2008 News

7/14/09: Darr memorial set for August 2

A date has been set for the memorial of former aquatics coach Flip Darr, who passed away on July 6.  The family will hold a beach celebration of his life on August 2 at Doheny State Beach at 7:00 PM.

Click here for information regarding the ceremony and where to send donations.

Flip was a Saddleback College icon for many years, starting Saddleback's water polo and swim programs during the 1973-74 academic year and guiding both of those programs for 26 years before stepping aside after the 1998-99 seasons.He guided the Gauchos to 10 conference titles in men’s swimming along with six conference runner-up finishes and seven Top-10 finishes at the state meet, including a state runner-up finish in 1985.The women’s swim team posted three conference titles, six conference runner-up finishes, and eight state Top-10 finishes, including state runner-up seasons in 1976 and 1994.As coach of the men’s water polo team he posted nine conference titles and six conference runner-up finishes, qualified for post-season play 17 times, and placed third at the state tournament in 1988 and fourth during the 1998 season.

Flip retired from Saddleback with 141 dual-meet victories in men’s swimming, 111 dual-meet victories in women’s swimming, and a record of 404 wins, 304 losses, and 6 ties in men’s water polo.He was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame in 2006 (www.ishof.org) and was inducted into the California community college swimming coaches Hall of Fame in 2008. He was well-known nationally and internationally as he coached U.S. teams in the World Championships, Pan American Games, and international dual-meet competitions.He helped developed hundreds of swimmers during his coaching tenure, including Olympic swimmers such as Shirley Babashoff, Gary Hall, Sr., Mike O’Brien, Steve Furniss, Dan Jorgenson, John Mykkannen, and Valerie Lee.

7/7/09: Former Coach Flip Darr Dies

Saddleback College is sad to announce that former water polo and swim coach Flip Darr suffered an apparent heart attack last night (Monday, July 6) and has passed away, according to a close friend of the family. 

Flip was a Saddleback College icon for many years, starting Saddleback's water polo and swim programs during the 1973-74 academic year and guiding both of those programs for 26 years before stepping aside after the 1998-99 seasons.  He guided the Gauchos to 10 conference titles in men’s swimming along with six conference runner-up finishes and seven Top-10 finishes at the state meet, including a state runner-up finish in 1985.  The women’s swim team posted three conference titles, six conference runner-up finishes, and eight state Top-10 finishes, including state runner-up seasons in 1976 and 1994.  As coach of the men’s water polo team he posted nine conference titles and six conference runner-up finishes, qualified for post-season play 17 times, and placed third at the state tournament in 1988 and fourth during the 1998 season.

Flip retired from Saddleback with 141 dual-meet victories in men’s swimming, 111 dual-meet victories in women’s swimming, and a record of 404 wins, 304 losses, and 6 ties in men’s water polo.  He was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame in 2006 (www.ishof.org) and was inducted into the California community college swimming coaches Hall of Fame in 2008. He was well-known nationally and internationally as he coached U.S. teams in the World Championships, Pan American Games, and international dual-meet competitions.  He helped developed hundreds of swimmers during his coaching tenure, including Olympic swimmers such as Shirley Babashoff, Gary Hall, Sr., Mike O’Brien, Steve Furniss, Dan Jorgenson, John Mykkannen, and Valerie Lee.

Around campus, Flip was recognizable driving his bright yellow Chevrolet Corvette, smoking aromatic cigars which could be smelled from nearly a block away, and for his support of other Gaucho athletic teams. He attended many of the college's home sporting events and even had his favorite spot along the left field fence to watch Saddleback home baseball games.

11/14: Gauchos Fall in Regional Quarterfinals

The men's water polo season came to a close on Friday with a 15-7 loss to top-seeded Golden West College in the Rustlers home pool during the quarterfinals of the regional tournament.

"It was a great season and we played well, even in that last game," head coach Pat Higginson said. "Golden West is ranked number one because they are a good team and nobody really expected us to upset them. But we played a solid game and the score was respectable."

Saddleback concludes the season with a 17-10 overall record.


11/12: Gauchos Win Playoff Game

Saddleback has not been invited to the post-season playoffs since 2001 so when the Gauchos earned the invitation this season, they made the most of it.

The Gauchos, seeded No. 9 in the 10-team bracket, edged No. 8-seed Cuesta by an 11-9 count on Wednesday to advance to Friday's quarterfinal round where they will face top-seeded Golden West College at 9:00 a.m. in the Golden West campus pool.

Saddleback jumped out to a 6-3 halftime lead by scoring five goals in the second quarter. Kevin Mitchell led the Gauchos with four goals while Sean Colton and Kevin Burzynski each scored twice. Danny Tayenaka, Cameron Dobbs, and Jordan Larson also scored for Saddleback. Goalie Wade Warden recorded nine saves.

