Editor’s Notice: In one of many seminal matches in Japanese water polo historical past, on November 13, 1977, Pittsburg confronted Bucknell on the Joseph C. Bushes Pool for the Japanese Water Polo League Southern Division Championship. A rematch of 1976 closing, gained 14-12 by Pitt, with lower than a minute remaining the host Panthers held a two-goal lead and appeared headed to a different NCAA males’s match because the East’s finest group. However, in a memorable flip of occasions, the Bison rallied to drive additional time and gained the sport 21-20 on a shot by Mark Gensheimer within the first minute of sudden dying.
Following is the fourth in a sequence of articles in regards to the individuals concerned in a single the extra memorable polo matches in Japanese intercollegiate historical past. The primary was an interview with Bucknell’s Scott Schulte; the second was a dialog with Pitt’s Jorge Machicote; the third is a dialogue with Bucknell’s Jay Fisette.
Few of us being attentive to water polo within the 70s—and out of doors of polo athletes, who was?—have doubtless heard of the College of Pittsburgh males’s water polo group and their transient however good second of success. The point out of Miguel Rivera, architect of these improbable Panther groups from 1975 – 77, is probably going to attract clean stares.
However, it’s all true. In 1976 Pitt, with a mixture of gamers from Puerto Rico and native polo athletes, was the East’s finest and went to the NCAA match. In 1977, the Panthers performed one of many best video games within the area’s historical past, once they misplaced 21-20 to Bucknell in sudden dying additional time.
As shortly because the Panthers achieved unimaginable success, all of it dissipated.
By 1978 Rivera had returned to Puerto Rico, the place his train science doctorate diploma earned at Pitt led to a revered profession within the island’s athletic scene. By 1979, this system’s varsity standing was additionally gone, a sufferer of finances cuts attributed to Title IX.
Nonetheless, recollections of this system’s success persist, fanned by individuals on each side of a match, which not solely determined the Japanese Water Polo League (EWPL) Southern Division title however a berth in that yr’s nationwide championship.
Rivera, now a Professor on the College of Puerto Rico’s Division of Bodily Drugs, Rehabilitation & Sports activities Drugs, spoke with Water Polo Planet from San Juan about how he and numerous the island’s outstanding gamers ended up in Pittsburgh, the rise—and fall—of Panther males’s polo, and the memorable match in opposition to the Bison that perpetually modified the course of East Coast polo.
– How on this planet did you find yourself teaching water polo at Pitt?
I got here to Pitt as a doctoral pupil in 1974. I had an in-depth dialog with a detailed buddy, Guillermo Ramis, a doctoral pupil in economics at Pitt.
We talked about every thing you wished to find out about Pitt however have been afraid to ask. It’s price mentioning that our shut friendship prolonged over a few years as swimming and water polo teammates.
Guillermo had a very good relationship with Pitt’s swimming coach Richard Bradshaw, and earlier than 1974 had been instrumental in bringing the Pitt swimming group to Puerto Rico for Christmas break coaching. He launched me to Coach Bradshaw which led to a few conferences the place I expressed my skilled and tutorial targets in addition to my background in swimming and water polo.
My willingness to start out a water polo group at Pitt was a part of the dialog. Coach Bradshaw adopted with correspondence containing detailed data on Pitt’s Train Physiology doctoral program. That led to a visit to Pitt, the place I met the division chairperson, the Director of the Human Power Analysis Laboratory, and college members within the train physiology program.
– What was your first impression of the Panther athletic services?
Coach Bradshaw was accessible to point out me their spectacular aquatic advanced. It included a 50-meter x 25-yard pool with a 10-meter platform for diving that met all of the requirements for worldwide (Olympic) water polo competitors. A further 25-yard pool was a part of the aquatic services. I indicated to Coach Bradshaw that it was an ideal setting for a water polo program with out interfering with the swim group endeavors.
By early July, I established my quarters in Pittsburgh. After caring for my tutorial chores, I went over to teach Bradshaw. My first phrases to him have been: I’m right here, and I need to affirm my promise of serving to out with the water polo group.
