Craig Wilson (water polo)

Last updated

Craig Wilson
Personal information
Full nameCraig Martin Wilson [1]
NicknameWilly
Born (1957-02-05) February 5, 1957 (age 67)
Beeville, Texas,
United States [1]
Alma mater UC Santa Barbara
Years active1980–present
Height6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
Weight190 lb (86 kg)
SpouseNicole Wilson
ChildrenAly Wilson
Sport
Country United States
SportMen's water polo
PositionGoal
University team UC Santa Barbara men's water polo
Club
Turned pro1980
Medal record
Men’s water polo
Representing the Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States
Olympic Games
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg 1984 Los Angeles Men's water polo
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg 1988 Seoul Men's water polo
Updated on 21:55, September 19, 2014 (UTC)

Craig Martin Wilson (born February 5, 1957) [1] [2] is an American former water polo player who was a member of the United States men's national water polo team and two-time Olympic silver medalist. He is considered to be the best goalkeeper in the history of the sport. [3] [4] [5] [6]

Contents

Playing career

Youth and collegiate

Wilson moved to California at the age of four, eventually settling in Davis, California where he played at Davis Senior High School and was named a high school Honorable Mention All American his Senior year in 1975. Wilson then moved to Santa Barbara where he spent 2 years at Santa Barbara City College (they had no water polo program at this time) before transferring to the University of California, Santa Barbara.

Entering UC Santa Barbara, Wilson was a walk on to the varsity team. Upon arrival, he started as the 5th string goalkeeper, eventually becoming a member of the UC Santa Barbara men's water polo for the 1978 and 1979 seasons. [7] The Gauchos won the 1979 NCAA Division I Men's Water Polo Championship with Wilson named to the All-Tournament Team [8] and as a Second Team All American. [9]

Club

Wilson joined the now-defunct Industry Hills club, where he played in 1981 and 1982, playing alongside former Gaucho teammate Greg Boyer. Industry Hills were named the USWP National Outdoor Champions in both seasons he was a part of the club.

He also played for Harvard Water Polo Foundation, based out of Los Angeles, and was the goalkeeper for the club's first championship in 1989. [10] This was the first of three straight championships to which he led Harvard Water Polo Foundation, the last over Sunset Water Polo Club, which consisted of seven of his former 1979 UC Santa Barbara teammates. [11]

Wilson went on to win five USWP National Championships, both outdoors and indoors. He was named the US Water Polo Athlete of the year four times (1983, 1987, 1988, 1991) and the Most Valuable Player in 1990.

Wilson also played overseas, moving to Italy joining a Sicily-based club CC Ortigia- where he stayed for two seasons then moved to Spain Barcelona-based club CN Barcelona for one season.

International

Wilson was a member of the United States men's national water polo team from 1981 through 1992.

He was a member of three Pan American Games delegations, playing in 1983, 1987, and 1991, where he won two gold and one silver medal. Wilson also appeared heavily for the United States in the FINA Water Polo World Cup, appearing five total times and finally winning a gold medal at the 1991 FINA Men's Water Polo World Cup, and the FINA World Championships, appearing in 1982, 1986, and 1991.

Olympic accomplishments

Wilson's greatest accomplishments came in the Olympics. He was a member of three different teams, ultimately winning two silver medals.

I realized that I was behind the world's best goalkeeper, undeniably, in everyone's mind. You know where you stand. That part is very clear.

Christopher Duplanty on attempting to supplant Wilson as starting goalkeeper. [3]

His first appearance was in the 1984 Summer Olympics, where the United States ultimately placed second to Yugoslavia despite not losing a match the entire Games. After advancing from group play, it featured a final round where the United States played Yugoslavia in the last match. The teams played to a 5–5 draw, giving each team 5 wins and 1 draw, however with a superior goal differential Yugoslavia emerged victorious.

In the 1988 Summer Olympics, Yugoslavia was drawn into the same preliminary group as the United States, with the US claiming a 7–6 victory. Both teams advanced from group play and, in a change from the previous Games, faced off in a championship match. The United States came second best, again, on the wrong side of a 9-7 scoreline. After the renewed heartbreak, Wilson claimed he wouldn't appear in another Olympics and would be retiring. [12]

Despite not missing a beat, Wilson turned course and decided to appear in the 1992 Summer Olympics. [13] At this stage, he was the oldest men's water polo player at the Games. [14] Despite the United States' past successes, the team failed to medal in 1992 and would mark the last Olympics Wilson would participate in.

Outlet pass

Before Craig came along, no goalie could really throw it over halfway down the pool. He revolutionized his position.

