The Austin College men's water polo team is heading into the 2023 campaign with some big shoes to fill from last year's roster, including the need to replace two of the most prolific goal-scorers in the program's young history in Cade Griffith and Max Wade among other key losses from last year's squad. But head coach Mark Lawrence has high expectations for his returning players, coupled with a talented group of newcomers he hopes will enable the 'Roos to continue building themselves into one of the top Division III teams in the nation.
Leading the way for Lawrence is Dylan McArthur, a 6-foot-5 senior center defender who was named AWCPC All-America and All-MPSF East after finishing among the team's leaders in goals, including six tallies in three games at the Division III Eastern Championships. Defensively, the 'Roos will look to lean on returning goalie Alan Rosenberg, another senior who his head coach believes has not just All-Conference, but also All-America talent and potential in the cage.
The 'Roos will also be looking to returners like Andrew Galt, the team's only junior and one of the premiere defenders on the squad. He'll be aided by rising sophomore Nik Koelzer as one of the defensive stalwarts this year. Koelzer led the 'Roos in steals and in one year has already proven himself as one of Austin College's best field players who can contribute in a variety of ways.
Lawrence will be looking at a pair of sophomores, Aidan Wade and Jack Stack, to help replace the scoring hole left both Griffith and Wade's older brother Max. Both players earned MPSF All-Tournament honors last season, with Wade starting every game as a freshman while Stack was one of the first bench players and most consistent contributors among the team's reserves. Other sophomores the head coach will be looking at to make a big jump in their second season with the program are Gabe Daniels and Nic Ruggiero, a pair of 6-foot-3 players from California who are primed to make a big impact this year.
The program brought in 10 newcomers this season, all of whom should have a chance to contribute in their first season with the 'Roos. Among those newcomers are Greyson Gaworecki, a 6-foot-2 attacker, and Anthony Sury, a 6-foot-5 freshman center who last season led his Brazoswoods High squad to a Texas state championship and was named the Texas High School MVP. According to Lawrence, the big, physical Sury will help provide a natural transition from the absence left by Griffith this season. The 'Roos will also be hoping newcomer Viktor Buscemi, a 6-foot-2 utility player from Maryland, can step in and use his physicality and versatility to be an immediate contributor.
The 'Roos open the 2023 campaign in California against Biola and UC Santa Barbara on September 9.