The 2002 NCAA Men's Water Polo Championship was the 34th annual
NCAA Men's Water Polo Championship
The NCAA Men's Water Polo Championship is an annual tournament to determine the national champion of NCAA men's collegiate water polo. Beginning in 1969, it has been held every year except 2020, when it was postponed to March 2021 because of the C ...
to determine the national champion of
NCAA
The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) is a nonprofit organization that regulates student athletics among about 1,100 schools in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico. It also organizes the athletic programs of colleges an ...
men's collegiate
water polo
Water polo is a competitive sport, competitive team sport played in water between two teams of seven players each. The game consists of four quarters in which the teams attempt to score goals by throwing the water polo ball, ball into the oppo ...
. Tournament matches were played at the
Burns Aquatic Center on the campus of
Loyola Marymount University
Loyola Marymount University (LMU) is a private Jesuit and Marymount research university in Los Angeles, California. It is located on the west side of the city near Playa Vista. LMU is the parent school to Loyola Law School, which is located ...
in
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the largest city in the state of California and the second most populous city in the United States after New York City, as well as one of the world' ...
during December 2002.
Stanford defeated rival
California
California is a state in the Western United States, located along the Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the most populous U.S. state and the 3rd largest by area. It is also the m ...
in the final, 7–6, to win their tenth national title. The Cardinal (24–5) were coached by
John Vargas
John Vargas is an American actor best known for his role in the films ''Primary Colors'' and '' Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan''. "Seduced By Evil" 1994.
Early life
John Vargas was born in the Bronx and moved to Puerto Rico when his father Jua ...
.
The ''Most Outstanding Player'' of the tournament was again
Tony Azevedo from Stanford. Azevedo, along with six other players, also comprised the ''All-Tournament Team''.
Azevedo, along with
Queens College's
Michael Vieira, were the tournament's leading scorers, with 5 goals each.
Qualification
Since there has only ever been one single national championship for water polo, all
NCAA
The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) is a nonprofit organization that regulates student athletics among about 1,100 schools in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico. It also organizes the athletic programs of colleges an ...
men's water polo programs (whether from
Division I,
Division II, or
Division III
In sport, the Third Division, also called Division 3, Division Three, or Division III, is often the third-highest division of a league, and will often have promotion and relegation with divisions above and below.
Association football
*Belgian Thir ...
) were eligible. A total of 4 teams were invited to contest this championship.
Bracket
*Site:
Burns Aquatics Center,
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the largest city in the state of California and the second most populous city in the United States after New York City, as well as one of the world' ...
All-tournament team
*
Tony Azevedo, Stanford (Most outstanding player)
*
Attila Banhidy, California
*
Nick Ellis, Stanford
*
Peter Hudnut, Stanford
*
Chris Lathrop, California
*
Andrew Stoddard, California
*
Michael Vieira, Queens (NY)
See also
*
NCAA Men's Water Polo Championship
The NCAA Men's Water Polo Championship is an annual tournament to determine the national champion of NCAA men's collegiate water polo. Beginning in 1969, it has been held every year except 2020, when it was postponed to March 2021 because of the C ...
*
NCAA Women's Water Polo Championship
The NCAA Women's Water Polo Championship has existed since the 2001 season. Seven conferences have teams competing in women's water polo: the Big West Conference, the Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA), the single-sport Golden Coast Conferen ...
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ncaa Men's Water Polo Championship
NCAA Men's Water Polo Championship
The NCAA Men's Water Polo Championship is an annual tournament to determine the national champion of NCAA men's collegiate water polo. Beginning in 1969, it has been held every year except 2020, when it was postponed to March 2021 because of the C ...
NCAA Men's Water Polo Championship
The NCAA Men's Water Polo Championship is an annual tournament to determine the national champion of NCAA men's collegiate water polo. Beginning in 1969, it has been held every year except 2020, when it was postponed to March 2021 because of the C ...
2002 in sports in California
December 2002 sports events in the United States
2002