Hall of Fame

After the Club’s water polo team won their first AAU National title in 1920, there was a period of transition. OC Hall of Famer Sid Cavill, who had run the Club’s aquatics programs since 1899, retired from coaching at the Club in 1923 and turned leadership of the team to Frank Rivas. Rivas installed a new system which emphasized passing and speed. Some decorated veterans continued to play, including the members who competed in the 1920 Antwerp Olympics — Jim Carson, Jack Howell and Preston Steiger; others retired. A new generation joined the Club, including OC Hall of Famer George Schroth. Schroth, like many in the aquatic programs, was both a swimmer and water polo player. It was said that “playing against him is like trying to shove a battleship.” With the new system and infusion of players who featured well within it, the Club’s team maintained their local dominance, winning five Northern California titles in six years. Players found international success as well, with several Olympians playing for Team USA at the 1924 Olympic Games in Paris and winning a bronze medal, including “Ginger” Austin, Elmer Collett, George Mitchell and Schroth. In 1925, the Club competed for the AAU National title in their own backyard, as the aquatics championships were hosted at the Fleishhacker Pool (then the largest swimming pool in the world, located in what is now the San Francisco Zoo parking lot). Over 150 swimmers, from 19 cities throughout the United States, Hawaii and Europe descended on the west side of San Francisco to compete, with the Illinois Athletic Club hoping to defend their title. [caption id="attachment_222559" align="alignleft" width="427"] The 1925 OC Water Polo Team[/caption] The San Francisco Chronicle reported that “the big hope of the Olympians is, of course, to win the water polo...There is little question, but that the Winged O poloists are a better and faster squad than last year’s team.” The Club took the opening game from an Illinois team featuring decorated Olympian and future star of the 1930s and 1940s Tarzan movies, Johnny Weissmuller, 2–1. The Chronicle noted  that, “It was evident from the start that both clubs had been reported to play close and the players followed the instructions to the letter.” Steiger, the veteran goalkeeper, protected admirably, saving several goals. Weissmuller scored 30 seconds before the end of regulation; Howell sunk the winning goal in the second of two extra three-minute periods. The OC then defeated the Chicago Athletic Club, 3–1, for the title. “George Mitchell, captain of the Olympics, played the greatest game of his career,” the Chronicle cheered. “Time and again, he took the ball away from his opponent to carry it up the field and give the forwards the chance to tally.” Steiger “did not have as much work to do yesterday as in the first game,” as the second half of the game was “all Olympic... the Chicago boys seemingly lost hope.” The Olympian celebrated that “the water polo team was drenched in a spray of glory!” Later that year, the Club team defeated the Los Angeles Athletic Club, featuring the legendary Duke Kahanamoku, for the Pacific Coast title, with wins of 5–4 and 4–3. Jim Carson led the forwards with goals and the Chronicle reported that Mitchell and Schroth were “again the outstanding stars for the Olympics.” The Olympian proclaimed that the squad “saved their national championship belt, and that is a lot.” Despite its stars, the Club would not win another AAU National water polo title until 1957. Individual players continued to find international success — Mitchell and Schroth competed for Team USA again at the 1928 Olympics in Amsterdam. Both players are in the USA Water Polo Hall of Fame.

