SWZ Award Winners

  • History- USA Water Polo solicits and funds awards for coaches and referees in each zone as detailed below. These award winners are then eligible for selection by USA Water Polo as its nominee for USOC coach of the year awards.
  • ZONE ELITE COACH OF THE YEAR (one for men’s programs and one for women’s programs):
    – A registered coach who exemplifies sportsmanship, winning performances and sound leadership in elite level competition (Open, 20s or collegiate).
  • ZONE SUPERIOR COACH OF THE YEAR (one for men’s programs and one for women’s programs): (new starting in 2009)
    – A registered coach who exemplifies sportsmanship, winning performances and sound leadership in the superior level competition (18s, 16s or High School).
  • ZONE DEVELOPMENT COACH OF THE YEAR (one for men’s programs and one for women’s programs):
    – A registered coach who exemplifies sportsmanship, winning performances and sound leadership in the developmental programs (14s, 12s or 10s).
  • ZONE MASTER OF THE YEAR: (new starting in 2013)
    – Honors the Masters member (one male and one female) who exemplifies sportsmanship, winning performances and a commitment to the Masters Water Polo community
  • ZONE ELITE REFEREE OF THE YEAR: (new starting in 2008)
    – A registered referee who exemplifies sportsmanship and sound leadership in elite level competition (Open, 20s or Collegiate).
  • ZONE SCHOLASTIC REFEREE OF THE YEAR: (new starting in 2008)
    – A registered referee who exemplifies sportsmanship and sound leadership in the Olympic Development Program.
  • ZONE DEVELOPMENT REFEREE OF THE YEAR: (new starting in 2008)
    – A registered referee who exemplifies sportsmanship and sound leadership in developmental programs (14s, 12s or 10s).
  • ZONE VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR: (new starting in 2004)
    A registered member who exemplifies volunteerism on behalf of the zone.

 

Past selections are:

2019
•Monte Nitzkowski Distinguished Coaching Award – Tom Andrew of Longhorn Aquatics
•Sandy Nitta Distinguished Coaching Award – No 2019 recipient
•Bill Barnett Distinguished Coaching Award – Mihai Oprea of Trident Water Polo
•Doc Hunkler Distinguished Coaching Award – Scott Slay of West Houston Water Polo
•Ted Newland Distinguished Coaching Award – Peter Hudak of Trident Water Polo
•Brent Bohlender Distinguished Coaching Award – Taylor Cox of Southside Water Polo Club
•Bret Bernard Distinguished Referee Award – Angela Uno
•Tom Hermstad Distinguished Referee Award – Mitch Dooley
•Aaron Chaney Distinguished Referee Award – Easton Honaker
•Masters Male Player – Nick Barnett of HOPS
•Masters Female Player – Ashley Hatcher of Pegasus Water Polo
•Masters Club – HOPS
•Volunteer of the Year – Leslie Benners of Pegasus Water Polo
2018
•Elite Men’s Coach – Mark Lawrence of Austin College
•Elite Women’s Coach / Scholastic Women’s Coach – Chris Cullen of North Texas Thunder Water Polo Club
•Scholastic Men’s Coach – Sabrina Carlisle of North Texas Thunder Water Polo Club
•Developmental Women’s Coach – Spencer Dornin of Pegasus Water Polo Academy
•Developmental Women’s Coach – Allie Hill of Longhorn Aquatics
•Elite Referee – Dustin Devaney
•Scholastic Referee – Angela Uno
•Developmental Referee – Jessie Hurd
•Masters Male Player – Nick Barnett of HOPS
•Masters Female Player – Vanessa Kerr of HOPS
•Masters Club – TOTEX
•Volunteer of the Year – Dr. Nikola Zivaljevic of Pegasus Water Polo Academy
2017
•Men’s Elite Coach – Tom Andrew
•Women’s Elite Coach – Chris Cullen
•Men’s Superior Coach – Mihai Oprea
•Women’s Superior Coach – Jeff Chandler
•Development Men’s Coach – Spencer Dornin
•Development Women’s Coach – Taylor Barnett
•Male Master – Jim Yates
•Female Master – Kristen Oliver
•Volunteer – Robert Albach
•Elite Referee – John Rightmyer
•Scholastic Referee – Dustin Devaney
•Development Referee – Leo Aguilu
2016
•Men’s Elite Coach – Joe Linehan
•Women’s Elite Coach – Rebecca Andrews
•Men’s Superior Coach – Mihai Oprea
