Eric Gardiner

ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- Eric Gardiner (Sr., Upland, Calif./Damien) of the water polo team was awarded the United States Naval Academy men's Coaches' Calvert Award, presented to that man in the graduating class who has persevered the most in his career.

Perhaps Navy's most accomplished water polo player in the classroom in school history, Gardiner recorded a 4.00 cumulative GPA in comparative politics, earned a spot on the Collegiate Water Polo Coaches Association All-Academic "outstanding" team and was recently awarded a prestigious NCAA Post-Graduate Scholarship (one of two water polo players nationally). He received a prestigious Marshall Scholarship for graduate study in the United Kingdom for two years. Starting in September, he will be studying at Queen's University in Belfast, pursuing a Master of Arts Degree in terrorism, violence and security. Following a year at Queen's, Gardiner plans to study a second year at either Cambridge or Oxford, pursuing a degree in international relations. He appeared in 31 games with eight starts for the Midshipmen this past fall. He finished the season with 19 points (10 g, 9 a) and ended his career with 41 points (27 g, 14 a), leading Navy to the last two NCAA Tournaments.

Gardiner is the fifth member of the water polo team to win the award, which was started in 1973. Todd Carlson of the water polo team won the award last year.