Sunday, November 28, 2010

COACH CHRIS JUDGE NAMED
TO CWPA HALL OF FAME
November 19, 2010

Fordham University & Former National Team Player Chris Judge '80 Inducted Into CWPA Hall of Fame



BRIDGEPORT, Pa. -- Fordham University standout Chris Judge '80 was inducted into the Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) Hall of Fame on Friday evening at the Lewisburg Hotel during the league's Eastern Championship Banquet. 
A former National Team and New York Athletic Club star player, he becomes the 18th inductee into the Hall of Fame and the sixth male player to enter the Hall.Joining Richard Hunkler (Slippery Rock University/Coach, 2002), Dick Russell (Bucknell University/Coach, 2002), Lynn Kachmarik (Slippery Rock University, 2003), Ed Reed (Brown University/Coach, 2003), John Barrett (University of Maryland, 2004), Paul Barren (West Chester University/Referee, 2004), Sue Kolczak (Slippery Rock University, 2005), George Gross (Yale University, 2005), Robbie Bova (Slippery Rock University, 2006), Scott Schulte (Bucknell University, 2006), Katie Grogan (University of Massachusetts, 2007), Russ Yarworth (University of Massachusetts/Coach, 2007), Betsey Armstrong (University of Michigan, 2008), Tom Popp (United States Naval Academy, 2008), Diane Stein Swigart (Slippery Rock University, 2009), Lars Enstrom (Brown University, 2009) and Leslie Entwistle (Slippery Rock University, 2010) in the league's Hall of Fame, Judge is the first honoree from Fordham University or a New York metropolitan school.
A four-year starter, he was named All-East at two different positions during his career while earning letters in both swimming and water polo for all four years at Fordham.
Judge served as captain in 1978 and 1979, leading the Rams to a No. 8 national ranking in 1979.  The captain of the swimming team in 1979, he established records as a swimmer and a legacy of athletic prowess that only improved following his collegiate career.
One of the best players in Fordham history, he earned a place among the nation’s most elite players competing in several National Sports Festivals, including the 1981 festival in which the East won the gold medal behind a Most Valuable Player performance by Judge.
Following graduation from Fordham, he continued to play at the highest level of the game and gave back to his alma mater as an assistant coach for the Rams in 1981 before serving as head coach from 1982-89.  During his tenure as coach, the Rams captured five MET titles and one Mid-Atlantic Championship.
Among the most outstanding players in the history of the New York Athletic Club (NYAC), he started playing with NYAC as a freshman at Fordham in 1976 and continues to be active in the program.   He will be inducted into the NYAC Hall of Fame in April 2011.
On the National level, he earned a spot in the United States National Team in 1983-84 and was an alternate on the 1984 Olympic Team.
An age group coach at Hudson Valley Water Polo and the NYAC, he was inducted into the Fordham University Hall of Fame (1996) to join his father and fellow water polo player Francis X. Judge (1987).
Holding undergraduate degrees in finance and accounting, he earned an MBA in Finance from Iona College in 1986 before receiving Certified Financial Planner designation in 1996. 

Chris Judge with his son, brothers, teammates, friends, family & former CWPA Hall of Fame inductees Scott Schulte and Paul Barren

Chris Judge, his son & brothers

The New York Athletic Club team during their trip to Fort Lauderdale, Florida in 1982. Back row L-R: Lou Gioia, Jose Ferraioli, Charles Gulotta, Ray Judge, Chris Judge, Bill Harris. Front row L-R: Dan Solomon, Scott Schulte, Homer Lane, Joel Iannuzzi, Spyros Capralos, Jim Purcell, Tom Gleason and Russ Hertzberg.