1957-1959 WATER POLO TEAM In the mid-1950s, the Club began putting together an elite group of water polo players from around the Bay, known as the “Black-capped Bay City Slickers.” Competitive for several years, including at the 1956 Olympic Games Trials, the team dominated from 1957 to 1959. In that three-year span, the team compiled a record of 63 wins with only six losses. They won three consecutive Northern California Water Polo League titles, three Pacific Association-AAU crowns, and two AAU National Outdoor Water Polo championships. Their domination showed in the goals; in 1957, the team scored 342 goals and had only 103 enter their own net. At the 1959 AAU Outdoor Nationals, the team became the first team in five years to go through the round robin competition undefeated, beating not only the Club’s long time nemesis the New York Athletic Club, but also Lynwood, the team that delivered three of their six defeats. Coach Rudloff attributed their success to “team spirit and team play,” and this tight-nit group of 22 people, including 19 players, two coaches and one commissioner are honored here tonight. Many have garnered additional honors in aquatic sports as players, coaches, architects and national leaders. Included among them are three Olympic athletes (John Bordy (1956) and Zoltan Hoszpodar (1952 & 1956) from Romania and Jim Gaughran from the USA (1956)), an Olympic coach, Art Lambert, and Olympic manager, Andy Burke. Six have been inducted in the USA Water Polo Hall of Fame: Burke, Jay Flood, Jim and Bob Gaughran, Lambert and Ed Rudloff, Sr. Team Members: Paul Aehnlich Bill Augenstein John Bordy Andy Burke Sam Citron Rich Donner Jay Flood Jim Gaughran Bob Gaughran Zoltan Hozspodar Ivan Jasko Bob Kahl Art Lambert Jim Lee Roger McCandless Jack McNees Boyd Mickley Don Peterson Ed Rudloff, Sr. (Coach) Don Smalian Bob Ward (Commissioner) Winston Woodman (Assistant Coach)  

The 1982–1986 water polo teams won five straight AAU Indoor National Championships and three Hawaiian Invitationals, while competing against the best collegiate teams. These OC teams reinstated a long tradition of water polo excellence at the Club, and set a bright course for the future. In 1980, Bill Purcell had the idea to recreate a Club water polo team. He wanted a place for his friends, two brothers, and himself to compete now that they were out of college. Bill, serving as a player/coach/commissioner, built a team of veterans and existing Club members. Within a year, the team established itself on the local and national stages. The team finished fourth at Nationals in both 1980 and 1981, winning their first major tournament, the Northern California Invitational, in 1981. As the squad welcomed new members, the team still remained significantly older than their competition — and the “old men” were the surprise winners of the 1982 Indoor National Championships. The next summer was the turning point for the program. The team won their first Hawaiian Invitational, an international tournament. But it was the summer play at the Outdoor National Championships that was significant, with a comeback win over Pepperdine after a derisive remark from their coach about how “you old guys” did not belong. That game became the impetus for taking the program to the next level, and they used the momentum to win a second National Indoor title in the fall. The team’s reputation grew and, in 1984, they brought home another Hawaiian Invitational and their third Indoor National Championship. The Club also hosted the U.S. Water Polo Hall of Fame induction ceremony. The growing rivalry between the New York Athletic Club (NYAC) and the OC led to the creation of the “Corporate Cup,” named so because NYAC and the OC were the only teams fielding businessmen instead of college students. The Cup was a perpetual trophy giving bragging rights to whichever team won the most recent match. The OC won the first match, so NYAC had to buy the trophy and have it engraved with the OC name. The tradition continues today. The teams continued their dominance with national indoor championship titles in 1985 and 1986, as well as winning their third straight Hawaiian title in 1985. The team now fielded All- Americans, collegiate champions, and national team members. The legacy of these teams shines on today — the Club now has six competitive teams, mens and womens, Open and Masters, that have won numerous national and world championships, as well as a growing junior program.

Headed up by former US Olympic Team coach Peter J. Cutino, the Olympic Club poloists never lost to a US college team from 1992 through 1995. This record included wins over such varsity powerhouses as Stanford, CAL, UCLA, Pepperdine, UCI, USC, UCD, and UCSB. On a National Level, the team won three US Men’s Open National Championships and earned one 3rd place finish. During this same period they won three Hawaiian Invitational Championships as well. The team included 8 former USA Olympic Team members, 2 Olympian Award winners, 3 former NCAA Players of the Year & 4 members of the USA Water Polo Hall of Fame. Most of these accomplished athletes are still members of the Olympic Club and many participate in the Club’s Masters program. Of note, twelve team members went on to win three FINA World Championships for the club (held at Sheffield in 1996, Casablanca in 1998 and Christchurch in 2002). The Olympic Club members who played for these teams were: Doug Norton Russ Hafferkamp Craig Klass Jim Slatton Chris Humbert Rick McNair Jeff Stiling Bill Schoening Andre Weiglein Pat Reid Rob Solomon Michael Haley Bennett Indart Rich Ambidge Mat Murphy Noel Murphy Pat Murphy Alan Mouchawar Marvin Mouchawar Rick Solomon Kirk Everist Brian Busalacchi Troy Barnhart Chris Thompson Kirk Jenson Ken Candilaria Coach Peter Cutino