11/4: Conference Tournament Schedule Set

The Saddleback men's water polo team will open the 2008 conference tournament at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday as the Gauchos face Fullerton. Saddleback is seeded No. 4 in the tournament with Fullerton seeded No. 5. The winner advances to play top-seeded Golden West on Thursday at 1:30 p.m. while the loser advances to the fifth place game at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 8. All games will be played on the Cypress College campus.

The Saddleback women's water polo team is seeded No. 6 in the OEC women's tournament and will play No. 3 seed Fullerton at 10:10 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 7. The loser will play again at 1:00 p.m. on Friday while the winner advances to play at 2:10 p.m. on Friday. The championship game will be at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday. All games will be held on the Cypress College campus.

Men's Bracket (Thursday, Nov. 6):
#4 Saddleback vs. #5 Fullerton, 10:00 a.m.
#3 Riverside vs. #6 Santa Ana, 11:10 a.m.
#1 Golden West vs. Saddleback/Fullerton winner, 1:30 p.m.
#2 Orange Coast vs. Riverside/Santa Ana winner, 2:40 p.m.
Championship game to be held at 1:45 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 8
Third Place game at 11:20 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 8
Fifth Place game at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 8

Women's Bracket (Friday, Nov. 7):
#2 Golden West vs. #7 Cypress, 9:00 a.m.
#3 Fullerton vs. #6 Saddleback, 10:10 a.m.
#4 Santa Ana vs. #5 Orange Coast, 11:30 a.m.
Golden West/Cypress loser vs. Fullerton/Saddleback loser, 1:00 p.m.
Golden West/Cypress winner vs. Fullerton/Saddleback winner, 2:10 p.m.
#1 Riverside vs. Santa Ana/Orange Coast winner, 3:20 p.m.
Championship game to be held at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 8
Third Place game at 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 8
Fifth Place game at 10:10 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 8



10/25: Gauchos Edged By Grossmont in Tourney Finals

Saddleback made it to the championship game of its own tournament before falling to Grossmont, 15-10, in the Saddleback Invitational held October 24 and 25 in the campus pool. The Gauchos defeated Orange Empire Conference foe Fullerton, 15-9, on Saturday in order to reach the tournament finals. Grossmont beat Pacific Coast Conference rival Palomar, 15-6, on Saturday to advance to the title game. Palomar ended up defeating Fullerton, 9-6, for third place.

Saturday scores:
Citrus 11, El Camino 10
San Diego Mesa 14, Southwestern 5
Grossmont 15, Palomar 6
Saddleback 15, Fullerton 9
Southwestern 6, El Camino 5 (7th place)
San Diego Mesa 12, Citrus 10 (5th place)
Palomar 9, Fullerton 6 (3rd place)
Grossmont 15, Saddleback 10 (Championship)


10/24: Saddleback Hosts Water Polo Tourney

Saddleback started off well in its own water polo tournament, defeating San Diego Mesa 16-10 in the opening round. That victory pits the Gauchos against Palomar in the second game, marking the third time this season that the Gauchos and Comets have met in the pool. Saddleback won each of the first two meetings by one goal. The second game was not nearly as close as the Gauchos posted a 20-11 triumph over the Comets.

Friday scores:
Grossmont 17, Southwestern 4
Fullerton 13, Citrus 10
Saddleback 16, San Diego Mesa 10
Palomar 12, El Camino 9
Grossmont 19, Fullerton 8
Citrus 16, Southwestern 9
San Diego Mesa 14, El Camino 7
Saddleback 20, Palomar 11


10/1: Gauchos Get Victory Over Hornets

The Gauchos went on a scoring frenzy early, building a 10-4 lead and holding on to defeat Fullerton, 14-11, in an Orange Empire Conference game on Wednesday in the campus pool. The victory was Saddleback's third over the Hornets this season, all three victories were by three goals including one in overtime.

Saddleback will host Golden West College in an Orange Empire Conference contest on Wednesday, October 8, in the campus pool.


9/27: Gauchos Split Four Games at Own Tourney

Saddleback split its four games during the Saddleback Invitational this weekend, all which were played against San Diego County teams.

The Gauchos defeated Southwestern 13-6 in its first game and then lost a heartbreaker, 8-7, to San Diego Mesa in the afternoon game. Still playing in the top bracket, the Gauchos dropped a 12-9 decision to eventual tournament champion Grossmont (the third time Saddleback and Grossmont have met this season) despite four goals by Kevin Burzynski and then ended the tournament with a 7-6 win over Palomar as Burzynski and Cameron Dobbs each scored twice for the Gauchos and Jordan Larson broke a 6-6 tie with the game-winning goal with 2:59 remaining in the contest.

Important Water Polo Links:

Community College Water Polo News CCCAA Water Polo site