Over the 51 seasons since the NCAA first sponsored a men’s water polo national championship in 1969, Stanford has been an enduring model of excellence. Since that first season, the Cardinal has reached the NCAA Tournament 34 times, played in the national championship game on 22 occasions and captured 11 national titles.
Stanford has finished sixth or better nationally in 41 of the 51 seasons since the NCAA began sponsoring men’s water polo.
Stanford is one of just two schools in the country to have two undefeated seasons, with the 1981 team posting a 31-0 record and the 1986 squad going 36-0. The 1981 team produced three Olympians and the 1986 squad had two players that competed on the 1992 Olympic team. The 1976 championship team also produced three Olympians.
The 1981 team set two NCAA records - the most goals scored in an NCAA championship game with 17 and the largest scoring margin, at 11 goals (17-6 over Long Beach State). Stanford holds the NCAA record of 51 consecutive wins, set over three seasons (1985-87).
Stanford has produced 211 All-Americans honors since 1975.
Of the 211 Cardinal All-Americans, 11 were bestowed the honor in each of their four years on The Farm. That group includes John Gansel (1977-80), Jody Campbell (1978-81), Alan Mouchawar (1978-81), James Bergeson (1979-82), David Imbernino (1983-86), Todd Kemp (1985-89), Wolf Wigo (1991-94), Nick Ellis (1999-2002), Tony Azevedo (2001-04), Alex Bowen (2011-14) and Bret Bonanni (2012-15).
Stanford has had 21 players inducted into the U.S. Water Polo Hall of Fame and three inducted into the International Water Polo Hall of Fame.