For almost 75 years, Andrew “Andy” J. Burke (1929–2020) has served the water polo community as a player, coach, team leader, organizer, advisor, board member, administrator and referee. He joined The Olympic Club as a junior member in 1945. His swim coach, fellow OC Hall of Famer George Schroth, introduced Burke to water polo and the rest, as they say, is history. Burke swam and played water polo at Stockton College, and then joined the competitive club team. The OC squad finished second at the Pan American Trials in 1955 and 1959, the Olympic Trials in 1956 and 1960 and the AAU Outdoor Championships in 1952, ‘55, ‘56, ‘58 and 1960. They brought the outdoor title home in 1957 and 1959, while amassing 63 wins to only six losses in that three-year span. The 1957–59 team was inducted into the OC Hall of Fame in 2011. He retired from competition in 1960, but took over as coach from 1961 to 1970. The team finished second in the AAU Indoors in 1962 and 1963. Burke continues to be an organizer for our growing OC water polo program, including serving as team leader for the OC teams at the FINA World Masters Championships since 1998, helping the Club bring home 18 medals. In addition to water polo, Burke was active in the Spin & Swim and OC basketball leagues for over 40 years. Not only did he play basketball in all the leagues, but he helped expand the basketball program into several Masters age brackets. He continues to assist the new Platinum team. He served on numerous standing committees, including Junior, Building, Properties and Athletic committees. He helped establish both the History & Archives committee and the Hall of Fame. He joined the Board of Directors in 1992 and served as the Vice President in 1994. Burke was one of the seven original directors of what is now the Olympic Club Foundation, serving on the Board for over a decade. He is currently a trustee for the Peter J. Cutino Award. He also received the President’s Award in 1999, for outstanding service, and the Olympian Award in 2016, for athletic achievement and contribution to the Club. His tireless enthusiasm and remarkable administrative skills have led to his involvement in numerous national and international championships, committees and boards for six decades. He has been active in all aspects of the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU), Pacific Coast water polo, and the United States Aquatic Sports (USAS). Burke has been a member of the Amateur Swimming Union of the America’s (ASUA) water polo committee or executive board for almost three decades, in USA Water Polo leadership for four decades and was a member of the U.S. Olympic House of Delegates for four terms between 1977 and 1990. As tournament director and later a consultant, he helped run the water polo portions of the FINA World Masters Championships from 2004–2012. Other highlights of his contributions to the sport include chairing the water polo sub-committee for the U.S. Olympic Committee from 1960–64, serving as team manager for the 1964 U.S. Olympic team and the U.S. water polo team at the first FINA World Championships in Belgrade in 1973 and serving as Chef d’Mission to lead the U.S. delegation at the 1991 FINA World Championships. His knowledge, commitment and integrity have made him an invaluable part of the water polo community. He has been honored by the International Swimming Hall of Fame three times, most recently as a contributor in May 2018. He continues to support the Club, referee for local high schools and spend time with his wife, Carolyn, four children and 14 grandchildren.

Born into a family of famous swimmers, Sidney Cavill (1881–1945) traveled the world for competition before moving to San Francisco to take on the job of swimming instructor at The Olympic Club in 1899. He taught the “Australian Crawl” – what we now just call the crawl and Olympians like J. Scott Leary were among the first to compete using the stroke. It was powerful tool; Leary won seventeen consecutive sprint races in 1902. Leary also became the first American to swim 100 yards in 60 seconds in July 1905. Under his tutelage, Olympians won national and international titles throughout the early 20th century. Cavill also coached the Club’s water polo teams. The Club won its first national AAU title in 1920. After the championship, the commissioner wrote, “Sid worked days and nights and overtime to keep the team up to its maximum playing ability. His coaching was just the sort that was needed, and his experience rendered him capable of giving the nice balance that was necessary to the development of the Club team’s famous play.” He retired from coaching at the Club in 1923. In 1970, “The Cavill Family,” including Sidney, was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame.