BRIDGEPORT, Pa. — Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) Technical Committee member and former world championship official/USA Water Polo President Bret Bernard is the guest on Episode 021 of the PoloCAST Podcast with George Gross, Jr.
A biweekly series highlighting some of water polo’s best minds and athletes over the past 50+ years, PoloCAST is available on Apple Podcasts, Breaker, Google Podcasts, Pocket Casts, RadioPublic, Anchor and Spotify.
Hosted by CWPA Hall of Fame inductee and former Team Canada Olympian George Gross, Jr., the podcast provides listeners with more than just an X’s and O’s conversation about water polo – but a dialogue about what helped good players, coaches and administrators reach the top of the game.
New episodes typically release on the first and third Tuesday of every month.
Follow the entire series by CLICKING HERE.
About Bret Bernard: A 2010 inductee to the USA Water Polo Hall of Fame, Bret 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.
