Hudnut Pools His Resources

Peter Hudnut spends hours studying so he can make the grade at Harvard-Westlake High, one of the toughest academic schools in the region.

He has narrowed college choices to Stanford, California, UCLA and Pepperdine, again difficult academic institutions.

But Hudnut hopes all the calculus, English, physics and world history will take a back seat when its time for him to make a career choice.

He wants to be a water polo bum.

“I’m hoping to play four years for a Division I top school, win the NCAAs, more than once, and play the next decade or so on the national team and in at least one Olympics,” Hudnut said. “Then maybe I can play professionally in Europe.”

Pretty lofty goals, but one Hudnut, The Times’ Valley/Ventura County water polo player of the year, has the skills to attain.

One of two high school players on the U.S. 19-and-under team last summer, Hudnut will begin training with the U.S. national team next month.

He is a two-time high school All-American, a two-time All-Southern Section Division I selection and many say he is the best in the region since Jim Toring, a national team member who was killed in a tragic accident in Paris last summer.

The 6-foot-5 Hudnut might not have the statistics of other players in the region (though he very well might have--Coach Rich Corso does not keep statistics) but he was clearly the most feared.

Constant double-and-triple-teaming of Hudnut at the two-meter position helped open up outside shots for others on the team, enabling the Wolverines to enjoy success they had not found since 1994--a trip to the Southern Section Division I final, where Hudnut scored three times in an 11-7 loss to Long Beach Wilson.

Hudnut said the reduced scoring enables him to focus more on other parts of the game.

“My stats as a two-meter are probably horrible,” Hudnut said. “But I sort of expected that. I love every aspect of the game, but defense used to be my specialty.”

If he is not in the water, Hudnut is studying. Last spring he studied for final exams between games of tournaments. During the high school season, a typical day saw Hudnut wake up early for practice, go to classes, practice or play a game after school and return home to study.

So why all the attention on academics for someone focused on water polo?

“I will have a serious job someday,” Hudnut said with a chuckle. “I know water polo won’t be my life, but for the next 10 or 15 years, it will be.”

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REGION’S BEST: A look at The Times’ All-Region Boys’ Water Polo first and second teams. Page 14