The Rocky Mountain Collegian

Issue date: 4/11/08 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Steve Root Sophomore Jim Heafner practices in the Simon Recreation Center pool.

Media Credit: Steve Root Freshman Greg Keogh and the rest of the team are preparing for Mizzou's Spring Shootout.

The club water polo team has had its share of problems in the past.

Freshmen Ray Kreienkamp and Pete Cosentino, though, revived the water polo team this year with the help of current vice president of the water polo team Charlie Andrus. The duo hopes the team can rejoin the Collegiate Water Polo Association next year.

Both freshmen came to Saint Louis University this year with previous experience: Kreienkamp played at SLU High School, contributing to his team's back-to-back state victories, while Cosentino played in Chicago, making second team All-State. When the two started the team, they were surprised by student involvement.

"We've been really happy with how the team has grown already," said Kreienkamp, the club's president, "and we're looking forward to having a strong team next year."

Andrus, senior Alex Antal and junior John Janowiak initiated the water polo team two years ago. All three drew upon their experience from high school to put a college team together as freshmen. The team entered the CWPA by the end of the year, but problems arose the next fall.

"We were a team, but we were lacking in experience," Andrus said. "There were varying degrees of attendance and no defined leadership roles."

In 2006, scattered leadership and weak commitment from players resulted in the team's expulsion from the league. In 2007, Cosentino and Kreienkamp looked to Andrus for guidance in rejoining the league.

"This team is more cohesive than the previous one; they are all friends and they have a stronger team aspect," Andrus said.

Andrus said the team this year has seen more success because of strong leadership from the freshmen co-founders.

"It's easy to work with [Kreienkamp] because of his dedication to the team," said Cosentino, club treasurer.

Kreienkamp said the men's and women's teams are growing and expects both to join the league next year. Current members include students from all over the country who have varying degrees of experience.

Earlier this year, both teams won a scrimmage at Washington University in St. Louis. This weekend, they will travel to the University of Missouri for "Mizzou's Spring Shootout," facing Midwest teams such as the University of Iowa, Kansas State University and the University of Kansas. Andrus said the tournament will be a good test for the team's unity.

"I really think they have the potential to go further than we did," Andrus said, "and it will be interesting to see what they can do."

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