BRDGEPORT, Pa. — Former Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA)/USA Water Polo official and current CWPA Technical Committee member Bret Bernard was among a group of seven contributors to six aquatics disciplines recognized on Saturday, September 13, during the International Swimming Hall of Fame’s 2025 Aquatic Awards presented by AquaCal.
The ISHOF Aquatic Awards are a annual event that celebrate the unsung heroes who make competitive and recreational aquatics possible. These are the people who save lives, promote water safety and further aquatic education around the world. Their devotion, tireless dedication and hours of volunteerism are done for nothing other than the good of aquatics.
A 2010 inductee to the USA Water Polo Hall of Fame, Bernard has been called on to whistle every major water polo championship in existence, including the Olympic Games in 1992 (Barcelona) and 1996 (Atlanta). The on deck rules enforcer for multiple World Championships, World Cups, Junior World Championships, and Goodwill Games among many other international competitions, Bernard has called every level of the game from youth up to the Olympics. Domestically, has has called every level of contest and has officiated numerous collegiate men’s and women’s championships, including an incredible 14 consecutive men’s National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Championship games.
An American Athletic Union (AAU), NCAA and High School All-America selection, Bernard played for the USA Men’s National Team and was an alternate for the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich, Germany.
Off the deck, he aided the USA Water Polo organizational structure by serving on and chairing a variety of committees and boards, including serving upon the Executive Committee for 15 years. He was elected USA Water Polo Treasurer from 1988-90, Vice-President from 1990-1996 and President from 1996-2001. Further, he served upon the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) Board of Directors for 15 years and on the organization’s Finance Committee for six years.
In addition he was the first non-European President of the International Association of Water Polo Referees (AIA) and served also as its Vice-President for six years and upon its Executive Board for 10 years. A member of the FINA-Technical Water Polo Committee (TWPC) for five years, Bernard made history as the NCAA’s inaugural Director of Water Polo Officials.
For his service to the sport on the international stage, USA Water Polo named its highest award recognizing outstanding officiating at the elite level in his honor.
Currently the Director of Planning and Development at Milan Capital Management, LLP, in Anaheim, Calif., Bernard continues to give back to the sport as a member of the CWPA Technical Committee providing guidance and insight to train the current generation of officials on calling the game of water polo.
The International Swimming Hall of Fame release notes:
Bret B. Bernard and his twin sister, learned to swim via the American Red Cross in Newport Beach, California, where they grew up. More interested in surfing, sailing and just having fun, Bret did not compete in swimming until his freshman high school year, when something called water polo caught his attention.
As a player Bernard was a multi-time USA Water Polo, American Athletic Union (AAU), National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and High-School All-America selection, on a Championship team at all levels. As captain of Corona del Mar High School, it was the only team to ever to win three aquatics (water polo, swimming relays and swimming) championships in the same academic year, his senior year. In college, while at the University of California at Irvine, his water polo team won one NCAA Championship and placed second three times. Bernard played for the Men’s USA National Team for nearly a decade and was an alternate to the 1972 Olympic Games, retiring in 1980 with the boycott of the Moscow Games.
Bernard has been called upon to whistle every major water polo championship in existence, from three editions of the Olympic Games to World Championships, World Cups, to Junior Worlds, and everything in between. Domestically, Bernard has worn the whites for every conceivable USA Water Polo Championship, including Junior Olympics and National Championships. He also officiated numerous collegiate men’s and women’s championships, including an incredible 14 straight Men’s NCAA Championship (final) games and 10 straight for the women.
He has also made great contributions to the organizational advancements of USA Water Polo serving and chairing a variety of committees, including finance, law and legislation, and national referees amongst others. Bernard served on USA Water Polo’s Executive Committee for 15 years, served as its Treasurer from 1988-90, Vice-President from 1990-96 and President from 1996-2001. He continues to serve USWP as a long-standing member of its Hall of Fame Committee and special advisor. He has served on the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) Board of Directors for 14 years, its Finance Committee for six years and its restructuring committee.
Internationally Bernard was the first and only non-European President of the International Water Polo Referees Association and served for six years as its Vice-President and on its Executive Board for 10 years. He also served on the FINA Technical Water Polo Committee for five years.
Bernard was the first director of water polo officials for the NCAA, formulating and serving in that position for five years. Since he has continued to serve water polo as a member of the USWP Technical Committee as well as assisting every men’s and women’s collegiate water polo conference as a Technical Committee member and referee’s evaluator for over the last 18 years.
Bernard has been inducted into numerous Halls of Fame, including USA Water Polo, as well as his high school and college, and was honored many years ago with the Bill Smith Award. In recognition of his many contributions to Water Polo officiating, USWP’s highest award (for outstanding refereeing at elite competition levels) was named in honor of him.
Bernard had spent the last two decades in service to non-aquatic endeavors focusing on his two sons, Tanner and Hunter, who he calls “his greatest achievements” and what they have accomplished, the memories they have created and who they have become ~ it’s what he is most proud of.
To read about the entire International Swimming Hall of Fame Aquatic Awards recipient class, CLICK HERE.
