Swimming World contributor Michael Randazzo is providing previews of the conferences that will send teams to the 2017 NCAA Men’s Water Polo Tournament to be held December 2 and 3 at USC’s Uytengsu Aquatics Center. Teams arranged by projected order of finish.
Rankings are from the 2017 Collegiate Water Polo Association’s Men’s Preseason Poll.
For the first time in its brief existence, the Golden Coast Conference (GCC) will claim a berth at the NCAA Men’s Water Polo Tournament. In 2015 Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (MPSF) members Pepperdine, Long Beach State, University of the Pacific, San Jose State, UC Irvine and UC Santa Barbara joined a newly constituted San Jose State men’s team to form the GCC.
After waiting the required year to be eligible, 2017 will be the first season a GCC men’s team will qualify for NCAAs—and one of the new conference’s members may make their first visit in a very long time to the country’s biggest tournament.
James Graham (10th season; Redlands 2003) has returned to #5 University of Pacific (19-7; 4-1 GCC) after leading the U.S. men’s team at the World University Games—and he’s brought red-shirt senior Ben Stevenson with him. The Reno, NV native was a dominant player in Taipei, scoring five goals to lead Team USA to an 18-8 win over Canada, good for 9th place.
The Tigers were led in goals last year by then-freshman Engin Ege Colak (49), earning him GCC Newcomer of the Year honors.
Outside of losses last year to Mountain Pacific Sports Federation powers USC and UCLA (twice) and California, the Tigers were beaten by GCC foes UC Santa Barbara and—in the conference championship—Pepperdine. Major Loss: three-time All-American Aleksandar Petrovic (42 goals, 49 assists).
Key Match Up: Pepperdine, Friday, October 20, Stockton, CA
Winners of the GCC’s inaugural conference tournament, #7 Pepperdine (15-12, 2-3 GCC) also sent a player to the World University Games this summer. Junior Marko Asic (69 goals in 2016), the 2016 co-GCC Player of the Year, was one of 13 players selected to represent the U.S. at the Universiade. The Wave hold the ultimate trump card in international experience; head coach Terry Schroeder (25th season; Pepperdine 1980) has collected three Olympic silver medals, including 2008 when he coached the U.S. Men’s National Team at the Beijing Olympics.
Named the GCC’s first-ever Coach of the Year, Schroeder’s experienced line-up includes Asic, senior Mark Urban (40 goals, 33 assists), junior Kenneth Keller (23 goals, 31 assists), sophomore Mate Toth (39 goals) and senior goalie Zack Rhodes returning. Major loss: Brock Liebhardt (49 exclusions drawn).
Key Match Up: UC Santa Barbara, Friday, November 10, Malibu, CA
#6 University of California at Santa Barbara (2016 record: 18-8; 5-0 GCC), the 2016 GCC regular season champs return leading scorers senior Reed Cotterill (44 goals) and junior Boris Jovanovic (40 goals) from a balanced offense that last year saw the Gauchos register 12 players who scored in double-digits in goals. Head coach Wolf Wigo (13th season; Stanford, 1995) has his work cut out for him to get the Gauchos into the NCAAs for the first time since 1990. Major Loss: starting goalie Liam Lenihan III.
Key Match Up: Pacific, Friday, November 3, Santa Barbara, CA
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Co-GCC Player of the Year Nolan McConnell has graduated from #8 Long Beach State, but the 49ers are not without enough talent to keep up with the “big three” in the GCC. Looking to return to the NCAAs for the first time since 1991, coach Gavin Arroyo (12th season; California 1994) will look to build on a 16-9 (3-2 GCC) season in 2016 that resulted in a third-place finish in the GCC tournament. Arroyo spent the summer leading the U.S. Men’s Junior National Team at the FINA Junior World Championships in Serbia.
Juniors Austin Stuart (25 goals), Austin Stevenson (18 goals) and Keegan Wicken (20 goals) return to a 49er’s attack that will need to replace McConnell’s 68 goals. Major Loss: McConnell.
Key Match Up: UC Irvine, Friday, November 10, Irvine, CA
#13 University of California at Irvine comes off a 10-14 season that saw the team go 1-4 on GCC play. If the Anteaters are going to qualify for their first NCAA tournament since 1993, they will have to ride the stellar net-minding abilities of senior goalkeeper Matej Matijevic, First Team GCC All-Conference. Junior Jack Trush (team-high 47 goals) and his older brother Kyle—with Team USA at the University World Games—will be key performers for head coach Marc Hunt’s (13th season; UC Irvine 1993) squad. Major Loss: Ryan Warde (45 goals).
Key Match Up: San Jose State, Friday, October 6, Irvine, CA
All the GCC members have a chance at an NCAA berth thanks to San Jose State, which is still in rebuilding mode after reviving its men’s water polo program in 2014 following a 34-year gap.
Unfortunately, San Jose State has yet to benefit from its own largess. A combined 11-46 record (0-7, GCC) in two years suggests that the Spartans have a way to go before challenging for their first NCAA spot since 1972. There’s hope in the form of sophomore Ben Hauschild (29 goals), who last year garnered honorable mention on the GCC All-Conference team. Top scorer Marc Weber (30 goals) will return but leading scorer Davor Koret (23 goals, 28 assists) will not. Head coach Bruce Watson (3rd season, San Jose State 1972) has his hands full bring his alma mater back to respectability. Major Loss: Koret.
Key Match Up: Santa Clara, Sunday, September 19, Davis CA
All commentaries are the opinion of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Swimming World Magazine nor its staff.