Monte Nitzkowski on Wilson's addition to the game. [15]

Wilson is credited with the introduction of the "outlet pass" to water polo. A former Little League pitcher, Wilson was able to move the ball from defense to offense quickly with a long pass to the offensive players from his position in goal. Richard Corso, the former US National Team Goalkeepers Coach who assisted Wilson, noted that, "We really changed the game in 1980 and '84. Craig's technique as a passer has been copied by everyone. Goalies were looking to get the pass out to start the fast break." [16]

Post-playing career

After the 1992 Olympics, Wilson joined the private sector and worked in medical device and pharmaceutical sales and for Fortune 500 companies including Bristol-Myers Squibb and AmerisourceBergen.

He stayed close to the sport and released Guide to Waterpolo goalkeeping, a short book about techniques for the goalkeeping position. [17] [18]

Hall of Fame recognition

Wilson is a member of the Class of 1999 USA Water Polo Hall of Fame [19] [20] and was inducted July 17, 1999. [21] Additionally, was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame as a member of the Class of 2005. [22]

He's also in the UCSB Gaucho Athletic Hall of Fame twice, being named once individually and once as a member of the 1979 NCAA Championship men's water polo team and is the only player in the history of the UC Santa Barbara men's water polo program to have his cap retired. [23]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Big West Conference</span> NCAA Division I collegiate athletic conference in the western United States

The Big West Conference (BWC) is an American collegiate athletic conference whose member institutions participate in the National Collegiate Athletic Association's Division I. The conference was originally formed on July 1, 1969, as the Pacific Coast Athletic Association (PCAA), and in 1988 was renamed the Big West Conference. The conference stopped sponsoring college football after the 2000 season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rob Friend</span> Canadian soccer player (born 1981)

Robert Douglas Friend is a Canadian former professional soccer player who played as a forward. He is the CEO of Pacific FC.

Maureen "Mo" O'Toole is an American water polo player and coach. She set multiple firsts for women in water polo, received numerous top honors, and in her time was recognized as one of the best water polo players in the world.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wolf Wigo</span> American water polo player

Wolf Wigo is an American water polo player and water polo coach. He has played competitive water polo at the national level since age 13. Wigo was a four-year All-America collegiate water polo player and led his Stanford University team to two consecutive NCAA Championships in 1993 and 1994. A member of the U.S. National Polo Team since 1993, Wigo competed in the Olympic Games in 1996, 2000, and 2004. Since 2005, he has been the head coach of the UC Santa Barbara (UCSB) men's water polo program. In 2008 he began coaching the UCSB women's water polo team.

Christopher David "Chris" Duplanty is a former water polo goalkeeper from the United States, who competed in three Summer Olympics for his native country. He won the silver medal with the US Men's National Team at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, South Korea. In 2001, he was inducted into the USA Water Polo Hall of Fame.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dan Kennedy (soccer)</span> American soccer player

Daniel Hoffard Kennedy is an American former professional soccer player who played as goalkeeper.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">UC Santa Barbara Gauchos</span> Collegiate sports club in the United States

The UC Santa Barbara Gauchos are the intercollegiate athletic teams who represent the University of California, Santa Barbara. Referred to in athletic competition as UC Santa Barbara or UCSB, the Gauchos participate in 19 NCAA Division I intercollegiate sports with the majority competing in the Big West Conference. UCSB currently fields varsity teams in 10 men's sports and 9 women's sports.

Gregory Vaitl Boyer is a former American water polo player who was a member of the United States men's national water polo team and won a silver medal at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, South Korea.

The UC Santa Barbara Gauchos men's soccer team is an NCAA Division I college soccer team composed of student-athletes attending the University of California, Santa Barbara. The Gauchos play their home matches at Harder Stadium. Like most of the other UC Santa Barbara Gauchos athletic teams, the men's soccer team competes in the Big West Conference.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Monte Nitzkowski</span>

Kenneth Monfore "Monte" Nitzkowski was an American former competition swimmer, and water polo competitor for the University of California at Los Angeles, and a Hall of Fame water polo coach for Long Beach City College from 1952-1989, where he led his teams to 32 conference water polo championships in 34 years. He served as a U.S. Olympic Water Polo team coach in 1968, 1972, 1980, and 1984, and was a Pan American Games coach for the U.S. team four times.

Timothy Harold Vom Steeg is an American collegiate soccer head coach who is currently with the University of California, Santa Barbara men's soccer team. He has been with the Gauchos since 1999 and is the most successful coach in the history of UC Santa Barbara.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kami Craig</span> American water polo player

Kameryn Louise "Kami" Craig is an American water polo player. She was a member of the US water polo team that won a silver medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and a gold medal in London in 2012 and Rio in 2016.

Brian Alexander is a former American water polo player who was a member of the United States men's national water polo team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Robert Horn (water polo)</span> American water polo player (1931–2019)

Robert "Bob" Martin Horn was a collegiate swimmer and Water Polo Player for Fullerton College and Long Beach State, who as the first full-time UCLA swimming and Water Polo Coach from around 1964-1991 led the Bruins to 3 NCAA Water Polo Championships in 1969, 1970-72, and 7 Water Polo PAC-8 league championships from 1964-1971. He represented the United States in Water Polo as an outstanding goalie in the 1956 Summer Olympics in Melbourne and the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome.