It was a gradual begin. It took some time to achieve out to the suitable folks, and one yr later, the Pitt water polo group was a actuality.
Within the first season, we weren’t robust. Our second season was fairly a distinct story. I focused on recruiting water polo gamers from Puerto Rico that met three standards: highschool seniors considering persevering with their tutorial and athletic careers in US universities, historical past of membership in a Puerto Rico 13-14 years or 15-17 years nationwide group, and glorious tutorial credentials.
My central recruiting impediment was California universities—because of the power of their water polo packages. To counterbalance the attraction to California, I offered to potential recruits arguments that Pitt was a superb college, [they would be] starters on the group in addition to nearer to house.
I don’t get pleasure from speaking of myself, however the elements that helped me in recruiting student-athletes (water polo gamers) in Puerto Rico included my background within the sport. As a younger player-coach in Puerto Rico, I had three senior nationwide titles and a protracted historical past as a member of the Puerto Rico nationwide group. That background helped persuade the recruits and their dad and mom to change into a part of the newly established water polo group at Pitt.
– Was it uncommon that the Pitt Athletic Director and swim coach supported bringing in Puerto Rican athletes to play water polo?
The water polo gamers loved the precedent set up by Puerto Rican swimmers and a diver at Pitt. Their excellent athletic contribution to the swimming and diving program, in addition to private interactions, provided the water polo gamers [with] a superb presentation card.
Furthermore, the arrival of the water polo gamers implied no monetary influence to the Pitt athletic division or the swimming program. Many of the recruits’ tutorial scores have been inside the vary to obtain monetary help from non-athletic sources, curiosity teams sources, and different sources.
That was favorable to all—student-athletes, AD, and the swimming program. I simply adopted the method noticed with the swimmers. Certainly, my preliminary conversations with Bradshaw had included the chance to use the identical procedures with the water polo gamers.
The directors have been favorable in direction of the idea as a result of it didn’t contact the athletic finances.
I’ve been very lucky by way of my relationship with sports activities, swimming, and water polo. Sports activities opened the door to attend universities that in any other case I couldn’t have been in a position to afford. With a lot of effort and dedication, I used to be profitable at reaching my tutorial targets.
As soon as I obtained my Grasp’s diploma, I considered reaching younger athletes that have been on an analogous observe as I went by way of in sports activities. I wished to assist them out following the mannequin that had helped me out.
– How did you get your begin with water polo?
In Puerto Rico, my first water polo coach was Harry Hauck. I think about him as my adoptive father. He was within the Navy as an underwater demolition group member. He got here to Puerto Rico from Detroit, Michigan because the coach of the Caribe Hilton Swimming Crew. I had a buddy who was a member of the Hilton Crew, and he launched me to Coach Hauck.
I suppose he informed Hauck I used to be a proficient man however didn’t have the sources to hitch the Hilton Swimming Crew. Hauck informed me, no drawback, simply are available in. He offered me [with] the membership card, and from there on, he took care of guiding me into the water polo world.
My first participation in an official water polo sport was throughout the Puerto Rican Nationwide Championship in 1965. I grew to become the goalkeeper of the Caribe Hilton Crew for good, and never lengthy after that, Coach Hauck, introduced me over to the nationwide group. I performed for him for shut to fifteen years. The experiences lived and realized from coach Hauck are nonetheless with me and have change into a part of who I’m at this time. I tried to go on coach Hauck’s philosophical view of the water polo sport to each athlete at Pitt.
– Beginning a program from scratch isn’t simple…
The preliminary yr of the water polo group wasn’t all peaches and cream! Coach Bradshaw offered the necessities to get Us going, embrace high of the road caps (two units after all), official “Voit” balls, and as a shock high class “Speedo” water polo bathing fits with the Pitt emblem.
The purpose cages have been handmade and painted by me beneath Coach Bradshaw’s supervision. The preliminary exercise periods have been chaotic, with water polo balls all around the pool, falling within the swimmer’s lane, bleachers, and diving space. All involved events realized and politely adjusted to the brand new atmosphere.
