Brian Dudley represents what is best about California men's water polo.
Sure, that includes being a member of the Golden Bears' 2007 national championship squad and getting tabbed as an honorable mention All-American last season. But for Dudley it is much more than just his athletic accolades. It is about taking advantage of opportunities and being a well-rounded student-athlete at one of the most prestigious universities in the nation.
"Being a part of a national championship team was one of the greatest accomplishments I have ever achieved in my life," explained Dudley, a 6-5 junior center back from Johannesburg, South Africa, who as a redshirt freshman scored a goal against USC in the '07 NCAA title match. "At the same time you have to remain focused on why you are really here at Cal. As a water polo player of course you are here to win a national championship, but first of all you are here as a student and coach (Kirk Everist) reminds us of that."
At the present, Dudley has more than proven to be the perfect individual for the athletic and academic rigors of Cal. Along with scoring 47 goals in his first two seasons as a Bear he is also a two-time ACWPC All-Academic honoree (similar to an Academic All-American) majoring in business administration, and last February was accepted into Cal's prestigious Haas School of Business. Yet it was not a forgone conclusion that Dudley was going to be successful in Berkeley.
Born in Johannesburg, South Africa to an American mother and South African father, Dudley attended St. John's High School, an all-boy's private school in Johannesburg, and had contemplated going to a more conservative Ivy League school in the United States. However, he was spotted by Everist competing for a club team at the 2005 Navy Open in Annapolis, Md. before going back to school in South Africa, and the Bears' coach had been impressed enough to offer Dudley a chance for a recruiting visit to Cal.
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"I had grown up attending an all-boy's private boarding school, so when I came on my recruiting visit to Cal and saw all the diversity and people protesting I knew it was the place I had to be in order to grow as a person," said Dudley. "Both my mother (Kate McMahon) and my father (Frank Dudley) are professional business people and I knew that was what I wanted to study in school. Still, I believe I was a little bit of a risk and Kirk took a chance on me."
The chance that Everist took on recruiting Dudley has more than paid off. After redshirting in 2006, the Cal standout scored 19 goals as a redshirt freshman in 2007, but no score was more thrilling for the young South African than his goal with 6:21 left in the NCAA title match versus USC that gave the Bears a 6-4 advantage on the way to their 8-6 win. Dudley exulted with his fist in the air after the shot and later was the first player to grab Everist and throw him into the pool during the post-match celebration plunge.
Last season Dudley raised his scoring total to 28 goals, was the Nov. 17 Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Player of the Week after a match-winning goal in sudden-death overtime at Long Beach State, and was an honorable mention All-American. He was also selected as the winner of the Peter J. Cutino Water Polo Trophy as the team's most improved player.
Another one of Dudley's notable accomplishment during the 2008-09 campaign was to help Everist's squad earn the Newmark Award as the team with the most improved cumulative team GPA among Cal's 27 intercollegiate sports.
"Brian is a kid who has done very well athletically for us and obviously has excelled in the classroom," said Everist. "He is someone with high expectations in all areas of his life. He holds himself to a high standard and that shows through in the water as well as everything he does outside of the pool."
True to his word, Dudley even had to sacrifice some of his athletic aspirations for his scholastic endeavors. This past summer he had the opportunity to compete for the South African National Team at the World Championships in Rome, but had to decline in order to stay in Berkeley for two required courses in the Haas School of Business.
Dudley should have another opportunity to compete on the world stage, though, as he is a candidate to play for South Africa at the 2012 Olympics in London. For now, his goal to continue to excel in his academics at Cal and to help the Bears capture another national crown.
"I want to pay Cal back for taking a chance on me," said Dudley. "I believe I have an obligation to take advantage of every opportunity I have here. Every second of the day I try to devote all my energy to Cal in order to give back to the school. I love Cal with all my heart and I am just so proud to be a Golden Bear."
