When freshman water polo player Nick Branca and two friends were in Denmark last summer, they read about the annual "Running of the Bulls" in Pamplona, Spain.

Most sane people would have seen the story--and dismissed as a fool anyone who would scamper 900 yards down narrow streets with six raging bulls nipping at his heels. But not Branca.

"We heard it was starting and said "Okay, we've got to go!' I was so scared," he admitted. "We were out there running with the bulls, and you had to climb up on fences to avoid them."

While Branca was not the only chicken on the fence, he was probably among the few to get down and taunt one of the ferocious beasts.

"After one ran by, I jumped down and whacked him," Branca said with a laugh. "You just sort of hope he keeps running and doesn't turn around!"

Branca, a native of San Diego, says that tempting death has helped him cope with new experiences ranging from life in Europe to life in the pool with "vicious" collegiate water polo players.

After Pamplona, Branca and his friends could brush aside any difficulties by saying "We ran with the bulls! We can do anything!"

"Had it not been for the attitude that made me run with the bulls," Branca added, "I'd not have been [named] "Freshman of the Year."

Brance was referring to the honor his Harvard men's water polo teammates awarded him Friday night before the Ivy League Championships. Crimson Tri-Captain Ben Elizondo said that this title, in its inaugural year, was given to the newcomer who "gives the upperclassmen a little more trouble now and then--who's a little more outspoken."

Fellow Tri-Captain Bill Wolff elaborated: the honor was "created in the image of the swim team's 'Ironman Award' for the most obnoxious freshman."

"Nick Branca was the victor just because he's awfully 'shmenly," Wolff noted. "I wouldn't call him obnoxious, but he's a forceful character who says some funny things."

Scorecards kept track of each freshman's "shmenly activities" and funny quotes throughout the season. At Friday's awards ceremony, results were tabulated to determine the winner.

Branca's tally sheet began with an incident which took place during the team's training camp in Los Angeles last summer, after his return from Europe. At Branca's suggestion, the team left a California Angels baseball game before its conclusion in order to visit neighboring Disneyland.

Perhaps the team accepted the freshman's ill-fated suggestion because it was so unexpected. When Branca was being recruited in April, he was introduced to the team captains.

"They assumed I was a shy kid who could never get out of line. They were kind of surprised when I showed up for California training [with a new attitude, inspired by the Pamplona experience]," Branca said.