•Women’s Superior Coach – Jeff Chandler
•Women’s Developmental / Volunteer of the Year – Chris Cullen
•Male Master – Arseni Grokhovski
•Female Master / Scholastic Referee – Kristen Oliver
•Master’s Club – HOPS
•Elite Referee – Scott Voltz
•Development Referee – Leo Aguilu
2015
•Men’s Elite Coach – Tom Andrew
•Women’s Elite Coach – Chris Cullen
•Men’s Superior Coach – Mihai Oprea
•Women’s Superior Coach – Joey Yglesias
•Development Men’s Coach – Pascal Cohen
•Development Women’s Coach – Stephanie Klocke
•Male Master – Austen Oliver
•Female Master – Rebecca Andrew
•Volunteer – Rick Hibbs
•Elite Referee – Austen Oliver
•Scholastic Referee – Richard Smith
•Development Referee – Mike Coon
2014
•Men’s Elite – Justin Cotter – UT Water Polo – Austin, TX
•Women’s Elite – Scott Slay – West Houston WPC – Katy, TX
•Men’s Superior – Mihai Oprea – St. Marks WPC, Dallas WPC – Dallas, TX
•Women’s Superior – Allie Hill – West Houston WPC, Baytown Sterling High School – Houston, TX
•Men’s Developmental – Tom Andrew – Longhorn Aquatics – Austin, TX
•Women’s Developmental – Sabrina Carlile – Thunder Water Polo – Dallas, TX
•Male Master of the Year – Austen Oliver – HOPS – Houston, TX
•Female Master of the Year – Becca Andrews – Austin WPC – Austin, TX
•Elite Referee – John Rightmyer – San Antonio, TX
•Scholastic Referee – Angela Uno – Dallas, TX
•Development Referee – Cole Mahan – Dallas, TX
•Volunteer – Robert Albach – Austin, TX
2013
•Men’s Elite – Joe Linehan – Thunder Water Polo – Dallas, TX
•Women’s Elite – Scott Slay – West Houston WPC – Katy, TX
•Men’s Superior – Stuart Webb – West Houston WPC, Jersey Village High School – Houston, TX
•Women’s Superior – TJ Markiewicz – West Houston WPC, Baytown Sterling High School – Houston, TX
•Men’s Developmental – Tom Andrew – Longhorn Aquatics, Cen-Tex WPC – Austin, TX
•Women’s Developmental – Shelby Slay – West Houston WPC, Baytown Sterling High School – Houston, TX
•Male Master of the Year – Jim Yates – San Antonio, TX
•Female Master of the Year – Kristen Barnett – Houston, TX
•Elite Referee – Vern Heimbigner – Dallas, TX
•Scholastic Referee – Andy Contreras – San Antonio, TX
•Development Referee – Jeff Taylor – Dallas, TX
•Volunteer – Joe Linehan – Dallas, TX
2012
•Men’s Elite – Mihai Oprea – Dallas WPC, North Dallas WPC, St. Marks High School – Dallas, TX
•Women’s Elite – Chris Cullen – Thunder WPC, Denton ISD – Denton, TX
•Men’s Superior – Brian Chambers – West Houston WPC, Strake Jesuit High School – Houston, TX
•Women’s Superior – Anne Woolweaver – Texas Wildcat WPC, Clear Creek High School – Houston, TX
•Men’s Developmental – Sean Murray – SW Zone 8th Grade ODP Coach, Austin WPC – Austin, TX
•Women’s Developmental – Scott Slay – West Houston WPC – Houston, TX
•Elite Referee – Vince Elizarde – Dallas, TX
•Scholastic Referee – John Rightmyer – San Antonio, TX
•Development Referee – Justin Nicholas – Ft. Worth, TX
•Volunteer – Richard Lau – Houston, TX
2011
•Men’s Elite – Arseni Grokhovski – ODP Men’s Coach, UT Men’s Coach and West Houston Water Polo – San Antonio, TX
•Women’s Elite – Joe Linehan – Dallas Water Polo Club – Irving, TX
•Men’s Superior – Scott Slay – West Houston WPC, Houston WPC and Tomball High School – Houston, TX
•Women’s Superior – TJ Markiewicz – Houston Water Polo Club and Baytown Sterling High School, Baytown, TX
•Men’s Developmental – Daniel Cox – ODP Men’s Coach and Dallas Water Polo Club – Dallas, TX
•Women’s Developmental – Mitch Halquist – ODP Women’s Coach, Houston Storm and Houston Water Polo Club – Houston, TX
•Elite Referee – John Rightmyer, San Antonio, TX
•Scholastic Referee – JT Wall, Richardson, TX
•Development Referee – Kristen Barnett, Houston, TX
•Volunteer – George Fenton, Dallas, TX
2010
•Men’s Elite – Mihai Oprea, Dallas Water Polo Club and St. Marks School, Dallas, TX
•Women’s Elite – Scott Slay, Houston Storm and Tomball High School, Houston, TX
•Men’s Superior – TJ Markiewicz, Dirty Bay Aquatics and Baytown High High School, Baytown, TX
