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M-W SWIMMING
COACHING STAFF
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MITCH CARTY
HEAD COACH
mcarty@whittier.edu
A graduate and student-athlete at Whittier College, Carty was an
All Conference selection three times from 1993 to 1995. As well as
being the first player in Whittier history to be named to the All
Western Water Polo Association Team in 1994, Carty was also
selected as an Academic All American in 1995. He was selected
Whittier College’s Freshman Athlete of the Year in 1993, and
Outstanding Male Athlete of the Year in 1994 and 1996. |
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Carty’s coaching
career began at Whittier High School in 1992 where he helped lead
the Cardinals to their first League Championship in eight years,
and their first CIF Championship appearance in 33 years. Since
taking over as the Head Men’s Water Polo Coach of the Poets in
1997, Carty has accumulated 142 overall victories, including a 70%
winning percentage versus conference opponents. In his nine years
as Head Men’s Coach, Carty has placed 16 male athletes to the
Division III All American teams. Most recently, Whittier College
captured the Men's SCIAC Conference Championship in 2004 and Coach
Carty was named "Coach of the Year" by the American Water Polo
Coaches Association for NCAA Division III.
In July 2002, Carty was promoted to full-time status at Whittier
College and was named the Aquatics Coordinator. As Aquatics
Coordinator, Carty retains his duties as Head Men’s Water Polo
Coach, but also has taken over as Head Women’s Water Polo Coach,
where in his first season led the Poets to their most successful
season in the program’s history. In just four years as the Head
Women’s Water Polo Coach, Carty has rebuilt the program into a
SCIAC Conference contender, including placing four female athletes
to the Division III All American teams.
Coach Carty graduated from Whittier College in 1996 with a
Bachelor of Arts Degree in Physical Education, as well as a minor
in Psychology. In 1998, Carty completed his Masters of Arts Degree
in Education, also from Whittier College, in which his thesis
topic was “Creating Team Cohesion.” Finally, Coach resides in La
Habra Heights with his wife Lyn ’96 of seven years and their
daughter Tess.
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JOSH ACOSTA
ASSISTANT COACH
Josh Acosta began playing water polo
and swimming as a freshman at Lemoore High School. As a member of
the varsity water polo team he earned captain and MVP honors. As
a swimmer he was a CIF champion as a senior in the 400 freestyle
relay, 200 freestyle relay and 200 freestyle events. Throughout
high school he also competed for the Central California Zone teams
at the youth and junior levels. He gained status as a high school
All-American in both swimming and water polo as a senior.
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Acosta was a student-athlete at
Pepperdine University completing his B.S. in Business
Administration in 2005. As a member of the water polo team he
earned MVP and captain honors. He also was named as an All-MPSF
and All-American athlete as a member of the Pepperdine water polo
team. Throughout college he also played for the coastal zone team
in the premier league.
Acosta’s previous coaching assignments include LA Valley College,
Calabasas High School as well as the Los Angeles Water Polo Club.
As a member of LAWP, Acosta played with the 2006 division I
premier league championship team.
Acosta’s future goals include completing his teaching credential
at Whittier College and teaching/coaching water polo at the high
school and junior college levels.
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ALLISON HEDGPETH
ASSISTANT COACH
Coach
Hedgpeth began her water polo career in 1997 at the age of
13 while playing for Edison High School in Huntington Beach,
California. Allison participated in club and varsity water
polo as well as varsity swimming. She was team captain her
sophomore through senior year and was awarded most valuable
offensive player. |
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In 2000, she was chosen to play for the
Southern California Zone team in Los Alamitos. After high
school, Hedgpeth attended NCAA division II California State
University- Bakersfield on a water polo scholarship and was
awarded most valuable offensive player as well as led her
team as captain both her sophomore and senior years. This
will be coach Hedgpeth’s first season with the Poets and
hopes to be a positive influence on the program. In July of
this year, Allison was married to her high school
sweetheart, Glenn, and they currently reside in Huntington
Beach. |
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