Courtesy: USA Water Polo
Irvine, CA – March 6 – USA Water Polo Men’s National Team Head Coach Dejan Udovicic has announced the roster of 18 athletes selected for competition at the 2023 World Aquatics World Cup Qualifier set for March 8-14 in Zagreb, Croatia. Only 13 athletes will be eligible for each match and they will be determined prior to each game day. The USA Men are looking to build off a sixth place finish at the 2022 FINA World Championships followed by a silver medal finish at the 2022 FINA World League Super Final.
This tournament acts as a qualifier in the lead up to the World Aquatics World Cup Finals that take place from June 30-July 2 at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, CA. As hosts of the World Cup Finals, Team USA has already qualified for the competition in Los Angeles, but will have a great opportunity to see how they measure up against some of the best in the world. The action begins this Wednesday, March 8 when Team USA opens play against the host Croatia at 10:00am pacific time. They’ll also meet Japan, France, Hungary, and Italy. Live streaming will be available on the World Aquatics YouTube page and live stats for the tournament can be accessed by clicking here.
2023 World Aquatics World Cup Qualifier Roster (13 athletes to be selected prior to each match)
- Tyler Abramson (Orinda, CA/Stanford/Posillipo)
- George Avakian (Los Angeles, CA/California)
- Alex Bowen (Santee, CA/Stanford/Noisy-le-Sec)*
- Luca Cupido (Santa Margherita Ligure, Italy/California/Barcelona)*
- Hannes Daube (Long Beach, CA/USC/Marseille)*
- Chase Dodd (Long Beach, CA/UCLA/Vanguard)
- Ryder Dodd (Long Beach, CA/JSerra HS/Mission WPC)
- Thomas Dunstan (New Canaan, CT/USC/Aix-en-Provence)
- Jake Ehrhardt (Camarillo, CA/USC/The Olympic Club)
- Ben Hallock (Westlake Village, CA/Stanford/Pro Recco)*
- Drew Holland (Orinda, CA/Stanford/Peristeri)*
- Johnny Hooper (Los Angeles, CA/California/Telimar)*
- Max Irving (Long Beach, CA/UCLA/Telimar)*
- Ben Stevenson (Reno, NV/Pacific/Posillipo)*
- Jack Turner (Fremont, CA/UC San Diego/Mataro)
- Marko Vavic (Rancho Palos Verdes, CA/USC/NYAC/Barcelona)*
- Adrian Weinberg (Oak Park, CA/California/Pride)
- Dylan Woodhead (San Anselmo, CA/Stanford/Vouliagmeni)*
*2020 Tokyo Olympian
Team Staff
- Head Coach: Dejan Udovicic
- Asst Coach: Gavin Arroyo
- Asst Coach: Matt Ustazewski
- Asst Coach: John McBride
- Sport Medicine Manager: Chris Bates
- Team Manager: Paulina Bui
2023 World Aquatics World Cup Qualifier Schedule
- March 8 – at Croatia 10:00am pt
- March 9 – vs Japan 11:30am pt
- March 10 – vs France 11:30am pt
- March 13 – vs Hungary 9:30am pt
- March 14 – vs Italy 11:30am pt
I think the final results show Italy and Spain in a tie for 1st; and TEAM USA and Greece in a tie for third. TEAM USA had some wonderful matches, and should be formidable opponents later this year at USC, Los Angeles.