The Western Water Polo Association announced on Tuesday, Feb. 5, that California Baptist University will join the conference in men’s water polo affective the 2013 season. The Lancers will give the WWPA nine teams in men’s water polo starting next fall.
“The Western Water Polo Association is excited to formally welcome California Baptist University men's water polo into the WWPA family,” said WWPA Commissioner Ellen Moore. “In CBU, we have added an institution with a strong academic reputation, a tradition of successful athletics and a loyal and supportive community of fans. We are thrilled to have them on board and can't wait for them to join us in the pool in 2013. On behalf of the WWPA and our member institutions, I extend a very warm welcome to Coach Rick Rowland and the CBU Lancers.”
Started in 1999 and under the direction of Head Coach Rick Rowland, the only coach the program has known, California Baptist University men's water polo has gone 319-157 in 14 seasons. The Lancers are routinely ranked nationally and have had 10 20-win seasons, including a school-record 32 wins in 2010. In 2012, the Lancers went 17-12 and finished the season ranked No. 20 in the nation.
"Our water polo players, coaches and administration are thrilled to be included in the WWPA for men's water polo,” said California Baptist Director of Athletics Dr. Micah Parker. “Having the ability to compete for a conference championship and a spot in the NCAA tournament is very exciting. We are very thankful to commissioner Moore and the WWPA membership for allowing CBU this opportunity."
The winner of the annual WWPA Men’s Water Polo Championships earns one of the three automatic bids to the annual National Collegiate Men’s Water Polo Championships. Air Force won the 2012 WWPA Championship and represented the conference at the NCAA championships in December. The 2013 WWPA Championships will be hosted by UC Davis on Nov. 22-24, 2013.
The WWPA in 2013 will comprise of Air Force, California Baptist, Claremont-Mudd-Scripps, Loyola Marymount, Pomona-Pitzer, Redlands, Santa Clara, UC Davis and UC San Diego. The league participated with 12 members in 2012, with Chapman, La Verne, Occidental and Whittier participating in both the SCIAC and WWPA. They made the decision to only compete in the SCIAC starting in the 2013 season.
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