•Women’s Superior – Mike Hoskevic, West Houston Water Polo Club and Houston Stratford High School, Houston, TX
•Men’s Developmental – Mitch Halquist, Houston Storm, Houston, TX
•Women’s Developmental – Chris Cullen, Dallas Water Polo Club and Denton High School, Denton, TX
•Elite Referee – JT Wall, Richardson, TX
•Scholastic Referee – John Rightmyer, San Antonio, TX
•Development Referee – Wes Mahan, Dallas, TX
•Volunteer – Richard Lau, Houston, TX
2009
•Men’s Elite – Scott Slay, North Houston Water Polo Club and Tomball High School, Houston, TX
•Women’s Elite – Joe Linehan, Dallas Water Polo Club, Irving, TX
•Men’s ODP – Chris Cullen, Dallas Water Polo Club and Denton High School, Denton, TX
•Women’s ODP – Andrew Pudwill, Dirty Bay Water Polo Club, Highlands, TX
•Men’s Superior – Mihai Oprea, Dallas Water Polo Club and St. Marks School, Dallas, TX
•Women’s Superior – Mike Hoskevic, Dirty Bay Water Polo Club and Houston Stratford High School, Houston, TX
•Men’s Developmental – Rudy Thomas, West Houston Water Polo Club, Houston, TX
•Women’s Developmental – Mitch Halquist, North Houston Water Polo Club, Houston, TX
•Elite Referee – JT Wall, Richardson, TX
•ODP Referee – John Rightmyer, San Antonio, TX
•Development Referee – Richard Smith, Houston, TX
•Volunteer – Jimmy Linehan, Sugar Land, TX
2008
•Elite – Scott Slay, Houston Water Polo Club and Baytown Sterling High School, Baytown, TX
•ODP – Chris Cullen, Dallas Water Polo Club and Denton High School, Denton, TX
•Developmental – Rudy Thomas, West Houston Water Polo Club, Houston, TX
•Elite Referee – Bart Vossen, Houston, TX
•ODP Referee – JT Wall, Richardson, TX
•Development Referee – John Rightmyer, San Antonio, TX
•Volunteer – Not awarded
2007
•Men’s Elite – Mihai Oprea, Dallas Water Polo Club and St. Marks School, Dallas, TX
•Men’s Developmental – Chris Cullen, Dallas Water Polo Club and Denton High School, Denton, TX
•Women’s Elite – Joe Linehan, Houston Water Polo Club, Houston, TX
•Women’s Developmental – Scott Slay, Houston Water Polo Club and Baytown Sterling High School, Baytown, TX
•Volunteer – Frank Connor, Dallas Water Polo Club, Denton, TX
2006
•Men’s Elite – Mihai Oprea, Dallas Water Polo Club and St. Marks School, Dallas, TX
•Men’s Developmental – Scott Slay, Texas Water Polo Club and Baytown Sterling High School, Baytown, TX
•Women’s Elite – Joe Linehan, Houston Water Polo Club, Houston, TX
•Women’s Developmental – Ryan Minsterman, Texas Water Polo Club, Baytown, TX
•Volunteer – George Fenton, Dallas Water Polo Club, Dallas, TX
2005
•Men’s Elite – Mihai Oprea, Dallas Water Polo Club and St. Marks School, Dallas, TX
•Men’s Developmental – Joe Linehan, Houston Water Polo Club, Houston, TX
•Women’s Elite – Dave Lee, Rice University, Houston, TX
•Women’s Developmental – Brad Schurdell, Houston Water Polo Club and Houston Clear Brook High School, Humble, TX
•Volunteer – John McGough, Carroll Water Polo Club, Southlake, TX
2004
•Men’s Elite – Skylar Putman, Austin Water Polo Club, Austin, TX
•Men’s Developmental – Scott Slay, Dirty Bay Aquatics and Baytown Sterling High School, Baytown, TX
•Women’s Elite – Joe Linehan, Houston Water Polo Club, Houston, TX
•Women’s Developmental – Brad Schurdell, Houston Water Polo Club and Houston Clear Brook High School, Humble, TX
•Volunteer – Frank Connor, Dallas Water Polo Club, Denton, TX
2003
•Men’s Elite – Joe Linehan, Houston Water Polo Club, Houston, TX
•Men’s Developmental – Mihai Oprea, Dallas Water Polo Club and St. Mark’s High School, Dallas, TX
•Women’s Elite – Dave Lee, Rice University, Houston, TX
•Women’s Developmental – Brad Schurdell, Wolf Polo Club and Houston Westside High School, Houston, TX
2002
•Men’s Elite – None selected
•Men’s Developmental – Mihai Oprea, St. Marks Lions, Dallas, TX
•Women’s Elite – Vicky Gorman, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ
•Women’s Developmental – Robbie Bova, Albuquerque Water Polo Club, Albuquerque, NM
2001
•Elite – Dewey Newsom, HOPS, Houston, TX
•Developmental – Brad Peercy, Kearns, Kearns, UT