April 3, 2008

ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- Highlighted by senior Eric Gardiner's and freshman Alex Buck's 4.00 GPAs, the Navy water polo team was well-represented on the 2007 CWPA All-Academic Team, released by the conference office recently. Ten Mids were named to either the outstanding (3.71 to 4.00 GPA), superior (3.40 to 3.70 GPA) or excellent (3.20 to 3.39 GPA) teams. In addition, the squad was one of seven teams to earn an All-Academic Team Award, boasting an overall GPA of 2.80.

Gardiner, a senior from Upland, Calif., is perhaps Navy's most-accomplished water polo player in the classroom in school history. Boasting a 4.00 GPA in comparative politics, Gardiner was recently awarded a prestigious NCAA Post-Graduate Scholarship (one of two water polo players nationally). Following the fall semester, he ranked first in the senior class on the Academic Order of Merit and fourth on the Military Order of Merit. He received a prestigious Marshall Scholarship for graduate study in the United Kingdom for two years. Starting in September, he will be studying at Queen's University in Belfast, pursuing a Master of Arts Degree in Terrorism, Violence and Security. Following a year at Queen's, Gardiner plans to study a second year at either Cambridge or Oxford, pursuing a degree in international relations. Gardiner received a Special Warfare (SEALs) service selection, and after his graduate education in the United Kingdom, will head to Coronado, Calif., to go through BUD/S (Basic Underwater Demolition School) training.

Gardiner appeared in 31 games with eight starts for the Midshipmen this past fall. He finished the season with 19 points (10 g, 9 a) and ended his career with 41 points (27 g, 14 a), helping Navy to the last two NCAA Tournaments.

Buck, a freshman from Lisle, Ill., owns a 4.00 GPA in aerospace engineering. He appeared in 15 games last fall, scoring six points (4 g, 2 a).

Three players were named to the superior team (3.40 to 3.70 GPA), headlined by senior goalie George Naughton. The Deerfield Beach, Fla., native set school records in career and single-season saves and was an All-League performer as a senior and an All-American as a junior. Naughton owns a 3.47 GPA in international relations.

Naughton is joined on the team by Nick Mansfield (So. / Rockford, Mich.; 3.45 GPA in quantitative economics) and Dominic Valentini (So. / San Rafael, Calif.; 3.42 GPA in mechanical engineering).

Five players were named to te excellent team (3.20 to 3.39). Sophomore Joe Moffit (Coronado, Calif.) led the way with a 3.37 GPA in English. He was joined by Luke Baldwin (Fr. / La Grange Park, Ill.; 3.31 GPA in economics), Zack Anderson (So. / Cockeysville, Md.; 3.30 GPA in ocean engineering), Steve Craney (Sr. / La Crescenta, Calif.; 3.29 GPA in applied physics) and Justin Stevens (So. / Boca Raton, Fla.; 3.26 GPA in aerospace engineering).

Brown led the team honors award with a cumulative 3.38 GPA.

# GO NAVY #