MALIBU, Calif. -- In what Pepperdine Water Polo Head Coach Jack Kocur describes as “our year,” the 2008 water polo season looks to be promising for the Waves as most of the key players from 2007 have returned.

 

“I believe we’re a more mature, more experienced team than last year,” said Kocur, who begins his third year as head coach. “We’re ripe for success.”

 

The Waves finished the 2007 season 27-10 overall and 3-5 for a tie for sixth place in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation. The team ended the season tied for seventh in the national rankings, and also begins 2008 ranked seventh.

 

Gary O’Brien will begin his first season as the assistant men’s water polo coach. O’Brien comes to the Waves with a wealth of experience including playing for UCLA and as a semi-professional player in Australia as well as eight years of coaching at the high school, community college and club levels.

 

“Gary is the missing link that this program has needed,” said Kocur. “He brings energy, enthusiasm, excitement and fire, plus an amazing will to win. He’s a master of X’s and O’s and has the personality to motivate and propel our athletes to the next level.”

 

The Waves’ five seniors will play a prominent role in the team’s success this season. They are the core of the team, as four of the five redshirted two years ago with the goal of making 2008, their final year, a championship season.

 

“I expect this group to provide leadership and direction both in and out of the pool,” said Kocur.

 

Adam Hewko (Irvine, Calif./Servite HS) returns after taking spring semester off to train with the U.S. Men’s National Water Polo Team. The senior attacker led the team in scoring with 59 goals last season. Hewko, a 2007 All-American and a three-time All-MPSF pick, made it to the final cut for the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team. His performance was even more remarkable in light of a life-threatening complication from a minor shoulder surgery in January. Severe internal bleeding sent Hewko back to the hospital and into the intensive care unit for several weeks. Fortunately, Hewko has completely recovered and should continue to be one of the top players for the Waves.

 

“Adam’s experience with the USA team has been a tremendous influence on our team,” said Kokur. “We try to get the team to play up to his level. He’s a very positive role model for the younger players.”

 

Grant Miller (La Verne, Calif./La Verne HS) is described by Kocur as “the best 2-meter defender in the country.” The two-time All-American is expected to be the main communicator of the front court defense. Miller recorded 39 goals for the Waves in the 2007 season.

 

Goalie Jack Curley (Sonoma, Calif./Santa Rosa CC), transferred in last year as a junior and is expected to be a contender for the starting goalie position. Curley finished strong for the Waves in the 2007 MPSF Tournament. The senior goalkeeper finished the 2007 season with 120 saves.

 

Centerback Matt Digges (Coronado, Calif./Coronado HS) will continue his role as a team leader and with consistency should be one of the top scorers for the Waves. Digges contributed 15 goals for the Waves last season.

 

Rounding out the senior class is attacker Matt MacDonell (Redwood City, Calif./Bellarmine Prep) who along with his brother, junior attacker J.P. MacDonell (Redwood City, Calif./Bellarmine Prep) are described by Kocur as “the spark plugs of the team ... emotionally, physically and mentally. I have high expectations for both of them and look forward to watching their success in their last season playing together.”

 

J.P. was the second-highest scorer for the Waves in the 2007 season with 58 goals and was named to the MPSF honorable mention team for the second straight year.  Matt added 19 goals last season.

 

Clayton Snyder (Seal Beach, Calif./Los Alamitos HS), a junior center, should have a “breakout year” according to Kocur. Snyder is known for his leadership in and out of the pool and his sense of character. Snyder was one of the leading scorers for the Waves last season with 42 goals.

 

“I see Clayton scoring at least two goals every game and drawing 4-5 ejections,” Kocur said.

 

Junior Brett Auer (Newport Beach, Calif./Newport Beach HS) should be one of the strongest utility players for the Waves. He scored 13 goals last season.

 

“Brett is a consummate team player,” Kocur said. “I like to see him have the confidence in his ability to carry the team in certain situations.”

 

Sophomore Andrew Milcovich (Walnut Creek, Calif./De La Salle HS) and junior Taylor Watson (Alamo, Calif./Monte Vista HS) should be key players for the Waves’ offense this season. Milcovich led the returning freshmen in scoring last season with 21 goals while Watson was one of two Waves selected to the 2007 MPSF All-Academic team.

 

“I expect Andrew and Taylor to really step up this year in terms of goal scoring,” Kocur said.

 

Kocur looks forward to seeing juniors Sam Busby (La Jolla, Calif./La Jolla HS) and Preston Lujan (Coronado, Calif./Coronado HS) and sophomores Christian Cardey (Riverside, Calif./Riverside Poly HS) and Blake Hubbell (Malibu, Calif./Royal HS) to take on roles that will support the team to the best of their abilities.

 

Most notable among the newcomers is freshman John Hahn (Sydney, Australia/Macquorie Univ.), who is also expected to challenge for the starting goalkeeper position after coming in with extensive club and junior national team experience in his native Australia.

 

According to Kocur, all the top teams in the nation have lost three to five of their starters. He believes the Waves are ready for a championship season: “This year the team to beat will be Pepperdine.”