Peter Stange

Peter "Pete" James Stange (born February 28, 1931) is an American water polo player who competed for the University of California, Los Angeles and participated in the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki.

Stange was born in Santa Monica, California on February 28, 1931. Graduating in 1948, Stange played water polo for El Segundo High School where he was managed and trained by Hall of Fame Coach Urho Saari.

At the 1951 Pan American Games in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Stange was on the U.S. National team that won a bronze medal. Hungary and Yugoslavia were strong favorites to medal and remained highly rated teams for decades. The 1952 Olympic team included goaltender Harry Bisbey, Ace Burns, Bob Hughes, Jaworski, team Captain Jim Norris, Bill Lake, Bob Kohler, Jack Spargo, Bill Kooistra, Bill Dorblaser, and Pete Stange. A new rule allowed movement after the referee called a foul, which sped up the game. Despite low initial expectations, the U.S. team defeated Spain, Belgium, Great Britain, and Austria in preliminary rounds, earning a spot in the semi-finals. Losing their chances at a gold or silver medal, they suffered a disappointing but close 5-4 loss to the Italian team in their first semi-final, and then lost to the Yugoslavian team 4-2 in their last semi-final round, ending their chances for a bronze medal. Hungary and Yugoslavia tied in the final gold medal match, but Hungary was given the gold medal as a result of goal differential, having scored more total goals in competition. Yugoslavia took the silver, and Italy took the bronze medal.

Career In his professional life, he began working as a lifeguard in Los Angeles during his summers. The City of Los Angeles later hired him to work at the station at Willis Street. After establishing a career as a Los Angeles area lifeguard, he retired from Station 8 at Will Rogers State Beach.