2018 – STEVE ENNIS – BROWN UNIVERSITY

Former Brown University All-America selection Steve Ennis ’86 became the second Bears’ student-athlete and third inductee from the institution to join the Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) Hall of Fame.

The third individual from his era and all-time at Brown to make the league’s Hall of Fame joining head coach Ed Reed and former teammate Rich Russey ’87,the honor marked the second Hall of Fame honor bestowed on Ennis who previously was inducted into his alma mater’s Athletics Hall of Fame in 1991.

A 1984 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) All-America Third Team selection, he recorded 169 goals, 51 assists, 220 points, 109 steals and five field blocks with a .585 shooting percentage from 1981-to-1984 in helping Brown reach the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Championship tournament all four years (1981, 1982, 1983, 1984) and capture a trio of Eastern Championships (1981, 1983, 1984). 

A a freshman in 1981, he tallied 24 goals on 51 attempts with 11 assists, 25 steals and a pair of field blocks as the Bears topped Loyola University for the CWPA/Eastern Championship.  A year later, he added 30 goals on 56 attempts with 21 assists, 23 steals and a field block as the Bears fell to Loyola in the CWPA/Eastern title game but once again advanced to the NCAA Championship.

In 1983, he posted 42 goals on 108 attempts with nine assists, 54 steals and a pair of field blocks to help Brown upend Slippery Rock University for the CWPA/Eastern Championship and punch the program’s ticket to a third NCAA Championship berth.  For his efforts, Ennis was recognized with Honorable Mention All-America honors by USA Water Polo.

Unarguably his best season came in his fourth year of eligibility as he racked up 73 goals on 74 attempts with 10 assists and seven steals as the Bears clipped the United States Naval Academy for yet another CWPA/Eastern Championship and claimed their fourth straight NCAA Championship berth.  At the NCAA Championship, the team fell to the University of Southern California by a goal, handled Loyola University and dropped another one goal game to the University of California-Los Angeles (UCLA) to finish sixth and earn a final placement of sixth in the concluding Men’s National Poll.

In addition to his water polo exploits, Ennis was a two-sport athlete for Bruno as a backstroke specialist in swimming.  A gifted athlete, he also swam distance events in close meets. Per his Brown Athletics Hall of Fame biography, “it was not unusual for Steve to swim the 200 yard and 400 yard individual medleys, scoring points, and scoring in the 200 yard backstroke; and then going on to in the 400 yard freestyle relay and at least take second in the 400 free relay.” In 1984 he was Eastern champion in the 200 and 400 yard individual medley; and he received the Moriarty Award for scoring the most points in the Eastern Championship. In the history of the Brown swimming program, he holds a pair of the institution’s 23 All-Ivy League accolades by earning recognition in 1983 (200 yard individual medley) and 1984 (400 yard individual medley).