Ten of 13 from Tokyo return for Paris U.S. Men’s Water Polo Team
Ten of the 13 players who were on the roster for the Tokyo Olympics are back for Paris’s U.S. men’s water polo team, it was announced Tuesday.
Team captain Ben Hallock is among the holdovers from the team that finished sixth in Tokyo. He’s a second-time Olympian, along with Alex Bowen, Luca Cupido, Alex Obert, Max Irving, Johnny Hooper, Hannes Daube and goalies Drew Holland and Dylan Woodhead. Marko Vavic is also a returnee. The three Olympic rookies are Adrian Weinberg and brothers Chase Dodd and Ryder Dodd.
The U.S. last medaled at the 2008 Olympics, winning silver.
“I want to congratulate the players, but this is just the beginning of the road to finishing in Paris in the proper way,” U.S. men’s coach Dejan Udovic said in a press release. “I was asked to say a few words about how we chose this team but I need to correct that. We didn’t choose this team, we planned and this is something that we designed a long time ago. So, this team was selected not chosen. In my more than 25-year coaching career, this is one of the most talented teams that I have ever coached. I believe in this team, I believe in my players. It is very exciting that we as a group share the same goals. We are united to achieve what we are looking for and I am looking forward to Paris as the best opportunity for us to show out in the best way we can. Thank you all for coming and we will see you August 12.”
“Firstly, I would like to congratulate all my teammates,” Hallock said. “I know for many of us this is not our first Olympic Games, but there is no greater honor than representing your country at the Olympics. I would like to thank our team staff. I know you all put a lot of effort into us and it’s not always easy but the work you do doesn’t go unnoticed. If I had to characterize this team, I would go back to one of my favorite coaches and philosophies of all time – John Wooden’s pyramid of success. The two cornerstones of that are industriousness and enthusiasm. This group of guys has a work ethic like I’ve never seen before. They are willing to do everything [with maximum effort] while being happy as they do it. I think that’s the foundation of any successful team. With those things and with how much we are willing to sacrifice for each other, we can do anything we want and take home a medal in Paris.”
U.S. Men’s Water Polo Team Paris Olympics
- Adrian Weinberg (Los Angeles, CA/California/Pride)
- Johnny Hooper (Los Angeles, CA/California/Olympic Club/Telimar)
- Marko Vavic (Rancho Palos Verdes, CA/USC/NYAC/Savona)
- Alex Obert (Loomis, CA/Pacific/NYAC)
- Hannes Daube (Long Beach, CA/USC/NYAC/Jug Dubrovnik)
- Luca Cupido (Santa Margherita Ligure, Italy/California/Olympic Club/CC Ortigia)
- Ben Hallock (Westlake Village, CA/Stanford/Olympic Club/Pro Recco)
- Dylan Woodhead (San Anselmo, CA/Stanford/SHAQ/Vouliagmeni)
- Alex Bowen (Santee, CA/Stanford/NYAC/Noisy-le-Sec)
- Chase Dodd (Long Beach, CA/UCLA/Vanguard)
- Ryder Dodd (Long Beach, CA/UCLA/Mission WPC)
- Max Irving (Long Beach, CA/UCLA/NYAC/Brescia)
- Drew Holland (Orinda, CA/Stanford/Olympic Club/Peristeri)
- Head Coach: Dejan Udovicic
- Assistant Coaches: Gavin Arroyo, Matt Ustaszewski, John McBride
- Sports Medicine Manager: Chris Bates
- Team Manager: Paulina Bui