Dec. 26, 2006

With 2006 National Player of the Year Juan Delgadillo leading the way, the USC men's water polo team has planted seven players on the Association of Collegiate Water Polo Coaches 2006 All-America teams. Delgadillo's recognition as the top athlete marks back-to-back seasons that a Trojan has been named ACWA Player of the Year. Delgadillo - a senior driver at USC - also was named the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Player of the Year, marking an appropriate close to the Trojans' outstanding career at Troy. Delgadillo is joined by fellow senior driver Thomas Hale on the All-America First Team. Juniors Tommy Corcoran and Adam Shilling have been named to the All-America Second Team, and three Trojans - senior Pavol Valovic, freshman J.W. Krumpholz and sophomore Jovan Vranes - have received All-America Honorable Mention for their efforts in helping propel USC through an undefeated regular season and into the NCAA championship game.

USC's top scorer in 2006, Delgadillo punched in 54 goals for the Trojans to finish his USC career with 141 goals to rank No. 10 all-time. He follows all-time USC leading scorer Juraj Zatovic as USC's second straight National Player of the Year. Delgadillo also was an All-America First Team selection as a junior when USC won the 2005 national championship.

Senior Thomas Hale earns his first career nod as an All-American First Team selection. He was USC's second leading scorer in 2006, punching in 45 goals as a senior. Quite possible the most dangerous left-hander in the collegiate game, Hale provided both leadership and all-around talent for the Trojans, closing out his USC career with well-deserved First Team All-America honors. He also received All-American honorable mention in 2004 as a sophomore.

Junior goalie Adam Shilling is now a two-time All-American. With 187 saves in 2006, Shilling was the conference's top goalie in goals against (4.7 pg), anchoring the Trojans' powerful defense that led the nation with just 5.4 goals allowed per game. Shilling was a first team All-American in 2005 after the Trojans won the national championship.

Making his first appearance on the All-America Second Team is junior two-meter man Tommy Corcoran, whose value at set was huge for the Trojans again in 2006. Corcoran was a third team All-American selection in 2005. In 2006, Corcoran knocked in 30 goals and was instrumental in earning countless 6-on-5 opportunities and penalty shots for the Trojans throughout the season.

On the All-American Honorable Mention list are three Trojans who have earned their first All-America nods. Senior utility Pavol Valovic was a crucial piece of USC's top-ranked defense, as well as a speedy offensive option as well for the Trojans. He scored 19 goals for USC in his final season at Troy. Newcomer J.W. Krumpholz made an instant impact for the Trojans, as the freshman was USC's third leading scorer with 38 goals out of the intense two-meter position. Sophomore Jovan Vranes was the Trojans' fourth leading scorer in 2006, presenting a powerful threat from the perimeter as he rang up 32 goals.

USC finished the 2006 season with a 26-2 record. The Trojans held a 44-game winning streak that had stretched from their 2005 NCAA championship season before falling twice to California during the 2006 postseason. The Bears claimed the 2006 national championship with a buzzer-beating score for a 7-6 victory over the Trojans.