Following up a third-place finish at the 2016 Mid-Atlantic Water Polo Conference (MAWPC) Championship, Fordham water polo coach Bill Harris has announced four men to the 2017-18 incoming class.
At the MAWPC Tournament, Rams’ senior R.J. Simmons and freshman Jake Miller-Tolt earned All-Conference honors. As a whole, the team also earned top academic honors in the MAWPC Conference.
Fordham Water Polo Adds Four
Bronx, N.Y. – Fordham water polo coach Bill Harris announced the addition of four players for the 2017 season.
Joining the Rams next season will be Massimiliano Mirarchi (Rome, Italy/Liceo Scientifico Torricelli (Whittier)), Phillip Wang (San Jose, Calif./Bellarmine College Prep), August Weyandt (Carlsbad, Calif./Carlsbad), and Sam Wheeler (Palos Verdes Estates, Calif./Chadwick).
Massimiliano Mirarchi
A 6-1 attacker, Mirarchi brings a wealth of both collegiate and international experience to the Rams, after graduating from Whitter College in California and playing for the U15 and U17 Italian National Teams. He just completed three seasons at Whittier, where he was a three-time Division III All-American and Academic All-American from 2014-16. He led all Division III players in goals and steals in 2015, setting a single season school record for steals with 92, while having the second-highest single season goal total with 116. He followed with 97 goals last season to go with 43 assists and 42 steals, as he was named First Team All-SCIAC for the third straight year. A two-time team MVP, Mirarchi finished his three seasons at Whittier with 291 goals, 109 assists, and 177 steals.
In the classroom, he was a member of the Dean’s and President’s List each semester, a three-year Scholar-Athlete Award winner, and a member of Sigma Beta Delta, the International Honor Society for Business.
Prior to his time at Whittier, Mirarchi was a member of the U15 and U17 Italian National Teams, which won gold at the U15 10 National Tournament in Serbia, the U17 8 Nations Tournament in Croatia, the U17 16 National Tournament in Italy, and the U17 European National Team Championship in Germany.
Harris on Mirarchi – “Massimiliano brings international experience to our program. He is an intelligent player, who will help us in all facets of the game. I am confident Massi will be an impact player for us at both ends of the pool.”
Phillip Wang
A 5-10 driver, Wang was a three-year member of the varsity water polo team at Bellarmine College Prep in San Jose, California, where he served as team captain. He was a 2017 Second Team All-American after earning First Team All-Western Catholic Athletic League (WCAL) and Central Coast Section (CCS) honors. He also won the 2016 Joe Keenan Most Inspirational Award at Bellarmine. For club water polo, Wang played for both DACA Water Polo and San Jose Water Polo, where he was the DACA team captain in 2015 and 2017. Academically, he earned USA Water Polo Academic All-American standing three times from 2014-16.
Harris on Wang – “With the loss of RJ Simmons, Phillip will help us fill the void on offense. He is a smart player with experience, playing on a solid Bellarmine team. He will be well-prepared for the next level of competition.”
August Weyandt
A 6-3 two-meter player, was a four-year varsity water polo player at Carlsbad High School in California. A team co-captain as a senior, he was a two-time First Team All-Avocado West League selection (2015-16) and was listed as a 2016 Player to Watch by the San Diego Union Tribune. He helped Carlsbad to two All-San Diego CIF Division 1 Championships in 2013 and 2014. Weyandt also played club for Carlsbad Water Polo. In the classroom, he was a four-year Scholar Athlete and an AP Scholar with Honors. He also received USA Water Polo Academic All-American honors and was named to the San Diego Union Tribune All-Academic Water Polo Team.
Harris on Weyandt – “Weyandt has size and strength, and will work out of the two-meter position backing up Ian Watson and Grant Keesling in that role. Being a left-handed attacker, he will be an asset that will bring additional opportunities to our offense.”
Sam Wheeler
Wheeler, a 6-1 utility player, was a four-year varsity water polo player at the Chadwick School in Palos Verdes, California. A senior year captain, he was a three-time team MVP and First Team All-League selection. During his senior campaign, he was selected as the league’s MVP and earned All-South Bay honors for the second time. In addition to his play at Chadwick, Wheeler played for the Palos Verdes Water Polo Club, which won the 2017 Kap 7 Tournament Championship, while taking second at the Turbo Cup.
Harris on Wheeler – “Sam has size and speed. During his high school career, he had the opportunity to play at Chadwick for former Olympian Robert Lynn. He will add needed depth to our program and will contribute all four years here in the Bronx.”
Press release courtesy of Fordham Athletics.