UCLA Has a Winning Personality

When winning a national championship in water polo, as UCLA did Sunday, no one needs to yell, “Everybody in the pool.”

It happens naturally.

The Bruins staged a pool party after defeating UC San Diego, 11-2, in the title game of the NCAA men’s water polo championship on a sunny but cool day at Pepperdine.

Everybody was invited. Fully clothed co-Coaches Guy Baker and Adam Krikorian jumped into the pool. So did senior Adam Wright, the star player declared ineligible a month ago because of a paperwork mistake, a situation that had caused so much hurt and frustration.

Academic advisor Eric White got thrown in, as did longtime UCLA trainer Tony Spino.

UCLA has now won 83 national championships, more than any other school in the country, and Spino has been involved with 14. But this was the first time he’d been thrown in a pool. He was the football trainer last year, when the water polo team also won it all.

This was UCLA’s seventh water polo title, and fourth since 1995.

The Bruins had too much speed and were too tough on defense for Division II UC San Diego, which had upset USC, 9-8, in the semifinals on Saturday to advance to the title game.

“We’re by far the fastest team in the country,” Baker said, “and you can’t practice against that kind of speed.”

Brian Brown scored three goals, Olympian and final four most valuable player Sean Kern scored two and goalie Brandon Brooks had 11 saves and allowed only one goal.

“Brandon is the best goalie in the country,” Baker said.

He was also a member of the UCLA basketball team last season. He said there wasn’t a spot available for him this year. Maybe there should be.

This may not appease the alumni, but UCLA is certainly a power in water polo.

The Bruins had little trouble getting past Navy in the semifinals, building an 11-1 lead on their way to a 12-5 victory. On Sunday, USC beat Navy, 15-9, in the third-place game.

It probably wouldn’t have mattered whom UCLA played for the title. The Bruins seemed unbeatable, even without Wright, their leading scorer.

“I couldn’t be more proud of these guys,” Wright said. “I would have been disappointed beyond belief if we hadn’t won.

“We’re all best friends.”