SHERMAN, Texas - After arriving on campus Tuesday, the Austin College men's water polo team opened up its inaugural varsity fall camp on Wednesday, with 18 newcomers, including 17 freshmen, joining four returning players from last year's club season. The team will open up the year on September 1 in Providence, Rhode Island against Brown University and Bucknell University.
Head coach Mark Lawrence welcomes back returning players Eric and Tyler Brown, both seniors from the 'Roo swimming and diving team, as well as sophomores Andrew Pomier and Robert Griffin. Both players bring great size and potential to the lineup, with Pomier expected to start in goal while Griffin is also projected to start as practices begin. Pomier and Griffin each arrived at Austin College last season in preparation for the program's first varsity season this year.
Of the 18 newcomers, the 'Roos welcome sophomore transfer Alex Rodriguez as well as 17 freshmen from not only Texas, but also Oregon, Washington, and Pennsylvania. The roster is loaded not just with youth, but also with potential and a combination of versatility, speed, and skill, as well as good size at numerous key positions. With so many new faces in the young program, Lawrence will work this season on developing a competitive culture and to use every opportunity, practice, and game to build toward the future. Given the historic size and tremendous potential of this year's incoming group of newcomers, the future will be built on a strong foundation.
This year marks the first time since 1976 that there has been varsity water polo at the collegiate level in the state of Texas.
Among this year's newcomers are:
- Kyle Brown | FR | Attacker | 6-2 | Lake Jackson, Texas
- Nick Calapan | FR | Attacker | 5-9 | Friendswood, Texas
- Taiton Fox | FR | Attacker | 6-3 | Bend, Ore.
- Duran Kittman | FR, Center Def. | 5-11 | Richmond, Texas
- Will Koelzer | FR, Center Def. | 6-3 | Richmond, Texas
- Nico Masso | FR | Attacker | 6-1 | The Woodlands, Texas
- Tanner O'Dwyer | FR | Attacker | 6-2 | Lantana, Texas
- Andrew Pope | FR | Attacker | 6-3 | Flower Mound, Texas
- AJ Pritchard | FR | Attacker | 6-4 | Auburn, Wash.
- Alex Rodriguez | SO | Center | 6-2 | Flower Mound, Texas
- Max Saenz | FR | Attacker | 5-10 | McAllen, Texas
- Hatim Sapatwalla | FR | Attacker | 5-8 | Flower Mound, Texas
- Brett Skinner | FR | Attacker | 5-9 | Flower Mound, Texas
- Sam Skinner | FR | Attacker | 5-9 | Flower Mound, Texas
- Weston Stare | FR | Center | 6-2 | Mechanicsburg, Pa.
- Braden Sullivan | FR | Attacker | 6-3 | Cedar Park, Texas
- Connor Watson | FR | Attacker | 6-1 | League City, Texas
- Micah Weber | FR | Center | 6-1 | Fort Worth, Texas