BRONX, NY. — Former Fordham University men’s water polo standout (Mehmet) Ali Arat will receive the institution’s highest honor for individual athletics performance as he is part of the Fordham Athletic Hall of Fame Class of 2021.
Arat joins the likes of Frankie Frisch, Vince Lombardi, Wellington Mara, Charlie Yelverton, Anne Gregory O’Connell, and Vin Scully in the Fordham Athletics Hall of Fame. The new class is scheduled to be inducted on 2021 Homecoming weekend on Thursday, October 7, on the Rose Hill campus. Specifics will be released when available.
As part of the ceremony, Fordham will also present the Victory Bell Award as well as honor all current Fordham Athletic Hall of Famers. The Victory Bell will be presented to an individual or individuals who have brought distinction and honor to Fordham University Athletics through achievements not related to competition, coaching and/or administration. The honoree(s) will be selected by the Hall of Fame Committee and will embody a sense of leadership and passion for Fordham Athletics and serve as inspiration to the Fordham Athletics Family.
Mehmet Ali Arat, GBA ’11
Joined the Rams as a graduate student for two years (2009 and 2010)- Named All-America by the Association of Collegiate Water Polo Coaches (ACWPC) both years, becoming the first Fordham water polo All-American since Eric Webber in 1982
- Named Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) All-Northern Division First Team both years
- 2009 CWPA Rookie of the Year
- 2009 CWPA Eastern Championship Rookie of the Tournament
- 2009 First Team All-Northern Division and First Team All-Eastern Championship
- Second on the team with 71 goals and 28 steals, while tying for the team lead in points (79) in 2009
- Named to the 2009 CWPA Scholar-Athlete Team
- Was instrumental in the team’s success in 2009 as the Rams won a share of the CWPA Northern Division regular season title and finished as runner-up at the CWPA Northern Division Championship
- Led 2010 team with 91 goals and 112 points
- The 91 goals ranks as one of the top scoring seasons in Fordham school history, trailing only Ned Kelly’s mark of 112 in 1971
- Nationally, was second in the nation in goals and third in points
- Added 40 steals, good for second on the team, and 14 blocks
- Recipient of the 2011 Vincent T. Lombardi Award
- Named Second Team CoSIDA Academic All-America® in 2011 (only Fordham water polo student-athlete to earn Academic All-America® honors)
- A 2011 graduate of the Gabelli School of Business, Arat currently resides in London where he serves as an Investment Manager for the Dome Group.
Release courtesy Fordham University Athletics Communications
