Back in the water
Some bonds are forged in chlorine. For the University of Dayton Club Water Polo team, that truth has held across decades, and one recent weekend made it tangible in the best possible way.
Alumni spanning every era of the program arrived on a perfectly sunny day in early March for the annual alumni weekend, bringing together players from the national championship years of the 1990s, the varsity team of the 1980s and today's current roster. It’s one part reunion, one part history lesson and a reminder that the draw of the sport endures long after the season ends.
The weekend began with the group packed into the stands for the UD vs. VCU men’s basketball game, spilling into seats with the easy comfort of people who already speak the same language. Old nicknames surfaced and handshakes turned into hugs.
“It’s easy to pick up these friendships right where they left off,” said Mark Faulhaber ’96, catching up with former teammates who were freshmen when he was a senior.
Saturday was the main event with the alumni arriving at the pool to watch the current team compete in a tournament against the University of Cincinnati and Wayne State, providing a chance to size up the competition before pulling on caps of their own for the centerpiece of the weekend: the alumni vs. current players game. What followed was a performance that surprised even some of the players involved — a decisive 11-3 alumni victory that sent a clear message across the water.
“I was honestly surprised at how well we played,” said Ken Krahe ’98. “Muscle memory kicked in, along with some smart substitutions.”
Current UD set player, Thomas Pitstick, a first-year student, saw it from the other side: “The alumni definitely should not be underestimated!”
The program's history gives that competitiveness some meaningful context. The team was originally a varsity program before transitioning to club status following Title IX adjustments — a shift that changed its structure but not its identity — and becoming coed. The crown jewel of that history remains 1995, when the team captured a national championship with a 9-7 victory over Army. For the alumni who were there, it remains the kind of shared memory that defines a chapter of a life.
“It’s great to come back to the pool each year and see the program still thriving,” said Jamie Hammond ’98. “And that the energy of the team has stayed consistent throughout the years.”
Current player and junior Megan Woelfl said, “Having [the alumni] show up for us makes me want to play better and keep their legacy alive.”
Sean Geehan ’84 helped establish the varsity program and coached the team through its championship years. He was elated when his son, Mick Geehan ’21, decided to carry on the tradition.
“The uniqueness of the sport is definitely what makes the team’s culture feel so consistent across generations,” said Sean Geehan. “The combination of genuine competitiveness and fun has clearly been passed down to the current roster.”
The weekend wound down at Milano's, where game recaps gave way to longer stories about careers, kids, cities lived in and left behind, and the occasional memory that had somehow gotten funnier with age — the decades blurred together to form one team still competing, laughing and making waves.
photos provided