Daniel López Pinedo is a Spanish water polo goalkeeper who competed for the Spain men's national water polo team in two Summer Olympics (2012 London and 2016 Rio. He helped Spanish water polo club CN Atlètic-Barceloneta win the LEN Champions League in 2013–14 season. He is 6 ft 3 inches tall.

Milivoj Bebić is a retired Croatian water polo player. He won a silver Olympic gold medal winner with Yugoslavia at the 1980 Summer Olympics and a gold medal at the 1984 Summer Olympics.

John Anderson is a Canadian former water polo player who was a member of the Canada men's national water polo team who appeared in the 1984 Summer Olympics. 2018 - Inducted in to the UCSB Athletics Hall of Fame.

Ross Sinclair is a former professional American water polo player and current water polo head coach.

Clara Vulpisi is a Canadian water polo player from Montreal. She is a member of the Canada women's national water polo team. She will participate in the 2020 Summer Olympics.

Sienna Rose Green is an Australian female water polo Olympian, who plays the centre back position. She competed for Australia at the 2024 Paris Olympics in the Water polo women's tournament, and won a silver medal.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "TEXAS, BIRTH RECORD INDEX, 1926–1995". Mocavo.com. Texas Department of State Health Services Vital Statistics Unit. Retrieved September 19, 2014.
  2. Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Craig Wilson". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on April 18, 2020. Retrieved September 30, 2015.
  3. 1 2 Weyler, John (May 18, 1993). "Duplanty Longs to Make a Big Splash : Water polo: With Craig Wilson gone, the former UC Irvine goalkeeper hopes to do more than mark time in Olympics". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 19, 2014.
  4. Beck, Martin (June 7, 1992). "WATER POLO : Wilson Saves U.S. in 9-7 Win". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 19, 2014.
  5. Beck, Martin (July 13, 1992). "Duplanty's Time in the Pool Is Usually Short, but Sweet : Water polo: As the backup goalkeeper, he does more cheerleading than playing, but he's always ready". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 19, 2014.
  6. "PLAYING POLO UNDERWATER AND WITHOUT A PONY", People , vol. 38, no. 5, 1992
  7. "UCSB Men's Water Polo Record Book" (PDF). UC Santa Barbara Gauchos. June 2012. Retrieved September 19, 2014.
  8. "All-Time Championship Records and Results" (PDF). NCAA. Retrieved September 19, 2014.
  9. "1979 MEN'S VARSITY ALL-AMERICA". Collegiate Water Polo Association. Archived from the original on April 30, 2017. Retrieved September 19, 2014.
  10. "Harvard Club Wins U.S. Water Polo Title". Los Angeles Times. November 8, 1989. Retrieved September 19, 2014.
  11. Robb, Sharon. "Olympic Goalkeeper Helps L.a. To Third Straight Title". Sun Sentinel. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved September 19, 2014.
  12. Dodds, Tracy (October 2, 1988). "DAY 16 : THE SEOUL GAMES : Water Polo : U.S. Gets Second Chance, Still Second-Best". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 19, 2014.
  13. Weyler, John (July 15, 1991). "Addicted to Chlorine : Campbell, Olympic Teammates Return to Water Polo". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 19, 2014.
  14. Gallaudet, Bruce (July 27, 2012). "1984 saw a trio of Davis High classmates medal at the Olympics". The Davis Enterprise. Retrieved September 19, 2014.
  15. Whicker, Mark (August 2, 1984). "Hey, Bubba, you might not cut it in water polo". The Pittsburgh Press. Vol. 101, no. 40 (Special ed.). p. Olympics 4.
  16. Foster, Chris (October 4, 1989). "Last Line of Defense: Goalies Face Up to Tough Task". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 19, 2014.
  17. Wilson, Craig. "Guide to Waterpolo goalkeeping". Redwood Empire Water Polo. Archived from the original on October 15, 2014. Retrieved September 19, 2014.
  18. Wilson, Craig. "Guide to Waterpolo goalkeeping" (PDF). WaterPoloPlanet.com. Retrieved September 19, 2014.
  19. "Craig Wilson (1999)". usawaterpolo.org. USA Water Polo. Archived from the original on April 4, 2020. Retrieved September 18, 2020.
  20. "Hall of Fame Inductees". usawaterpolo.org. USA Water Polo. Archived from the original on May 31, 2019. Retrieved September 18, 2020.
  21. "Water Polo". Los Angeles Times. July 16, 1999. Retrieved September 19, 2014.
  22. "ISHOF 2005 Honorees". International Swimming Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on September 20, 2014. Retrieved September 19, 2014.
  23. "UCSB Gaucho Athletic Hall of Fame". UC Santa Barbara Gauchos. Archived from the original on March 23, 2015. Retrieved September 17, 2014.