The Top-25 American Men’s Water Polo Players of the NCAA Era (No. 21-No. 25)
By Jeff Moulton
Before his untimely death in a bicycle accident in October 2022, Hall of Fame coach Dante Dettamanti and I often discussed American water polo players, coaches, and teams of the past and present. These discussions helped form my opinions about water polo and led to my unofficial list of the top-25 American men’s water polo players of the NCAA era. To be eligible for this list, an individual must have played at least one year of college water polo from 1969 to the present. This requirement eliminates many great players from consideration, including my choice as the greatest player of the 1960s (Stanley Cole).
Stanley Cole – 6’1” center, Whittier High School and UCLA (3x All-American, 3x Olympian, 1x bronze medalist, Water Polo Hall of Fame, 3x swimming All-American, 1x Pac-10 champion in the 100-yard butterfly, 1x NCAA champion in the 400-yard medley relay).
Cole, a top-10 all-time American player, played varsity water polo at UCLA from 1965 through 1967 (in those days, a freshman couldn’t play on the varsity team) and didn’t lose a game. Former UCLA coach Bob Horn, speaking about Cole during his junior season in 1966: “Cole is the best shooter I’ve ever had. He is extremely difficult to guard due to his strength and amazing speed.” One of Cole’s UCLA teammates told me: “Stan Cole was the consummate competitor! No one was as intense AND talented as he was. He was gifted in every area and had that rare ability to combine great strength with great quickness, which made him almost unstoppable as a 2M player. The one game I remember quite well was our senior year, playing a very good Stanford team at Stanford. By that time, everyone was aware of our long winning streak and desperately wanted to beat us. We fell behind by a score of 4-0 but ended up winning, 8-7, mostly because of Cole’s indomitable will. I know he scored the majority of our goals that game, including the winning one. No one compares with him.”
My list of the top-25 American men’s water polo players of the NCAA era is subjective. As one member of the Hall of Fame told me: “Ranking players 1 through 25 is no easy task, especially when accounting for different eras and positions. The evolution of the game and generational bias can make direct comparisons challenging.” I hope readers take my list in the spirit in which it is intended, namely to recognize some of America’s greatest water polo players.
How the Selections Were Made
Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick
First, I considered how an individual’s teams performed. Water polo is a team sport and winning championships should be the ultimate goal. Nineteen of the individuals on my list won at least one NCAA championship; 11 won two or more NCAA championships. Twenty-one won at least one Olympic medal. Six won at least one FINA World Cup championship.
Second, I considered whether (and at what level) an individual received All-American honors from the Association of Collegiate Water Polo Coaches (ACWPC) and whether an individual won the ACWPC’s Player-of-the-Year Award or the Cutino Award. The ACWPC’s website does not list an All-American team before 1975 and does not list an All-American team for 1976 or 1977, but lists an All-American team for every year since 1978 (except 1980). In addition to the information I found on the ACWPC and NCAA websites, I have cited information I found on the websites from various colleges. Every individual on my list, except one, was a first team All-American at least once. The ACWPC website does not list a Player of the Year until 1982. The Olympic Club established the Cutino Award in 1999. In most years, the same individual won the ACWPC Player of the Year Award and the Cutino Award. The exceptions are 2004, 2006, and 2012. Nine individuals on my list won the Player of the Year Award or the Cutino Award at least once.
Third, I considered whether (and how often) an individual was the best player or second-best player on his own team. With one possible exception, every individual on my list was the best player on at least one of his college teams.
Fourth, I considered how an individual performed for the United States in international competition, including the Olympics. Every individual on my list played on the United States senior national team. Every individual, except one, was a member of at least one Olympic team. Nineteen were members of at least two Olympic teams.
Fifth, where applicable, I considered how an individual performed in his international professional career. When comparing players from different eras, it is important to note that the great players from the 1960s, 70s, and 80s generally didn’t have an opportunity to play professional water polo. The number of Americans playing professional water polo in Europe and elsewhere increased significantly during the COVID-19 years.