The prevalent idea was that the water polo taking part in discipline consisted of a 25-yard and slim pool with a shallow and deep finish. Due to this fact, we got a follow space of 25-yard all deep pool by 15 yards. Ultimately, we have been allowed to follow in a championship dimension all deep pool (30 x 20 meters).
Our first yr as a group, we completed third on the Japanese Championships. That yr we misplaced to Bucknell in addition to 4 occasions to Military. I recall a number of the freshmen telling me: “This may by no means occur once more.”
The group was not glad with its efficiency in opposition to Bucknell. The overall feeling was that we might beat them. That yr Military appeared to have the system to defeat us it doesn’t matter what. With Bucknell, there was one thing particular; they have been the group to beat in our convention.
Going to Bucknell was like going to play basketball at Duke. It was a type of locations the place chances are high you’re going to lose. That first yr we realized that and realized it shortly.
After we got here house with a third-place trophy—not many have been counting with us inserting within the high six, seven, or eight at Easterns—that was an enormous plus, and everybody began us somewhat in another way. It made it simpler to channel funds to journey to invitational tournaments in addition to getting additional pool time follow.
– 12 months Two was a distinct story. What modified?
Our second yr included a recruit from Paul Barren’s group in Pennsylvania. Paul was a extremely revered referee and coach. He had been to Puerto Rico as a referee within the Nationwide Championships and the Christmas Worldwide Water Polo Invitational.
I had plenty of respect for him as a water polo fanatic, coach, and referee. By means of a cellphone name, he accepted an invite to carry his group for a twin meet at Pitt. From that go to, Barry Ford, one among Paul’s gamers, determined to return to Pitt.
Barry was a superb group participant, driver, zone participant, and shooter. An enormous plus for us. He joined Luis Toro, Adrian “Butch” Silva, Jorge Machicote, and Mike Mere from Puerto Rico. As first-year college students, they joined Walter Younger (senior goalkeeper), Serafin Rolan (sophomore), and Carlos “Tato” Santiago (junior) because the core of Pitt water polo.
That second season began with wins over Bucknell and Military. The core of first-year college students established Pitt as a group to “search for” within the new season. We knew early on that we might exit and play the powerful guys and beat them. From there on, Pitt began rolling towards their purpose of profitable the convention and the Japanese Championship.
That season we encountered difficulties with referees as a result of our type of play. We had a global type, which was fairly completely different from most groups within the league. For some, our approach was too bodily.
Let me clarify that by bodily, our opponents meant that there was plenty of checking (touching opponent) with arms. That was a part of the worldwide or elite class water polo. And sure, we have been a bodily group within the sense that to beat us, you needed to be in good total situation.
That was a part of the abilities our convention required to develop or replace. It additionally was a matter of turning into bodily stronger as a result of swimming means solely was not sufficient.
Many gamers grew to become fairly upset to the purpose of dropping their mood as a result of our type of play.
– What’s outstanding is that in two years you constructed a program that grew to become the East’s finest.
My coach informed me if you happen to’re going to do one thing, do it nicely! Don’t come right here and waste everyone’s time.
I knew that the fellows I used to be teaching have been proficient, together with the newcomers. If I have been in a position to carry them up one nudge from the place they have been the primary day at Pitt, we’d achieve success. That was our philosophy; simply by pushing somewhat bit more durable, the Easterns have been inside attain.
They purchased my plan and devoted themselves and within the second yr, Pitt gained their convention and Easterns, in addition to a bid to NCAAs. The younger group from the East going to the well-known Belmont Plaza [pool] in Lengthy Seaside, California, to play on the NCAA Collegiate Water Polo Championships.
It was a dream come true for such a younger group. That they had the approach, the know-how of the sport, and weren’t bodily overpowered (they didn’t permit it). They have been quick on a permutation of adulthood-maturity-experience at a high-end degree water polo just like the USA Nationwide Collegiate Championships. Maybe I used to be a part of that equation!
