Bucknell's Rechel, Masterson and Hyden Pick Up Awards from CWPA - BUCKNELL UNIVERSITY OFFICIAL ATHLETIC SITE

Bucknell's Rechel, Masterson and Hyden Pick Up Awards from CWPA

Men's Water Polo Standouts Honored at Friday Night's Eastern Championship Banquet

Jason Rechel was named First Team All-Southern Division on Friday.

Nov. 16, 2007

LEWISBURG, Pa. - Bucknell men's water polo stars Jason Rechel (Columbus, Ohio/Thomas Worthington), Mark Masterson (Kihei, Hawaii/Marin) and Richie Hyden (Riverside, Conn./Greenwich) each picked up an award at Friday night's Eastern Championship banquet. Rechel earned First Team All-Southern Division plaudits from the Collegiate Water Polo Association, while Masterson landed on the second team for the second straight season. Hyden was named the Rookie of the Year.

Both Rechel and Masterson earned spots on the All-Southern Division Second Team last year.

A team co-captain along with classmate Kyle Roslyn, Rechel led the Bison in goals (63), assists (29) and points (92) entering this weekend's Eastern Championship. His 92 points were one shy of equaling Masterson's team-leading total from 2006 and his 63 goals were the most by a Bison since Ryan McCarty (72) and Tate Greditzer (65) had more in 2000.

Rechel has been Bucknell's top sprinter each of the last three years. He won 44 of 98 sprints entering this weekend and has now won 161 in his four-year career. Additionally, Rechel has been strong on the defensive end throughout his time as a Bison. He has 32 steals this year and now has 114 in his career to rank eighth in Bucknell history.

The Columbus, Ohio, native entered the weekend just 22 goals, 32 assists and 57 points shy of 10th place in Bison history in those categories. No one has joined any of those lists since Kevin Permisohn in 2000.

Mark Masterson was named Second Team All-Southern Division.

Masterson earned his second consecutive second-team nod after adding 47 goals and 18 assists to his career tallies this year. He ranked second on the team to Rechel in both categories heading into the weekend. In just three years as a Bison, he has 157 goals, 71 assists and 228 points.

Masterson has played especially well offensively as of late, totaling six multiple-goal games in his last eight outings. Overall, he has 15 multiple-goal contests this year, and has tallied a season-high four goals three times.

A strong defensive player as well, Masterson has piled up a team-high 40 steals this year and now has 125 in his career to rank seventh in Bison history, just two behind Roslyn.

Richie Hyden was named the Southern Division Rookie of the Year.

Hyden came in and made an immediate impact in his freshman campaign. The left-hander entered the weekend third on the team in goals (36), assists (27) and points (63). All three figures are the most by a Bison freshman since Brad Roslyn totaled 40 goals, 31 assists and 71 points in 2002.

Hyden tallied at least one goal in 20 of his 26 games through the conclusion of the Southern Championships. Highlighting his late-season performance was a season-high five-goal outing against Mercyhurst at Southerns. Overall, Hyden posted 11 multiple-goal games, including five in the first eight games of his career.

Like Rechel and Masterson, Hyden has also been strong on defense, posting 30 steals this year. He has also won six sprints.

Bucknell will continue competition in the Eastern Championship, which is being held in Cambridge, Mass., at Harvard, on Saturday.