Sixth, I considered whether and, if so, the extent to which opposing coaches and teams had to account for an individual in their game plans.
Seventh, I spoke with and considered the opinions of many players, coaches, and other knowledgeable observers, including more than a dozen members of the Water Polo Hall of Fame.
Here are some observations about the 25 individuals on my list:
- Every individual, except one, played high school water polo in California.
- Four individuals graduated from Newport Harbor High School and three graduated from Long Beach Wilson High School. No other high school has more than one individual on the list.
- Stanford has the most individuals on the list with nine. Cal has four. U.C Irvine has four. UCLA has three. Pepperdine has three. U.C. Santa Barbara has two.
- Dante Dettamanti coached seven individuals on the list while Ted Newland coached four. Pete Cutino coached three and John Vargas coached three (Vargas and Dettamanti both coached Tony Azevedo at Stanford). Bob Horn coached two and Pete Snyder coached two.
- My top 25 list is comprised of three goalies, seven centers (three are left-handed), three center defenders, three utility players (individuals who received significant playing time at more than one field position), one left-handed attacker, and eight right-handed attackers.
- Four of the individuals on my list were known mostly for their play in the 1970s, 10 for their play in the 1980s, two for their play in the 1990s, five for their play in the 2000s, and four for their play from 2010 to the present.
- Two of the individuals on my list played on UCLA’s undefeated 1969 national championship team, two played on UCSB’s 1979 national championship team, three played on Stanford’s 1980 national championship team, two played on Stanford’s undefeated 1981 national championship team, two played on Stanford’s 1985 national championship team, and two played on Stanford’s undefeated 1986 national championship team.
- Nineteen of the individuals on my list have been inducted into the Water Polo Hall of Fame. Four of the other six individuals are likely to be inducted into the Hall of Fame when their playing careers are over.
With that background information, and with all due respect to the other individuals who deserve to be considered, my unofficial list of the top 25 American men’s water polo players of the NCAA era follows below. In Part I of this Article, I will discuss the individuals I have ranked No. 21 to 25. In Part II, I will discuss the individuals I have ranked No. 11 to 20, and in Part III, I will discuss the individuals I have ranked No. 1 to 10.
25. Erich Fischer – attacker/center defender, Reedley High School and Stanford (2x NCAA champion, 2x All-American, 1x 1st team All-American, 1x Olympian, 1x FINA World Cup champion).
Fischer, the father of Olympians Mackenzie and Aria Fischer, is considered by some to be America’s greatest perimeter defender. Fischer scored the game-winning goal in the 1991 FINA World Cup championship game between the United States and Yugoslavia. He should be in the Hall of Fame. Colin Keely, Fischer’s teammate at Stanford and on the senior national team, discussing what he remembered about Fischer: “Fish and I overlapped a year at Stanford and a couple of years on the National Team. First thing I remember about Fish was his big smile but don’t let that fool you, he was an intense competitor and a great leader. You couldn’t throw a ball up too high to Fish. He could get a full speedo out of the water! Ultimately, as a younger teammate it was his willingness to make us all better that I appreciated most about Fish. A great player and an even better teammate.” I asked Craig Klass, Fischer’s teammate at Stanford and on the senior national team, about Fischer. Here’s what he said: “I had the good fortune to play with Erich Fischer for 3 years at Stanford and for 6 years with team USA. Erich was a great teammate and an incredible player. The term ‘utility’ does not do him justice. Erich excelled in all areas, counter attack, outside shooting, and posting up. He could do it all.”
24. Max Irving – attacker, Long Beach Wilson High School and UCLA (3x NCAA champion, 3x All-American, 1x 1st team All-American, 2x Olympian, 1x bronze medalist).
