SANTA CLARA, Calif. - Senior Stephen Hobbs and junior James Case were selected as Association of Collegiate Water Polo Coaches (ACWPC) All-American honorable mentions this past Saturday when the ACWPC released their annual awards. It is the first time Santa Clara has had two men's water polo athletes selected for an All-American honorable mention in the same year.
Hobbs, in his final year as a Bronco, took over starting duties at two meters and put in 35 goals, the third highest total on the team. The Bay Area local from Walnut Creek, Calif. led the team in ejections drawn (44) and five-meter penalty shots drawn (6). Hobbs was also selected to the All-Western Water Polo Associaion First Team this season.
Case, one of the best sprinters in the country, started all 34 games in the season along with Hobbs. The Greenwich, Conn.-native led the team in goals (59) and added 22 assists and 21 steals. Case was an All-WWPA Second Team selection in 2010.
Santa Clara posted one of its best seasons in program history, going 19-15 overall and completing a historic win over No. 11 UC San Diego (the first-ever defeat of the Tritons for the Broncos) to tie for a program-best finish of third place in the 2010 Men's Water Polo Association Championships, held at the first time at the Broncos' own Sullivan Aquatic Center. Santa Clara also earned another signature in October, defeating No. 9 Pepperdine 12-10, only the second-ever SCU victory over a Mountain Pacific Sports Federation team.
