Dec. 24, 2006

BREA, CALIF. - Kirk Everist was named Division I Coach of the Year, and the No. 1-ranked 2006 California men's water polo team had an impressive 10 players selected to the 2006 Association of Collegiate Water Polo Coaches All-America Team, it was announced by the ACWPC.

Seniors John Mann and Brian Kinsel, and junior goalie Mark Sheredy were tabbed as first-team All-Americans. Senior Marty Matthies was named a second-team All-American; senior Andrija Vasiljevic and junior Jeff Tyrrell were third-team All-America picks; and senior Brian Bacharach, junior Michael Sharf, junior Adam Haley and freshman Spencer Warden were selected honorable mention All-Americans.

Under the direction Everist, Cal finished the 2006 campaign 31-4, winning the MPSF title with a 6-5 victory over USC in Irvine on Nov. 26. On Dec. 3 at Loyola Marymount, the Bears again upended the Trojans with a thrilling 7-6 win in the national title match on a last second shot by Tyrrell to give Cal its NCAA-record 12th national crown.

"To have 10 All-America selections this season is a great testimonial to our team effort," said Everist, who has now led Cal to a 112-36 (.757) record in five seasons, including MPSF titles in 2002 and 2006. "I looked back in history and 10 All-Americans tied the 1974 Cal squad for the most All-Americans ever selected in a single year."

Mann, a top candidate for the Peter J. Cutino Award as the nation's top collegiate water polo player, was earlier picked as the MPSF Tournament MVP, first-team NCAA All-Tournament and All-MPSF first team. He was the Bears' leading scorer with 80 goals in 33 matches and finished his college career with 218 goals. Kinsel, who concluded his career with 131 goals, was first-team NCAA All-Tournament and second-team All-MPSF; while Sheredy was NCAA Tournament MVP, MPSF All-Tournament and third-team All-MPSF after finishing the year with 198 saves.

Matthies also garnered MPSF All-Tournament, second-team NCAA Tournament and MPSF second team honors this season. He had a goal against USC in the NCAA title match. Vasiljevic was NCAA Tournament first team, MPSF second team and MPSF All-Academic, concluding his career with 144 goals. Tyrrell, besides his game-winner in the title match versus USC, was MPSF honorable mention and tallied 41 goals in 2006.

Bacharach, a two-year team captain, was also NCAA Tournament second team and MPSF All-Academic, scoring a team-high two goals against USC in the NCAA Championship. He finished his career with 141 goals. Sharf was the Bears' second-leading scorer this season with 48 goals and was MPSF All-Academic. One of Cal's top defenders, Haley was MPSF All-Academic as well, scoring a goal against UC San Diego in the NCAA Tournament.

A redshirt freshman, Warden was also named MPSF Newcomer of the Year, MPSF All-Tournament and was MPSF All-Academic. He led the Bears with over 60 steals, finished the season with 29 goals and had the match-winning assist to Tyrrell in the NCAA title match victory over USC.