When evaluating individuals who are still playing water polo on the United States senior national team, I considered whether I would select the individual if he didn’t play another game. In Irving’s case, the answer is yes. Irving has come a long way since he redshirted at UCLA in 2013 and didn’t play in the 2014 NCAA championship game. He scored 8 goals in the 2021 Olympics and 12 goals in the 2024 Olympics. He has played professionally for Olympiacos and Hydraikos in Greece and Telimar and Brescia in Italy, and will play for Pro Recco in Italy this year. Adam Wright, Irving’s coach at UCLA, speaking in June 2024 after Irving had been named to the 2024 Olympic team: “Max has become one of the most fundamentally sound players in the world. We knew when he was here at UCLA that he had the abilities to become an absolutely special player and that he would have a career where he could play both sides of the pool. He is a real student of the game and is one of the smartest players and perimeter defenders playing the right side of the pool. There’s no doubt his efforts have put him in a position to make a second Olympic team, but more importantly, his commitment to having great fundamentals and becoming a student of the game has made him one of the best in our sport.” Dejan Udovicic, U.S. Olympic team coach: “Max is not just bringing something for this team, he’s bringing something for every kid who wants to play water polo. I remember very well when we called Max to join the national team when no one believed in Max. He is now one of the most respected players in Europe.” If Irving keeps playing, he is expected to play for the United States in the 2028 Olympics. However, he deserves a spot on my list even if he doesn’t play another game. Once Irving’s playing career is over, he is likely to be inducted into the Hall of Fame.
23. Jeff Powers – 6’7” center defender/center/attacker, San Luis Obispo High School and U.C. Irvine (2x All-American, 2x 1st team All-American, 3x Olympian, 1x silver medalist, Hall of Fame).
Powers played professionally for seven years in Greece, Italy, and Hungary. He is one of many players “discovered” by U.C. Irvine coach Ted Newland after being overlooked by other major college programs. Former U.C. Irvine player and coach Marc Hunt speaking about Powers’ versatility: “Jeff is the ultimate utility player. He could play every position. He could be the best center, center defender, outside shooter, and perimeter defender in the pool.”
22. Greg Boyer – center, Aviation High School and UCSB (1x NCAA champion, 3x All-American, 1x 1st team All-American, 1x Olympian, 1x silver medalist, Hall of Fame).
Hall of Fame coach Bill Barnett, who coached Boyer on the 1988 Olympic Team, speaking about Boyer: “He had the greatest legs of any player I’ve ever seen. He had fantastic balance in the water.” One of Boyer’s UCSB teammates told me: “Greg and I were teammates on UCSB’s 1979 championship team. Greg was named the most outstanding player of the NCAA tournament in large part due to his offensive dominance, scoring 5 of our 11 goals in the championship game against UCLA. He was a tremendous talent and competitor. There was no one better to go to with the game on the line for a stop or a goal.” I asked Jody Campbell, Boyer’s teammate on the 1988 Olympic team, about Boyer. His response: “Greg’s playing style was not flashy or showboaty. His style was akin to a ‘grinder’ in ice hockey. He worked in the trenches to create opportunities for his teammates. Greg was a player you hated playing against but loved playing with.”
21. Merrill Moses – goalie, Peninsula High School and Pepperdine (1x NCAA champion, 3x All-American, 1x 1st team All-American, 3x Olympian, 1x silver medalist, Hall of Fame).
Moses played professionally in Spain, Italy, and Croatia. He wasn’t recruited to play college water polo. However, Pepperdine coach Terry Schroeder invited Moses to try out for the team and he started as a freshman. Schroeder, who also coached Moses on the 2008 and 2012 Olympic teams, said that Moses “played big in big moments.” Moses was a charismatic and demonstrative player. As UCLA coach Adam Wright, Moses’ teammate on the 2008 and 2012 Olympic teams, noted, “Moses’ energy was infectious.”
In Part II of this Article, I will discuss the individuals I have ranked No. 11 to 20 in my unofficial list of the Top 25 American men’s water polo players of the NCAA era.