USA Water Polo Men’s Senior National Team Head Coach Dejan Udovicic has announced the roster for the upcoming FINA Men’s Intercontinental Tournament this April 25-30 in Gold Coast, Australia. The first major competition for Team USA since the 2016 Olympic Games is anchored by Olympians Alex Obert (Loomis, CA/Pacific/NYAC) and Alex Roelse (Maarssen, Netherlands/UCLA/Bruin). 2013 FINA World Championship participant Matt De Trane (Moraga, CA/Pepperdine/CC United) and 2014 FINA World Cup participant Nolan McConnell (Laguna Beach, CA/Long Beach St./SET) add to a roster featuring some of the top talent in the college and high school game including Nic Carniglia (Lodi, CA/California/Cal Bears WP) who has trained extensively with Team USA.
With the competition taking place during the collegiate academic year certain USA athletes are not available to take part in this event. Team USA opens play on April 25 against Japan at 2:50am eastern time. They will also take on Kazakhstan, China, Australia and New Zealand before the final day of action on April 30. Gold Coast, Australia is 14 hours ahead of eastern time and 17 hours ahead of pacific time.
Coach Udovicic will be joined by Pomona-Pitzer Head Coach Alex Rodriguez and newly named Washington & Jefferson Head Coach Nikola Malezanov as assistant coaches. Lori Verdegaal will serve as team manager.
Information on results and live streaming will be shared as they are made available.
2017 FINA Men’s Intercontinental Tournament Team USA Roster (Hometown/School/USAWP Club)
1. Alex Wolf – GK (Huntington Beach, CA/UCLA/Bruin)
2. Alex Obert – C (Loomis, CA/Pacific/NYAC)
3. Alex Roelse – D (Maarssen, Netherlands/UCLA/Bruin)
4. Max Irving – A (Long Beach, CA/UCLA/LA Water Polo)
5. Jake Ehrhardt – D (Camarillo, CA/Oaks Christian HS/Pride WP Academy)
6. Marko Vavic – A (Rancho Palos Verdes, CA/Loyola HS/Trojan)
7. Hannes Daube – A (Long Beach, CA/Orange Lutheran HS/North Irvine WPC)
8. Nic Carniglia – A (Lodi, CA/California/Cal Bears WP)
9. Johnny Hooper – A (Los Angeles, CA/California/LA Premier)
10. Nolan McConnell – A (Laguna Beach, CA/Long Beach State/SET)
11. Matt De Trane – A (Moraga, CA/Pepperdine/CC United)
12. Ash Molthen – A (Buena Park, CA/Orange Lutheran HS/North Irvine WPC)
13. Zack Rhodes – GK (Palm Desert, CA/Pepperdine/Waves WPF)
Head Coach: Dejan Udovicic
Assistant Coach: Alex Rodriguez
Assistant Coach: Nikola Malezanov
Team Manager: Lori Verdegaal
2017 FINA Men’s Intercontinental Tournament Schedule (subject to change)
4/25 – vs Japan – 2:50am et (11:50pm pt 4/24)
4/26 – vs Kazakhstan – 2:50am et (11:50pm pt 4/25)
4/27 – vs China – 1:30am et (10:30pm pt 4/26)
4/28 – vs Australia – 4:10am et (1:10am pt)
4/29 – vs New Zealand 2:50am et (11:50pm pt/4/28)
4/30 – TBD – Finals
Press release courtesy of USA Water Polo.