BRIDGEPORT, Pa. — Chris Freese (Fr., Bellevue, Wash./Interlake) of Division III No. 5-ranked Johns Hopkins University contributed three goals, four assists and two blocks in helping the Blue Jays claim the 2019 Division III Eastern Championship at Chartiers Valley High School in Bridgeville, Pa., over the weekend. For his performance, Freese is named the October 28 Mid-Atlantic Water Polo Conference (MAWPC) Rookie of the Week.
On Saturday, October 26, he handed out two assists with a steal and a field block in a 23-11 victory over Austin College of the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (MPSF). He tacked on pairs of goals and assists in a 20-14 semifinal defeat of fellow MAWPC institution Connecticut College later in the day prior to scoring once and blocking a shot in a 16-12 title game win against Division III No. 6 the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) of the Northeast Water Polo Conference (NWPC) on Sunday, October 27.
The title marks JHU’s 18th Division III Eastern Championship as the Blue Jays previously picked up the 1994, 1995, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2017 titles with runner-up marks in 1991, 1992, 1993, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2010, 2014 and 2018.
Overall, the 2019 title game marked the 21st meeting between the Engineers and Blue Jays for the crown (1991, 1994, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018) with Johns Hopkins now holding a 15-6 mark in the clashes.
The award marks the second MAWPC Rookie of the Week nod this season for Freese who previously earned recognition on September 23.
October 28 Mid-Atlantic Water Polo Conference Rookie of the Week Honor Roll: Adrian Touzot (Bucknell University); Jake Altmayer (United States Naval Academy)