For instance, at the moment, UC Irvine was one of many high groups [in the nation]. We have been forward in our match, and so they name a day trip. I get the fellows collectively and say: We’re beating the nationwide champions from final yr. We’re forward; we belong right here!
I seen a dramatic transformation within the expressions of some gamers—from enjoyment to an unfamiliar, and I don’t like this look. We misplaced the sport. After the match, numerous coaches and spectators requested what occurred. The query was apparent. My response was that I really feel I misplaced the sport for them. I had a motivational expression that modified every thing—and it backfired on us.
– Then there’s 12 months Three: the 1977 season.
Individuals overlook that there are two Pitt vs. Bucknell key matches worthwhile to be talked about right here. One was the primary match of the season at Bucknell. It happened within the presence of a standing room solely packed pool enviornment. [Scott] Schulte was at that sport. It was his first yr at Bucknell.
[On The Record with Scott Schulte, Bucknell, CWPA and USA Water Polo Hall of Famer]
It was a detailed sport with Pitt or Bucknell up-two or down-two into the ultimate minutes. The sport got here all the way down to the final 8 seconds with a tie rating.
Let me clarify a vital element. The principles had main cumulative and minor non-cumulative fouls. In case your group amassed three main fouls, the opponent group was awarded a free or penalty shot on the purpose. That’s, you may appoint any participant, within the water, to take an un-guarded shot 4-yards away from a 10-feet-wide purpose with solely the goalkeeper as a defender. Even the very best goalkeeper had means under odds of stopping the shot.
Pitt had the ball with 8-seconds left within the sport, and we name a timeout. Bucknell had two main fouls in opposition to; due to this fact, we name for a play to get the third main foul on them. Our gap participant was to obtain the ball within the two-meter line and try and take a shot.
Our technique labored as deliberate, and Bucknell dedicated their third main foul. As a consequence, we earned a penalty shot, scored, and that was the sport—we beat Bucknell at their pool.
All of the screaming and shouting we endured throughout the match, all of the sudden was gone. The pool space grew to become so silent that you may hear your steps. The gang vanished as if transported someplace else. I knew that was an enormous upset for Bucknell, a group with character and custom. Mike Schofield, a Pitt participant, got here out with a black eye.
[On The Record with Mike Schofield, Legendary Navy Water Polo Coach Turned Referee]
It was a impolite sport! For me, the Japanese championship sport was a reproduction of that first sport.
– What occurs within the closing in opposition to Bucknell with Pitt defending a one-goal lead?
That season was a protracted one for us. Defending a championship is more durable than profitable one.
In that season, we had a freshman goalkeeper, Steve Feller, from Mercersburg Academy in Pennsylvania. He changed one among our key gamers. As a newcomer to the group, we spent a lot of high quality time all through the season to get him prepared for this Pitt – Bucknell match. Certainly, he carried us to victory in lots of video games together with his defensive maneuvers, together with blocking penalty photographs. He had an exceptional season.
So, we’re within the finals seconds of the sport, and after Bucknell scores, we name a timeout. Many of the guys noticed beforehand the technique Bucknell was going to try after the day trip.
We have been anticipating that two Bucknell gamers have been going to defend our goalkeeper since, by rule, he needed to put the ball into play. The referee was Paul Barren, who would permit each groups time to arrange. Then he would throw the sport ball to our goalkeeper who needed to put the ball in play.
Bucknell arrange simply as we had anticipated. Two Bucknell gamers have been to assault our goalkeeper. That meant we’d have an open/unguarded participant within the discipline to obtain the goalkeeper go. Our free participant was positioned on the best aspect of the pool all by himself.
I chosen Mike Mere (RIP), the extra composed participant on the group, to obtain the go. Apart from being coolheaded, he was a proficient participant and swimmer. With the space he had away from the 2 Bucknell gamers, it was a matter of outsprinting them. Downfield, we have been prepared for an additional man offensive play or main foul to our strongman.
