BRIDGEPORT, Pa. — The Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) looks back at the outstanding athletes, referees and coaches who have made Hall of Fame caliber marks on the league.
The fourth player or coach with a Bucknell University connection in the Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) Hall of Fame at the time of his induction in the Fall of 2012, Mark Gensheimer was among a generation of Bison that tallied a 114-15-3 record along with four consecutive Eastern Championships and National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) berths (1977-to-1980).
In the history of the league, only the 1993-to-1996 University of Massachusetts Minutemen equaled the mark of four consecutive Eastern crowns and NCAA appearance established by Hall of Fame members Gensheimer, Scott Schulte, Dick Russell and the Bison during the CWPA’s infancy.
Currently ranked fifth in career points (396), goals (244) and assists (152) in Bison history, Gensheimer ranks on the school’s single season points (fourth, 181 in 1980), goals (seventh, 108 in 1980) and assists (fourth, 73 in 1980) lists to rate as one of the greatest water polo players and student-athletes in Bucknell history.
He began his collegiate career in 1977 by posting 42 goals and 11 assists in helping the Bison finish 28-5, claim the Eastern Championship and notch a seventh place finish at the NCAA Championship hosted by Brown University in the Bucknell program’s first season of varsity play. In the Eastern Championship game, he tallied the game winning score in a 21-20 sudden death win over the University of Pittsburgh.
Gensheimer and Bucknell exceeded their inaugural varsity performances over the next two seasons.
In 1978, he guided the Bison to a 28-3 mark, an Eastern Championship and a sixth place mark at the NCAA Championship at Long Beach State University by tallying 20 goals and 17 assists. A year later, he posted 74 goals and 51 assists in helping Bucknell finish 27-3-1, claim another Eastern Championship and place fifth at the NCAA Championship on the campus of Long Beach State University. In addition, he scored 13 goals and nine assists in six games at the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) Indoor National Water Polo Championship to claim AAU All-America honors.
His senior season brought a 31-4-2 mark for the Bison as Gensheimer scored a career-high 108 goals and 73 assists to finish with 181 points and earn All-East First Team honors in 1980. An AAU Honorable Mention All-America selection, he scored a career-high nine goals against Millersville University on October 25, as the Bison rolled through the league to claim the programs’ fourth consecutive Eastern Championship and a seventh place finish at the NCAA Championship hosted by Long Beach.
For his collegiate career, he combined with classmate and fellow CWPA Hall of Fame member Schulte (586-256-842) for an astounding 1,238 points from 830 goals and 408 assists.
Following graduation, Gensheimer participated on the East Team at the 1981 United States Olympic Festival and helped his squad to a Gold Medal. It marks the only time in the history of the sport that a Gold Medal was claimed by a team from the East.
President of CS McKee LP, a money management firm in Pittsburgh that manages pension funds, profit-sharing plans, reserve funds, endowments and other financial assets for municipalities, unions, corporations, foundations, hospitals, schools, religious organizations and other institutions, Gensheimer also co-founded and served as President of Invesmart Inc., a provider of retirement plans.
He continues to be active in the Collegiate Water Polo Association, serving on the organization’s Board of Directors as a community representative and Chairman of the Board.
