NORTH PENN HIGH SCHOOL
BOYS WATER POLO TEAM 2006
PIAA STATE CHAMPIONS
Head Coach: Brian Faikish
Assistant Coach: Jason Grubb
Captains: John DiLuigi, Chris Ianni & Joe Watts
Team Members
Front Row Lt. / Rt. Second Row Lt. / Rt. Third Row Lt. / Rt. Fourth Row Lt. / Rt. Fifth Row Lt. / Rt.
Kory Ketterer Nathan Chesmar Brian Kerr Sean McDonald Craig Hennes
Joe Watts Mike Doblmaier Jeff Smallwood Nick Ortlieb Alex Ford
Chris Ianni Pete Schmidley Ryan Coupe Nevin O’Malley Brian Flannery
John DiLuigi Brandon Ward Braden Picardi CJ Millonig Adam Myzal
Nico Gimenez Dan Dingman Jamison Anton Chris Ward Kyle Manger
Brendan Hatfield Sean Bauer Jack Else
Not in Picture: Michael Keisling
PIAA All State:
1st Team Joe Watts and Dan Dingman
2nd Team John DiLuigi and Nico Gimenez
3rd Team Kory Ketterer and Kyle Manger
Team Record 24 - 3
North Penn 8 Wissahickon 6 North Penn 6 Governor Mifflin 3
North Penn 12 Upper Merion 9 North Penn 6 Greenwich 12
North Penn 7 North Allegheny 6 North Penn 8 Pennridge 0
North Penn 12 Cumberland Valley 3 North Penn 5 Governor Mifflin 7
North Penn 12 Haverford 6 North Penn 10 Perkiomen Valley 3
North Penn 6 Pennridge 2 North Penn 15 Upper Perkiomen 9
North Penn 9 Perkiomen Valley 4 North Penn 10 Lawrenceville 7
North Penn 7 Wilson 6 North Penn 7 Wissahickon 3
North Penn 7 Wyoming Valley W. 0 North Penn 5 Souderton 6
North Penn 6 Upper Perkiomen 1
State Playoffs:
North Penn 13 Souderton 6 North Penn 10 Eire McDowell 4
North Penn 17 Upper Merion 12 North Penn 11 North Allegheny 2
North Penn 10 Germantown Academy 3 North Penn 12 Governor Mifflin 4
North Penn 8 Cathedral Prep 7
State Championship Game:
North Penn 10 Wilson 8
Inducted NPAAA Hall of Fame 2017
North Penn Boys 2006 Water Polo Team – Making Their Mark….
North Penn’s 2006 Boys Water Team set benchmarks that future teams aspire to achieve. The 2006 squad started the year trying to figure out who was going to replace the five starters lost to graduation from the 2005 Runner-Up State Championship Team. The 2006 team best represents the phrase “Tradition Does Not Graduate”. Despite some growing pains early in the season, this team surprised many around the state with how we were able to quickly come together and move forward toward a Pennsylvania State Water Polo Title.
Led by coaches Brian Faikish and Jason Grubb along with captains John DiLuigi, Chris Ianni and Joe Watts, the team captured the Suburban One League title, the Eastern Conference title in-route to their State victory. As a result, Watts, DiLuigi, along with teammates Dan Dingman, Nico Gimenez, Kory Ketterer and Kyle Manger received All-State honors.
The boys faced a number of challenges throughout the season. An early loss to league rival Wissahickon during our preseason scrimmages really set the tone for the entire season. The young team quickly realized that every team they were going to play was eager to beat them. Led by our upperclassman, and some up and coming younger players, the 2006 team practiced hard and improved every day throughout the season.
The Team started off the regular season winning 16 games in a row. We beat perennial state contenders including North Allegheny, Wilson, Governor Mifflin, Cumberland Valley and Erie Cathedral Prep. Teams quickly took notice of our talent and improvement. Nationally ranked Greenwich High School (Ct.) handed us our first loss of the season at the Beast of the East Tournament. This loss sparked a new focus that carried the team toward the postseason.
The Rick Carroll Natatorium was the location of the State Tournament. The Knights defeated Erie McDowell, North Allegheny and Governor Mifflin to set up a most memorable State final against arch-rival Wilson. In a very exciting hard fought game, North Penn was crowned the 2006 Pennsylvania Water Polo State Champions by defeating Wilson 10-8.
The Knights have had many successful seasons in the history of the program. The 2006 Knights made their mark by being our only team to win a state title in their home pool. Truly a Knight to remember!
Congratulations to all team members on their 2017 Hall of Fame induction, and treasured season.