1996 BOYS WATER POLO TEAM

PIAA State Champion

The 1996 Boys Water Polo season began with much anticipation as the team certainly fielded the strongest cast of players in its brief school's history. Team members realized that they were a strong favorite over league rivals Souderton and Wissahickon and were looking forward to a strong showing in November at the State Tournament.

During the regular season the Knights compiled a 16-4 record. The team cruised through the Eastern Division with an untarnished record leading them to the Division Title. The Knights lost two matches at the prestigious Beast of the East Tournament to Wilson, West Lawn and eastern power, Greenwich, Connecticut.  The Knights lost later that week to the Mifflin Mustangs and again in the season to the Bulldogs of Wilson.

The team still believed they had the ability to compete with the best, even though few others felt the same way. The team opened the State Tournament with strong victories including a close semifinal 9-8 victory over the Mifflin Mustangs. Many thought the semifinal was the highlight of the tournament as most water polo supporters had Wilson winning the final game and earning its 10th consecutive State Title. As expected the Bulldogs jumped out to a 5-1 lead and seemed to be on their way to an easy victory. Then it all began to change, and the Knights were on a roll. When the middle of period three began, the teams were deadlocked at nine a piece. The stands and deck were packed, and the noise in the natatorium was deafening. The atmosphere certainly favored the Knights as most wanted to see the Bulldog's State Title streak end. The fourth period was a nail biter, and with 10 seconds left in the game, the Bulldogs had the ball with a chance to tie. The attempt was blocked, and the natatorium erupted as the Knights seemed to pull the upset that only they thought possible.

When all said and done, many realized that the title was no fluke as the team was loaded with talent. Team captains Steve Johnston and Jeff Faikish earned 2nd Team All American Honors and 5th Team All- American Honors, respectively. Steve and Jeff also received 1st Team All-State Honors.   Joining these two on the All State team were Kevin Rader and Eric Umaluf earning 2nd Team All- State Honors and Sylvo Szabo, Mike McPeak and Ryan McGrath earning 3rd Team All- State Honors.

Later that school year the 1996 Boys Swimming Team won the 1996-97 PIAA State Swimming Championship. At the present time, no other North Penn Girls or Boys Water Polo / Swim Team had captured both titles in the same school year.

 

 

Team Record 20 - 4                                                   

North Penn   20          Wissahickon    6                     North Penn  11           Lawrenceville   1

North Penn  11           Upper Perkiomen  2               North Penn  16           Wissahickon    7

North Penn   15          Cumberland Valley  7                         North Penn  20           Souderton   8

North Penn  14           Upper Perkiomen  4               North Penn  15           Cumberland Valley  4

North Penn  16           Governor Mifflin  13              North Penn   9                        Lawrenceville   4

North Penn  12           Perkiomen Valley  7                North Penn  11           Perkiomen Valley  3

North Penn  12           Reading    4                             North Penn   8                        Wilson    18

North Penn  11           Eire McDowell   8                   North Penn   14          Wissahickon   6

North Penn  10           Upper Perkiomen  5               North Penn  16           Souderton    5

North Penn   9                        Wilson     10                            North Penn  18           Wissahickon    7

North Penn   9                        Greenwich   18                        North Penn    9           Governor Mifflin  8

North Penn  11           Governor Mifflin  12              State Championship Game:

North Penn  16           Wilson    14

 

 

PIAA State ChampionshipTeam Members:

Bill Baldwin                             Mike McPeak

Jeremy Bergman                     Steve Phillabaum

Chris Craig                              Kevin Rader

Chris Duricek                          Sylvo Szabo

Jeff Faikish                              Gabe Turzo

Steve Johnston                                    Eric Umlauf

Ryan McGrath

 

PIAA All State:           Steve Johnston, Jeff  Faikish 1^st Team All State

Eric Umlauf, Kevin Rader 2^nd Team All State

Mike McPeak, Ryan McGrath, Sylvo Szabo    3^rd Team All State

 

 
All Americans:  Steve Johnston 2^nd Team;  Jeff Faikish 5^th Team

                                                                          Head Coach Bill Bartle

Assistant Coach Denise Geunes

Captains: Steve Johnston, Jeff Faikish

 

Team Members in picture (left to right):

Front row:                   2^nd row:                       3^rd row:                        4^th row:                                  

Jonathon Faikish         Devin Phillabaum       Coach Bartle               Gabe Turzo

Steve Fleming              Eric Biocchi                 Mike McPeak              Kevin Rader

Dominic Szabo            Jeremy Bergman         Ryan  McGrath           Steven Johnston

Matt Gibson                Steve Phillabaum        Doug Phillabaum        Eric Umlauf

Tim Kronstain             Jason Geddes               Sylvo Szabo

Steve Pasquale             Bill Baldwin                 Jeff Faikish

James Thompson        Matt Mizialko              Chris Duricek

Chris Craig                  Lee Rappaport                        Andy Lanzone (mgr.)

J D Snyder                   Coach Geunes