Bucknell University Athletics
Former Bucknell Men's Water Polo Standout Mark Gensheimer to be Inducted into CWPA Hall of Fame Next Month
10/22/2012 8:00:00 AM | Men's Water Polo
Oct. 22, 2012
LEWISBURG, Pa. - Former Bucknell men's water polo star Mark Gensheimer will become a member of the Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) Hall of Fame next month, the organization announced Monday. A 1981 Bucknell graduate who helped lead the Bison to four NCAA appearances, Gensheimer will be inducted into the Hall of Fame on Friday, Nov. 16, as part of the CWPA Eastern Championship at Princeton.
Gensheimer will become the fourth person with a Bucknell connection in the CWPA Hall of Fame, joining coaches Dick Russell (inducted in 2002) and Lynn Kachmarik (inducted in 2003) as well as classmate Scott Schulte (inducted in 2006). Gensheimer will become the 22nd member of the CWPA Hall of Fame.
A Pittsburgh, Pa., native, Gensheimer came to Bucknell in the spring of 1977 and helped the Bison to a 114-15-3 four-year record. More than 30 years after graduating he still ranks fifth in program history in career goals (244) and points (396), while his 152 career assists place him sixth on that ledger.
Gensheimer had a banner senior year in 1980 when he was named First Team All-East and helped the Bison to a fourth consecutive Eastern Championship. Gensheimer tallied career highs in goals (108), assists (73) and points (181) that year. Those figures rank fourth (points, assists) and seventh (goals) on Bucknell's single-season lists.
The Bison had tremendous success during Gensheimer's tenure. He joined the program in its first year of varsity competition and Bucknell proceeded to finish seventh, sixth, fifth and seventh at the NCAA Championship the next four years. The 1980 squad went 31-4-2 and holds the program record for victories. The 1977, 1978 and 1979 teams rank second, third and fourth in wins.
In 1979, Gensheimer was named an AAU All-American after scoring 13 goals and dishing out nine assists in six games at the AAU Indoor National Water Polo Championship.
Gensheimer made an immediate impact on Bucknell's success as a freshman. He netted the game-winning sudden-victory goal that gave the Bison the 1977 Eastern Championship over Pittsburgh by a 21-20 score.
Following graduation, Gensheimer participated on the East Team at the 1981 United States Olympic Festival and helped his squad to a Gold Medal. It marks the only time in the history of the sport that a Gold Medal was claimed by a team from the East.
President of CS McKee LP, a money management firm in Pittsburgh, Gensheimer also co-founded and served as president of Invesmart Inc., a provider of retirement plans.
Gensheimer continues to be active in the CWPA, serving on the organization's Board of Directors as a community representative.
Individuals interested in attending the CWPA Hall of Fame ceremony are asked to contact the league office at 610-277-6787 prior to Friday, Nov. 2.
