Craig Rond, Athlete

 After a high school career where he earned All-American honors in both swimming and water polo while attending Thousand Oaks High School, Craig Rond made the decision to don the orange and black and become a Ventura College Pirate.

 Craig quickly became an outstanding performer on the Ventura College men's swim and water polo teams under the guidance of coach Bill Miller. In 1985, Craig was not only named Team Captain and M.V.P. of the V.C. men's water polo team, he was also selected as a National Community College Swimming All-American.  

 During the 1986 season, Craig was honored as the Western State Conference Swimmer of the Year and a California Community College State Swimming Champion in two events. That same season, Craig Rond was the National Community College runner-up in the 200 fly and topped off his sophomore year by being named, for a second consecutive year, a National Community College Swimming All-American.

 In 1988, following his extraordinarily successful career at Ventura College, Craig transferred to San Jose State where he again became a standout performer. He was named Team Captain and M.V.P. in 1988 and 1989. As a result of his outstanding talent and accomplishments, in 1989, Craig received a very special honor by being listed in Who's Who Among College Students in America.

 However, Craig was not just an athlete, but a student athlete in the true sense of the words. In 1989, Craig earned his B.A. degree in Communication Studies from San Jose State, and in 1994, he earned a Master's degree from the University of Arizona. With his formal education and collegiate competition behind him, Craig continued to accumulate recognition and awards for his personal and professional endeavors.

 In 1990, Craig won the Santa Barbara 3-mile Rough Water Ocean Swim Championship, and in 1991 he was National Champion in the Open Water Masters 5-mile swim.  

 In 1996, while teaching and coaching at Thousand Oaks High, Craig was named Water Polo Coach of the Year in the Marmonte League.  In 1998 Craig founded the Ventura County Age Group Water Polo League and in the years 2000, 2004-2007, he was listed in Who's Who Among High School Teachers in America.

 In 2003, Craig became head coach of the men's and women's water polo programs at Cal Lutheran. In 2006, Craig was named the National Men's Coach of the Year at the NCAA D-III level. Craig's most recent award was spring 2007, when he was named the National Women's Coach of the Year after his CLU   women's team won the NCAA D-III National Championship.   

 Craig lives in Simi Valley and continues to coach at Cal Lutheran.