May 31, 2012

Bronx, N.Y. - Fordham water polo coach Bill Harris announced the addition of ten players for the 2012 season. The class has a focus on size, as eight of the ten recruits are at the six-foot mark or taller.

The 2012 recruiting class includes utility Peter Bergum (San Diego, Calif./Torrey Pines), 2-meter defender Davis DeFontes (Santa Ana, Calif./Foothill), driver Andrew Gonzalez (Glendale, Calif./Loyola), goalkeeper Patrick Harrigan (Woodland Hills, Calif./Crespi Carmelite), 2-meter defender Mike Hay (Souderton, Pa./Souderton Area), driver Patrick Lenihan (Del Mar, Calif./Torrey Pines), driver Landon Kern (Lake Forest, Calif./El Toro), 2-meter/driver Patrick Reyes (Kensington, Md./Gonzaga College HS), goalkeeper Sean Sullivan (Warson Woods, Mo./St. Louis Univ. HS), and driver Bobby Wurtz (Lafayette Hill, Pa./William Penn Charter School).

"This is a solid group of athletes that will have an immediate impact on our program," said Harris. "With the loss of our talented seniors, we were facing a lack of depth and these experienced athletes will help to fill that need. They come from strong programs and have good speed and size. They are strong students as well as strong athletes, and I look forward to working with them in the fall."

Here is a breakdown of each player's background:

Peter Bergum - Utility - San Diego, Calif./Torrey Pines - Bergum was a three-year varsity water polo player and swimmer at Torrey Pines High School in San Diego, California, and a teammate of fellow Fordham recruit Patrick Lenihan. He was a First Team All-League and CIF selection, while earning Scholar-Athlete standing in the classroom.

Davis DeFontes - 2-Meter Defender - Santa Ana, Calif./Foothill - DeFontes was a varsity swimmer and water polo player at Foothill High School in Santa Ana, California. He served as team captain of both squads, earning First Team All-CIF for Southern Section Water Polo and First Team All-Century League. He was named team MVP and was an All-American Award winner in 2011. DeFontes also played club for SoCal Water Polo.

Away from the pool, DeFontes was an Academic All-Americna with Honors, a National Merit Scholar, a member of the National Society of High School Scholars, and received AP Scholar and Scholar-Athlete Awards.

Andrew Gonzalez - Driver - Glendale, Calif./Loyola - Gonzalez was a two-year varsity water polo player at Loyola High School in Los Angeles, California, helping his team to the Mission League Championship & the 2010 California High School State Championship. He received All-Mission League honors in 2011 and was the team's most improved player. In addition to his high school play, Gonzalez also played for the Downtown Water Polo Club, where he was a part of the 2010 U18 Hawaiian Invitational Championship team, and a member of the runner-up finishers in 2011.

Away from the pool, Gonzalez has served as a freshman Big Brother and Kairos retreat leader at Loyola High School.

Patrick Harrigan - Goalkeeper - Woodland Hills, Calif./Crespi Carmelite - Harrigan was a four-year varsity water polo player at Crespi Carmelite High School, where he was a three-year captain. He also earned All-Mission League honors three times, which includes two First Team selections (2010-11) and one Third Team selection (2009). Harrigan also played for the Los Angeles Water Polo Club, where he was a 2012 ODP Regional Team member and a member of the 2012 U.S. Club Championship team. He was a part of the 2010 Cal Cup State Championship team and was selected MVP of the 2010 U.S. Club Championship.

Away from the pool, Harrigan was a USA Water Polo Academic All-American and a member of both the National Honor Society and the California Scholarship Federation. He also earned Scholar-Athlete status for both water polo and swimming all four years of high school and was a three-time recipient of the Outstanding Scholar Award.

Mike Hay - 2-Meter Defender - Souderton, Pa./Souderton Area - Hay was a three-sport star at Souderton Area High School, competing in water polo, swimming and track. A team captain in both water polo and track, he was a two-time 50-goal scorer, a two-time All-State selection, and a three-time All-League performer. He received the 2012 JAE Award, a character/leadership honor given to a participant in water polo and swimming, who most exemplifies giving of himself for the benefit of others. Hay also competed for the Northeast Zone ODP Team from 2010-11.

In addition to his water polo exploits, Hay was a four-year All-League selection for swimming, as well as an All-State performer as a senior.

Patrick Lenihan - Driver - Del Mar, Calif./Torrey Pines - Lenihan was a three-year varsity water polo player at Torrey Pines High School in San Diego, California, and a teammate of fellow Fordham recruit Peter Bergum. A team captain of the squad, he was selected as the 2011 Palomar League MVP, as well as to the All-CIF and All-League teams. Along with playing for Torrey Pines, Lenihan played club water polo for the San Diego Shores, leading the team to a fourth place finish at the 2010 16U Junior Olympics and a third place showing at the 2010 Winterfest.

Away from the pool, Lenihan was a four-year Scholar-Athlete at Torrey Pines, and also received Scholar-Athlete honors from the San Diego Union Tribune.

Landon Kern - Driver - Lake Forest, Calif./El Toro - Kern earned varsity letters in both water polo and swimming at El Toro High School in Lake Forest, California, and received the Torch Award for both squads. He helped the water polo team to the CIF Finals in 2010 and 2011, and was the team's MVP as a junior. In swimming, he was a part of three league championship teams and was an individual champion in the 200 freestyle event. On top of competing for El Toro, Kern also played club water polo for SET Water Polo, where he helped the team to the Kap 7 Tournament Final.

Away from the pool, Kern is a member of the National Society of High School Scholars and was a recipient of the Medallion Award for Physics.

Patrick Reyes - 2-Meter Offense/Driver - Kensington, Md./Gonzaga College High School - Reyes was a three-year varsity water polo player and swimmer at Gonzaga College High School, serving as team captain of both squads as a senior. He set the school scoring record as a junior, netting 73 goals, and led the team to its first Eastern Championship win in the program's history as a senior. He was named to the Eastern Prep School Championship All-Tournament team twice, and also competed for the Claude Moore Junior Olympic Travel Team. For swimming, Reyes led Gonzaga to three meet Championships as a senior and set the school and league record as a member of the 200 freestyle relay team.

Sean Sullivan - Goalkeeper - Warson Woods, Mo./St. Louis Univ. HS - Sullivan was a varsity water polo player at St. Louis University High School, serving as team captain as a senior. He was selected as the 2012 First Team All-District goalkeeper, after earning Second Team honors in 2011. He also led SLUHS to the 2011 Water Polo State Championship. In addition to his high school team, Sullivan also played club for Jungle Cats Water Polo, where he served as the team captain of the 2011 Junior Olympics squad.

Away from the pool, Sullivan was a member of the National Honor Society and a National Merit Commended Scholar.

Bobby Wurtz - Driver - Lafayette Hill, Pa./William Penn Charter School - Wurtz was a multi-sport athlete at William Penn Charter School, competing in water polo, swimming, golf, and track. Serving as team captain for both water polo and swimming, he was a First Team All-League selection for water polo, and earned All-American status in swimming twice. He was also a Second Team All-League performer in golf and track (pole vault).

Away from sports, Wurtz earned high honors all four year of high school and was the recipient of the American Association of Physics Teachers' Award.