David Phreaner

Before becoming a family practice medical doctor in town, Dave Phreaner made his presence known in the pools at San Marcos High and UCSB.

A product of the Santa Barbara Water Polo Club, Phreaner was the first four-year varsity, two-sport aquatics athlete at San Marcos. In addition, he served as captain for the swimming and water polo teams from 1982-84. In his senior year of 1984, he earned Channel League MVP honors and was selected as the Santa Barbara Athletic Round Table’s Prep Boys’ water polo player of the year.

His size and ability as a left-handed shooter caught the attention of college recruiters. He chose UCSB, where he played three years of water polo for the Gauchos and competed one season on the swim team.

He scored 80 goals and handled the rigors of guarding the two-meter player. “That was my biggest challenge because at 6-2 and only 185 pounds, everybody I would guard outweighed me by 40 pounds,” Phreaner said. “I always tried to use my quickness to tick them off by never letting those big 2-meter players touch the ball. None of the other teams liked me for that reason.”

Pheaner was selected to the USA Water Polo senior national B team.

Besides having solid skills in the water, Phreaner possessed great leadership qualities. He was twice named the Gauchos’ team captain (1987-88).

In his senior year, he earned All-American honors and was a first-team all-Pacific Coast Athletic Association selection.

He also excelled in the classroom and was recognized as a UCSB Golden Eagle scholar-athlete award winner in 1988.