Barry up for Cutino Award

Dreason Barry had a great four-year career for the UC Irvine men’s water polo program, helping to lead the team to fourth-place in the nation each of the past two seasons.

Division I coaches took notice.

Barry is one of four nominees for the 2006 men’s Peter J. Cutino Award. Named for the late UC Berkeley and Olympic Club coach, it’s the top award a collegiate water polo player can receive ? similar to the Heisman Trophy in football.

The award will be handed out tonight at the Peter J. Cutino Awards Night, held at The Olympic Club in Daly City.

“It’s great to be nominated,” Barry said. “The guys that I’m nominated with are two Olympians and a great national team player. I’m honored to be in that class of guys.”

Only Division I school coaches are allowed to vote for the award. Nominated along with Barry on the men’s side are Thomas Hopkins of Stanford, Jesse Smith of Pepperdine and Juraj Zatovic of national champion USC.

Barry was the leading scorer for the Anteaters (18-12) in his senior season, netting 66 goals. He also made the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation second team while splitting time between the 2-meter and perimeter driver positions for first-year coach Marc Hunt.

After graduating from UCI this month, Barry said he wants to play professionally in Europe. He will attempt to land a spot with the U.S. national team over the summer.

Barry does have some stiff competition for the Cutino Award. Zatovic scored 68 goals this year for the national champion Trojans and was co-MVP of the NCAA Championships.

Hopkins scored 48 goals for Stanford. Smith was an all-MPSF first team selection and scored a team-best 61 goals. He redshirted in 2004 to play on the United States Olympic team.

“I was kind of surprised I was nominated because I didn’t make first-team All American,” Barry said. “But I do think I’m deserving.”

The Cutino Award has been presented annually since 1999 to the top men’s and women’s collegiate water polo players. Stanford’s Tony Azevedo won the men’s award four consecutive years through 2005.

Women’s nominees this year include Brittany Hayes and Laureen Wenger of USC, and Meridith McColl of Stanford.dpt.03-dreason-1-BPhotoInfoCV1RKC7T20060603j09jusnc(LA)Dreason Barry