Update from Head Water Polo Coach John McBride -- September 2023
.JPG&width=656&type=webp)
Hello from Bison Water Polo,
I hope this note finds everyone’s families safe and healthy! The men have completed their preseason and are gearing up for games this Labor Day weekend. The men travel to Harvard and Brown for four challenging games as three of the four games are against ranked teams. The men have a demanding schedule this year, mainly playing ranked teams, which differs from past years. The men made it to the Mid-Atlantic Championship game last year after a very up-and-down season, and this year, we plan on winning it and returning to the NCAA post-season. Championships are at Bucknell this fall, and we haven’t lost a men’s title when we have hosted since I’ve been at Bucknell. Hopefully, the trend will continue!
The women start practice the first week of September. The second and first-year classes comprise most of the team as we rebuild the team and the culture after losing so many athletes during COVID. We’ve also added a new assistant coach, Jill Schultz. Jill is a native of Illinois but finished playing as an All-American at Fresno State after having played for the great head coach and former Olympian Natalie Benson. It will be a very exciting year for the women’s team. We believe we have the players to get us back to where the women were pre-COVID, a feared, respected, and top-20 team in the country.
The men have their Bison Invite 9/16-9/17. We are inviting all the alums back this weekend to get together and have fun while watching some high-level water polo. The schedule is posted on the new Bison Athletics website. If you haven’t had a chance to check out the new website, you should take a look. It is updated and very user-friendly.
As always, the support of the alumni, family, and friends helps these athletes achieve the academic and athletic goals that each team has set. As inflation impacts not only the institution but also the teams, fundraising has become even more critical. The operating costs of buses, planes, hotels, etc., are impacting us as never before, so the student-athletes always appreciate any and all help.
Hopefully, you can make it to some games, and please let us know so we can say hello and thank you for the support in person. I wish you all the best, and see you on deck!
Please enjoy these video messages from two of our student-athletes, Boati Motau and Walker Butler.
John McBride
Head Water Polo Coach
Bucknell University
jwm035@bucknell.edu
Past Newsletters:
Bison Club support is the driving force behind Bucknell Athletics. Your donations directly impact the holistic development of student-athletes from 27 Division I varsity programs who are building a foundation at Bucknell to become leaders and difference-makers around the globe. Make your gift online, or call 570-577-1771 to support your favorite Bison team today.
I hope this note finds everyone’s families safe and healthy! The men have completed their preseason and are gearing up for games this Labor Day weekend. The men travel to Harvard and Brown for four challenging games as three of the four games are against ranked teams. The men have a demanding schedule this year, mainly playing ranked teams, which differs from past years. The men made it to the Mid-Atlantic Championship game last year after a very up-and-down season, and this year, we plan on winning it and returning to the NCAA post-season. Championships are at Bucknell this fall, and we haven’t lost a men’s title when we have hosted since I’ve been at Bucknell. Hopefully, the trend will continue!
The women start practice the first week of September. The second and first-year classes comprise most of the team as we rebuild the team and the culture after losing so many athletes during COVID. We’ve also added a new assistant coach, Jill Schultz. Jill is a native of Illinois but finished playing as an All-American at Fresno State after having played for the great head coach and former Olympian Natalie Benson. It will be a very exciting year for the women’s team. We believe we have the players to get us back to where the women were pre-COVID, a feared, respected, and top-20 team in the country.
The men have their Bison Invite 9/16-9/17. We are inviting all the alums back this weekend to get together and have fun while watching some high-level water polo. The schedule is posted on the new Bison Athletics website. If you haven’t had a chance to check out the new website, you should take a look. It is updated and very user-friendly.
As always, the support of the alumni, family, and friends helps these athletes achieve the academic and athletic goals that each team has set. As inflation impacts not only the institution but also the teams, fundraising has become even more critical. The operating costs of buses, planes, hotels, etc., are impacting us as never before, so the student-athletes always appreciate any and all help.
Hopefully, you can make it to some games, and please let us know so we can say hello and thank you for the support in person. I wish you all the best, and see you on deck!
Please enjoy these video messages from two of our student-athletes, Boati Motau and Walker Butler.
John McBride
Head Water Polo Coach
Bucknell University
jwm035@bucknell.edu
Past Newsletters:
Bison Club support is the driving force behind Bucknell Athletics. Your donations directly impact the holistic development of student-athletes from 27 Division I varsity programs who are building a foundation at Bucknell to become leaders and difference-makers around the globe. Make your gift online, or call 570-577-1771 to support your favorite Bison team today.