A Season To Remember: Celebrating The 40th Anniversary Of The 1982 Men's Water Polo National Championship Team

UC Irvine men’s water polo is set to honor the 40th anniversary of the undefeated 1982 National Championship team against Stanford on Friday, Oct. 7th at 7 p.m. followed by an alumni game on Saturday, October 8th.

A Season to Remember

After winning their first national championship title in 1970, head coach Ted Newland led the team to a 30-0 season in 1982 where they defeated Stanford 7-4 on November 28th. Newland earned the NCAA Coach of the Year award for this legendary campaign.

In the 1982 season preview, Coach Newland looked at the experienced roster knowing this could be a special team stating, “John (O’Brien) knows the game and controls the defense well, particularly against the counterattack. Peter (Campbell) is one of the most intelligent players and students of the game I have ever coached. John (Vargas) has one of the prettiest shots in water polo and he makes up for lack of size with his knowledge of the game.”

UC Irvine was led by Jeff Campbell, Peter Campbell, Tony Choquehuanca, Trevor Dodson, John O’Brien, John Olivier, Diggy Riley, George Robertson, and John Vargas. Their accomplishments are as followed:

• NCAA Player of the Year (Peter Campbell)
• NCAA Tournament Co-Outstanding Player (P. Campbell, John O’Brien)
• First Team All-American (O’Brien and John Vargas)
• Second Team All-American (Jeff Campbell and Trevor Dodson)
• Third Team All-American (Diggy Riley)
• Honorable Mention All-American (George Robertson)

The Anteater squad was rounded out with Jim Brennan, Mark Drewlow, Scott Hill, Bruce Horny, Ken Lobeck, Dan McCormick, Steve Miller, Randy Taylor, Mark Wong and Will Woollett.

Looking back on the 1982 roster, then senior Dodson noted, “What made our team so exceptional was that we played as a team. For our team to be successful, everyone on the roster had to contribute in practice and games when called upon. During crucial parts of key games, we knew where to pass or what to look for because we had done it so many times in practice.”

After a solid showing in the first half of the regular season, the turning point of the season came when UC Irvine had to travel to face No. 2 Stanford, the defending national champions, and No. 3 California. 

“Going into that weekend, Newland let us know that if we were to have a shot at an undefeated season, these were going to be the toughest games to win,” Vargas recalled.

During the inaugural game at the new Berkeley campus pool, the Anteaters struggled offensively. Newland’s “defense wins championships” mentality proved vital in this match as the UC Irvine defense only gave up one goal to win the contest, 2-1.

Following the win at Cal, UCI turned around to face another top ranked team the next day. Stanford, having only lost two games over the last six years at their home pool, fell 5-4 to the Anteaters. Vargas scored the game-winner for UC Irvine in the final 70 seconds.

UCI finished the regular season with a 27-0 record, continuing their unbeaten streak with a wide margined 13-2 victory over Brown in the first round of the NCAA championship tournament.

In the semifinal match, the Anteaters and Golden Bears met again, this time California looking for their revenge. Prior to this tournament competition between the two squads, Cal held the 8-0 advantage over UC Irvine in the postseason with four of those wins coming in national championship finals. The ‘Eaters were able to emerge on top in this postseason battle with the Golden Bears, moving onto the championship game with an 8-5 win.

Reflecting on the semifinal victory over the Golden Bears, then sophomore Jeff Campbell recalled, “We were planning to shave down for the championship game but because of our history in the NCAAs with Cal, we decided to shave for the semis. It was a relief when the game ended and we were able to beat them for the first time in the NCAA tournament.”

UC Irvine would face Stanford for the second time in the 1982 season, this time with the championship on the line. 

“We would be down going into the 4th quarter against an opponent and there was no panic from Newland or the team,” stated then redshirt junior Tony Choquehuanca. “We all knew we would figure out a way to win.”

The Anteaters did just that. UC Irvine defeated the Cardinals, 7-4, earning the second national championship title in program history.

Diggy Riley scored a team high three goals in the game to lead the Anteaters to the title.

Celebrations were few and far between for the humble 1982 Anteater squad. The players did not throw Coach Newland into the pool and there were no big hurrahs on the pool deck. UC Irvine simply packed up just they did any other game, but had a small gathering that evening.

The undefeated 1982 team lives in the history books as the 30-0 record remains one of the greatest water polo teams in NCAA history.

The annual alumni game has been named the Ted Newland game to honor the legendary coach.

Head Coach Dan Klatt had to say:

"As an alumnus and coach of the men’s water polo team, I see the 1982 NCAA Championship team as the pinnacle of excellence and consistency. To be undefeated through a collegiate season in any sport is a remarkable and extremely rare accomplishment. As a program, we will always strive to reach the level of teamwork and selflessness they demonstrated in order to be the best.

Personally, many of the members of the 1982 team were essential to my growth as a player and a coach, and they helped me understand the responsibility that comes with representing UC Irvine Water Polo. As alumni, they showed commitment, tough love, and patience to a young dreamer. For that, I am forever grateful. I am excited to celebrate them with our current team in hopes that our young student-athletes will feel connected to the history of our program, and be inspired."