Sept. 24, 2009
BRIDGEPORT, PA - The Johns Hopkins water polo team is the top-ranked team in Division III for the seventh consecutive week, dating back to November 19, 2008. The seven straight weeks at number one is a school record, besting the 2005-06 teams that were ranked in the top spot for six consecutive weeks. The Blue Jays received 100 points and are the unanimous number one for the third straight week.
Hopkins (6-6) is also ranked 20th in the National Men's Varsity Top 20 and third in the Collegiate Water Polo Association Poll. The Blue Jays, who were tied for 20th in last week's Varsity Poll, received eight points, just getting edged out for 19th by Cal Baptist. In the CWPA Poll, JHU received 90 points. The #3 ranking is the highest the Blue Jays have ever been ranked in the CWPA Poll.
Hopkins returns to action this week on Friday, September 25 as the Blue Jays travel to Lewistown, PA to take on Bucknell in CWPA Southern Division action. The Blue Jays defeated the Bison, 11-10, last weekend in the opening round of the ECAC Championships. Hopkins went on to finish third at the championships. The Blue Jays then travel to Claremont, CA for the annual Claremont Convergence, October 2-3. Hopkins will face some stiff Division III competition, taking on #4 Claremont-Mudd-Scripps, #5 Cal Lutheran, #6 Whittier and #2 Redlands.
Senior Kyle Gertridge (Gunn Prep, CA /Paolo Alto) leads JHU with a team-best 24 goals, 15 assists and 39 points. His 24 goals ranks 15th in the country among all divisions. Ranked second on the team is freshman Alex Whittam (Hillsborough, CA/Sacred Heart Prep) with 22 goals and 29 points. Junior goalie Jeremy Selbst (Old Greenwich, CT/Greenwich) has posted 99 saves on the year and ranks fifth in the country in that category.
