University of California, Los Angeles, Athletics
Water Polo's Joseph Axelrad and Natalie Golda Awarded 2004-05 Pac-10 Conference Medals
June 23, 2005
LOS ANGELES, Calif. - Joseph Axelrad, a senior goalkeeper on the 2004 UCLA men's water polo team, and Natalie Golda, a senior driver on the 2005 UCLA women's water polo team, were honored as UCLA's recipients of the 2004-2005 Pacific-10 Conference Medal, the conference announced Thursday. A Conference Medal is awarded annually to each member institution's outstanding senior male and female student-athlete based on the exhibition of the greatest combination of performance and achievement in scholarship, athletics and leadership.
Axelrad, who helped lead the Bruins to the school's 95th national title in December, was also named a first-team All-American. The Studio City, California, native made 188 stops in front of the net for UCLA and was a large part of the Bruins' near-record 18-game winning streak. His team ultimately finished with the best record for a UCLA water polo team since 1972 (25-3).
Golda, a member of the United States' bronze-medal winning Olympic team in 2004, also led her team to a national title. UCLA's women's water polo team finished with a perfect 33-0, becoming just the second team in NCAA Water Polo history to accomplish such a feat. The 33-game winning streak is also the longest ever in NCAA history. Earlier this month, Golda was awarded the prestigious Peter J. Cutino Award by the San Francisco Olympic Club. The Cutino Award is presented annually to the nation's best mens and womens water polo player.
The Conference Medal winners will be honored at the State Farm Pride of the Pac-10 Luncheon held in Los Angeles in conjunction with the Pac-10 Men's Basketball Tournament next March.
2004-05 Pacific-10 Conference Medal Winners
School Men Women Arizona Channing Frye, Basketball Emily Mason, Swimming ASU Andrew Walter, Football Kylan Loney, Basketball California Graham Ackerman, Gymnastics Kelly Anderson, Softball Oregon Sven Swinnen, Tennis Catherine Kraayeveld, Basketball Oregon State Bill Swancutt, Football Mari Embertson, Swimming Stanford Tony Azevedo, Water Polo Ogonna Nnamani, Volleyball UCLA Joseph Axelrad, Water Polo Natalie Golda, Water Polo USC Rau Vincent, Swimming Emily Adams, Volleyball Washington C.J. Klaas, Soccer Tina Frimpong, Soccer WSU Calvin Armstrong, Football Kim Welch, Golf