SHERMAN, Texas - As head coach Mark Lawrence's men's water polo program enters its fifth season of varsity competition, the 'Roos will be looking to build on the consistent growth the squad has seen after going from one win in its first year to eight a year ago, all while playing a predominantly Division I schedule.
The 'Roos went 8-9 last season, including an 8-2 mark against Division III opponents. That marked improvement comes just three years removed from the team going 1-15 in its first season of competition, and Lawrence's program will feature a host of experienced and talented returning players as well as a strong incoming class heading into the 2022 campaign.
Austin College is once again led by attacker Max Wade, who last season surpassed 100 career goals and heads into the new year with 121 to his name. The former All-America performer tallied 40 goals last year and enters his senior campaign as the program's all-time leading goal scorer, and also added 21 steals and 13 assists a year ago. Also returning is Dylan McArthur, a center defender who found the back of the cage 25 times a year ago while handing out 10 assists, and Cade Griffith, who scored 24 times last season.
It's a bit of a family affair for the men's water polo team this season, as Griffith's twin brother Zach is back to split time in goal alongside Alan Rosenberg, while Wade's brother Aidan, as well as senior Dylan Laventure's brother Ryan, both join the program. That family feel also extends to junior attacker Nikolas Koelzer, whose brother, Will, graduated this past spring. Koelzer tallied 12 goals and had 18 steals last season, while adding seven assists in his sophomore year.
Lawrence will be leaning on Rosenberg and Zachary Griffith in goal once again, and the duo combined for nearly 150 blocks a season ago while playing against a large number of Division I and Division II programs. Also returning this year and expected to make a big contribution is Evan Cueva, a facilitator who had 11 assists and scored five times himself last season and will be taking on a larger role in the year ahead.
In addition to legacy additions like Ryan Laventure and Aidan Wade, the 'Roos also welcome in several newcomers who should be in line to make an early splash including Jack Stack, an attacker from Concord, Calif., and Gabriel Dennis, an attacker from San Diego. Nic Ruggiero, a center defender from San Juan Capistrano, Calif., should also see plenty of early action in his first season with the 'Roos.
Austin College heads to New England to open the 2022 campaign, with stops in Providence, R.I., and Cambridge, Mass., on the docket as the team competes in the Bruno Invite on the Ivy League campuses of Brown University and Harvard September 3-4.