La Salle's Water Polo Stars Make College Choices

La Salle senior Ricky Deneen and Kyle Van der Linde both have signed to continue their water polo careers at local colleges. Deneen will play at Whittier College, receiving the John Greenleaf Whittier Merit Scholarship. Van der Linde signed with Pitzer College in Pomona and will play for the Pitzer-Pomona water polo team this fall.

Deneen earned eight varsity letters in water polo and swimming during his career as a Lancer, and he is a two-time La Salle Hall of Fame inductee. Deneen twice earned Prep League MVP honors in addition to two first-team All-League selections.

Deneen said in a release that Whittier coach Justin Pudwill’s “persistent pursuit of me” was one of the main reasons he chose Whittier over other Division III programs.

“Coach Pudwill hopes my strong outside shot will really help win a championship for Whittier next season,” Deneen said.

Deneen plans to major in business at Whittier.

Van der Linde transferred to La Salle as a junior and immediately made an impact on the Lancers. He earned the team’s Most Inspirational Player award his junior year and got the Coach’s Award as a senior. Van der Linde also is a member of the Rose Bowl Water Polo Club team, which team took first place in the US Club Championships.

Van der Linde plans to major in business and ethical green technology and minor in engineering.