
"A Venezuelan citizen currently living in Miami, Gabriel brings international experience and a particularly strong scoring mentality to our team," stated Zeigler. "He can play inside or outside comfortably and will help spark our offense. He has represented Venezuela in numerous competitions and has been a strong part of the success of Miami Beach's program at the high school level."
Lampley was a multi-sport star at Governor Mifflin High School where he earned three letters in water polo, along with four in swimming and three more in tennis. The co-captain of both the swimming and water polo squads as a senior, Lampley was a first-team all-state selection in water polo as a senior. He was a third-team honoree as a junior. The county most valuable player as a senior, Lampley was first-team all-county during both his junior and senior campaigns. He was an all-state honorable mention selection in tennis twice.
"Alex has the rare combination of size and strength, along with very good speed," said Zeigler. "He has been a center-forward for his high school team, but has been involved in counterattack as well. He will need experience at the collegiate level, but has received exposure to the more physical club game in his summer league. He certainly has the skills that will carry over well to the college game."
Lovell was a three-year member of both the water polo and volleyball squads at the Chadwick School, and a one-year participant on the swimming team. Individually, the team captain as a senior, Lovell was a Southern California All-Star in 2004 and was named all-league as a junior and senior. The league most valuable player as a senior in 2004, he was a member of the All-Southern California Team and was the Daily Breeze Water Polo Player of the Week twice as a senior. Lovell led his team to a 22-1 record as a senior and its third consecutive Prep League title. After making the CIF quarterfinals in 2002 and 2003, his team advanced to the semifinals in 2004. Lovell also competed in the 2004 and 2005 Junior Olympics for the Los Angeles Water Polo Club.
"Alex has all the necessary skills, and more importantly the desire, to be successful at the collegiate level as a utility player," commented Zeigler. "He is a very versatile player who will bring us the knowledge he has gained from the involvement at the high school and club level with the Los Angeles Water Polo Club."
Masterson, a transfer from UC Irvine who will be a junior in the fall, was a four-year letterwinner in both water polo and swimming at Marin Catholic High School, which he graduated from in 2002. The team captain of both squads as a junior and senior, he was the most valuable player of both during the same seasons. An All-North Coast Section (NCS) selection in water polo, Masterson was an all-league performer in both water polo and swimming as a senior. He was also an NCS scholar-athlete, and a UCI Big West scholar-athlete while at UC Irvine. Masterson scored four goals during his two-year career with the Anteaters after redshirting one season.
"We are excited Mark chose to join us here at Bucknell as a transfer," stated Zeigler. "To gain a player with Mark's ability and experience with the coaching he has seen at a program like Irvine helps. I expect Mark's adjustment to the program to be quick and for him to impact our team in a positive way with his leadership."
O'Bryan was a four-year member of the water polo team and a two-year member of the swimming team during his tenure at Loyola Academy. The water polo team captain as a senior, he was named first-team all-state and was named the most valuable player of his team. As a junior he was co-most valuable player and a member of the illpolo.com all-defensive team. During his sophomore year, O'Bryan led his team to a fourth-place finish in the state tournament.
"Tommy is a defensive specialist from a very competitive league in Chicago," said Zeigler. "He typically has been in charge of shutting down the opponent's best players. He has the size and strength to defend center-forward. Additionally, he has been a scoring threat from the center-forward position and with his size should play a role at that position for us."
Schultz was captain of both the water polo and swimming teams at Miramonte High School. A two-time all-league selection, Schultz was named to the North Coast Section Third Team as a senior. His brother, Tony, is a member of Arizona's club water polo team.
"The combination of quickness, hustle and experience make Danny someone who will improve our counterattack and speed with both offensive and defensive schemes," stated Zeigler. "Hailing from the Miramonte program in Northern California he has been well-coached and played high-level water polo at both the high school and club levels."
Bucknell, which will be hosting the 2005 Men's Water Polo NCAA Championships at Kinney Natatorium Dec. 3-4, opens its 2005 campaign Sept. 3 at the Navy Invitational. The Bison open their home slate Sept. 9 against San Diego.