St Louis County is mourning the loss of the man who brought the sport of water polo to the St Louis area. Wally Lundt died Dec. 26, 2011.

Lundt’s career was filled with illustrious achievements in water polo including an induction to the Water Polo Hall of Fame in 2004. The hall of fame coach began teaching at Clayton High School in 1957 and started the first water polo high school league in 1960 in St Louis.

Lundt left Clayton High School in 1991 and became the head coach of the Lafayette water polo team in 1992.

James Waeckerle, Lundt’s Assistant Coach of four years, said, “Lundt was “The Creator” he brought water polo to the St Louis area and he just knew the game incredibly well.”

Lundt coached at LHS for 11 years before leaving in 2003. Throughout his 11 years at Lafayette his best season was his last with the team, a record of 13-5.

“We had a steady improvement each year we coached together and finally in his last year we had a really good team, a lot of talent,” Waeckerle said.

Waeckerle took over as head coach after Lundt’s last year.

Sophomore Mike Meyer said, “It is an incredible honor to play for a team once coached by the man who brought water polo to St Louis.”

Waeckerle added, “It was an honor to coach with a hall of famer, if it wasn’t for him I probably wouldn’t be coaching today, he was the one who got me started here.”

When asked to summarize Lundt’s career in one word, Waeckerle replied, “Legend.”