2019 Mid-Atlantic Water Polo Conference-West Region All-Conference Team Named; Popovic, Hollo & Robinette Named Most Valuable Player, Rookie & Coach of the Year

BRIDGEPORT, Pa. — 2019 Mid-Atlantic Water Polo Conference (MAWPC)-West Region Champion Gannon University placed four players on the First Team as the 2019 MAWPC-West Region All-Conference team was announced following the conclusion of the championship this past weekend at the Hallman Aquatics Center in Erie, Pa.

Leading the Gannon contingent is First Team goalie and Rookie of the Year Jacob Hollo (Fr., Pittsburgh, Pa./North Allegheny).  He joins Drago Marjanovic (So., Belgrade, Serbia/North Allegheny (Pa.)), Jack Donnelly (Sr., Temecula, Calif./Chapparal) and two-time All-Conference pick (2018 First Team) Thomas Squeglia (Sr., Erie, Pa./Cathedral Prep) on the First Team as the Golden Knights comprise four/sevenths of the region’s best players based on a vote of the seven head coaches (Connecticut College, Gannon, McKendree University, Mercyhurst University, Monmouth College, Salem University, Washington & Jefferson College).

A trio of past All-Conference selections join the Gannon quartet on the First Team as Connecticut’s Arturo Freitas (Sr., Weston, Fla./Cypress Bay) (2018 Second Team), McKendree’s Matthew Haygood (So., Chino Hills, Calif./Chino Hills) (2018 Second Team) and 2019 MAWPC-West Region Most Valuable Player/2016 Rookie of the Year Milos Popovic (Sr., Nis, Serbia/Gimnasium 9 May) (2018 First Team, 2017 First Team, 2016 Second Team) garner recognition.

The Second Team is comprised of athletes from four teams as McKendree (three), Mercyhurst (two), Washington & Jefferson (one) and Salem (one) make up the seven-member group.

McKendree goalie Ori Scanlon (Jr., Orlando, Fla./Olympia) picks up his second All-Conference nod after claiming Second Team status in 2018, while teammate Joseph Mahan (Sr., Corinth, Texas/John H Guyer) takes his third accolade (2018 Second Team, 2017 Second Team) and Ben Brauer (Jr., Duisburg, Germany/Steinbart-Gymnasium Duisburg) snags his inaugural All-Conference nod.

Daniel Alvarez (Sr., Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago) of Mercyhurst take his third All-Conference award (2018 First Team, 2017 Second Team) and teammate Ryan Witoslawski (Sr., Harleysville, Pa./Souderton) becomes a first-time selection.

2018 Second Team pick Michael Rojas (R-Jr., Valle del Cauca, Cali, Colombia/Collegio San Joaquin Parroquial) of Salem and 2018 Rookie of the Year/2018 First Team pick Will Kitsch (So., Mohnton, Pa./Governor Mifflin) of Washington & Jefferson account for the two remaining spots on 14-member All-Conference list.

Mercyhurst’s Curtis Robinette earns his first MAWPC-West Coach of the Year award and third overall Coach of the Year honor from either the Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) or MAWPC.  Robinette previously earned the 2012 CWPA Men’s Southern Division Coach of the Year award after taking the 2008 CWPA Women’s Western Division honor.  In addition, he was named the 2016 Western Water Polo Association (WWPA) Women’s Coach of the Year.

Athletes are selected based on institutional nominations from the seven MAWPC-West institutions’ head coaches.  A ballot is compiled of the nominations and presented to head coaches to vote for 12 field players, two goalies, a Most Valuable Player, a Rookie of the Year and a Coach of the Year based on the cumulative efforts of the athletes during the 2019 season.