The timeout over, Barren throws the ball to our goalkeeper. In an try and catch it, [Feller] dropped the ball. The ball was not but in play as a result of he was not in a position to have a clear catch from the referee throw. I feel that beneath the stress state of affairs, the making use of rule by no means crossed his thoughts.
Fairly than decide the ball-up and instantly go it to Mere, he opted to raise the ball off the water (by that motion, the ball is now in play) after which tries to swim away with it. Goalkeepers often have a lot of bother getting out of these conditions. To make it worse, our goalkeeper was attacked by two glorious Bucknell gamers. Jay Fisette of Bucknell took the ball away and handed it to [Bill Vanderwilt] to attain the purpose that tied the sport for Bucknell. It was an enormous rivalry, and Bucknell grew-up to the second.
– It might have been a wholly completely different end result.
Throughout our timeout, if I recollect it proper, Mike Mere prompt switching to Jorge Machicote because the goalkeeper. He was one other coolheaded, savvy, and among the many most skilled gamers, we had. He knew deal with this case.
It was an incredible thought. Nonetheless, I wished my goalkeeper to undergo the expertise. In his first yr, he took us to the Japanese championship sport together with his glorious goalkeeping, braveness, and dedication. In lower than a second, I noticed about his future and self-confidence transferring ahead as a participant. I wished him to be a part of it till the top. My belief was on him. The remaining is historical past.
– As a spectator, the expectation is at all times that the participant will efficiently execute within the clutch.
This case exposes simply how tough sure conditions could be. The spectator generally doesn’t consider that we’re coping with human habits. That’s fairly an unpredictable issue on the highest degree of Olympic {and professional} sports activities and throughout the early levels of an actual novice collegiate athlete.
As I beforehand indicated, the mixture of intangible elements akin to adulthood-maturity-experience is extremely current within the collegiate sports activities enviornment. You get these with time and publicity to conditions. A coach can name a play, and it’s as much as the gamers to execute it. [Laughs[].
There was nothing for us to [complain about]. Through the season we gained video games and we misplaced video games. In life, as within the sports activities world, you must learn to take care of dropping and profitable. It’s important to respect and benefit from the second.
In that respect, I’ll always remember about Coach Hauck. He would say: This can be a sport and as such you must get pleasure from it. When you do this, you win it doesn’t matter what.
By going by way of the expertise, you win. Dropping is gaining new information. I want my gamers really feel that means. However in spite of everything these years, you must have fond recollections of these occasions. It was a profitable state of affairs for all.
– In that subsequent yr, after this nice rivalry has been established, the Pitt program didn’t proceed on the trajectory you had laid out for it.
I had set excessive targets, and I settle for that. Nonetheless, the state of affairs was this. I had accomplished my doctoral diploma necessities and wanted to get a job. Do not forget that my teaching was voluntary. A number of openings alternatives have been accessible in Puerto Rico. At the moment, Puerto Rico was on the point of host the 1979 Pan-American Video games. There was a possibility to Coordinate the Scientific Congress, be a part of as a college member in an area college, and change into a companion in a Sports activities Drugs Clinic. Additionally, there was a risk to remain at Pitt as a graduate assistant.
I spoke with coach Bradshaw and heard the varsity’s intention to supply future help. I met with Dr. Peterson (RIP). He was the primary driving drive that pushed for the Pitt Aquatic advanced. His imaginative and prescient was to have a complete program, together with swimming, synchronized swimming, diving, and water polo encompassing educational and aggressive elements. Issues have been in place for the continuation of the group.
The choice to go away was not simple. I nonetheless really feel how uncomfortable it was. I knew the fellows have been trying ahead to coming again and with robust dedication and need.
At the moment, in 1979, contemporary out of a doctoral program, with private {and professional} targets to completed, and beneath the prevailing situations, I wanted to maneuver ahead. It was essential to take a step ahead into the skilled world endeavors together with my household.
Now, I’m able to be a backer of the group. The teaching spirit remains to be with me.
