LEWISBURG, Pa. — Bucknell University men’s water polo head coach John McBride announced the addition of six student-athletes that will join the Bison for the upcoming season.
The Bison are coming off a Mid-Atlantic Water Polo Conference (MAWPC) Championship appearance in 2018 after posting a 22-7 record and going 11-1 in conference play. Bucknell finished the season ranked No. 18 in the final poll, and loses seniors Johnathan Coleman, who was featured as Bucknell’s commencement speaker, and Marko Djordjevic to graduation.
Djordjevic played and started all 29 games last season, and was a Second Team All-MAWPC East selection after scoring 61 goals and adding 66 assists.
The Bison return Association of Collegiate Water Polo Coaches (ACWPC) Second Team All-America Rade Joksimovic and Honorable Mention All-America Logan Schofield for 2019, as well as 2018 starters Cooper Dolan, Jared Stanley, Jack Otto and Jack Lewis.
The group of six hail from two countries (Lebanon and Romania), and four different states (Maryland, Connecticut, California, and Michigan).
Adrien Touzot
Beirut, Lebanon/Brummana High School
Before Bucknell: Born in Greenwich, Conn. Was voted the House Athlete of the Year in both 2017 and 2018. Also led the varsity basketball team in scoring in the 2018-19 season while being named captain of the squad. Named All-League Most Valuable Goalie from 2015-19. Founded All Ages Water Polo Club in Lebanon. Named MVP of Dubai International Tournament. Team took first place in the Lebanese Championship three out of four years, and was runner-up in 2018. Posted 14 shutouts in the cage under Head Coach Walid Kenaan Moved to Lebanon from Greenwich at 16, earning the starting goalie spot in three international tournaments as well as coaching a club side to a championship win. Organizes fundraisers in Beirut to improve the game in Lebanon, and was named an assistant coach at the American University of Beirut Club Team in 2017.
Personal: Has two siblings: Maxime (16) and Alexandra (19).
Andu Vlasceanu
Bucharest, Romania/Liceul Teoretic “Nicolae Iorga” Bucuresti
Before Bucknell: Has earned 66 selections to the U15, U17, and U19 Romanian National Water Polo teams. Captained the 2017 Romania U17 squad at Men’s European Junior Championships that earned qualification from the group stage. Top scorer at Nodar Gvakharia Cup in Tbilisi, Georgia. Top scorer at Romanian National Championship in 2014-15. Member of Romanian National Team in 2018 that placed ninth at the Men’s European Junior U19 Tournament. Team qualified first from its group at the U19 Men’s European Championship qualifiers in Kranj, Slovenia. Triumf Bucharest Team placed third at the Romanian Water Polo Championship in 2017-18. Has scored over 500 goals for club team, over 80 goals for his national side. Played under Andrei Mateiasi at Triumf Bucharest. Cumulative 4.0 GPA heading into college. Has played water polo and swam since the age of six.
Personal: Adrian-Marius Vlasceanu…born on 10/14/2000
Niko de la Sierra
Greenwich, Conn./Greenwich High School
Before Bucknell: Won seven varsity letter combined in high school: four in water polo and three in swimming. All-State swimmer in Connecticut in 2019. Earned All-America consideration in both swimming and water polo in 2019 and 2018, respectively. USA Water Polo All-Academic in 2018. Water Polo Team Captain in 2018. Leading scorer in both 2017 and 2018. Won State Championship in 2015, earned silver medal at Water Polo Junior Olympics in 2018. Was a member of three straight state champion swim teams from 2017-19. Team was 26-4 in 2018, scored 48 goals with nine assists while adding 44 steals. Played under Jimmy Remaly at Greenwich High School and Ulmis Lordache at Greenwich Aquatics.
Personal: Nicolas Christian de la Sierra…born on 4/25/2001…has three siblings: Sofi (19)…Lexi (16)… and Luci (15)…Sister Sofi is a member of the rowing team at the University of Pennsylvania.
Colby Paine
Larkspur, California/Saint Ignatius College Prep
Before Bucknell: Three-year letterwinner for the water polo team, lettered one year in swimming. Second Team All-WCAL in 2017, Honorable Mention in 2018. Was a three-year member of the Athletic Honors Society. USA Water Polo Academic All-American with outstanding honors. Team finished 18-8 in both 2017 and 2018. Helped team to first CCS Championship in Saint Ignatius history. Also helped team to fifth-place finish in the CCS Open Division for highest finish in school history. Scored 73 goals and added 26 ejections drawn in 2017-18.
Personal: Colby Alexander Paine…born on 8/25/2001 in San Francisco, Calif. Has two siblings: a sister, Cece, and a brother, Brody. Father, Bill, rowed at Georgetown University and is a part of the class of 1990. While surfing, helped save the lives of two drowning swimmers at a surf spot just north of the Golden Gate Bridge in January 2019.
Jeff Brill
Okemos, Michigan/Okemos High School
Before Bucknell: Three-year letterwinner at Okemos High School under Head Coach Andrew Olesnavich in both swimming and water polo. Named Team Captain senior year. Michigan Water Polo Player of the Year in 2018. Named State and Regional Tournament MVP and First Team All-State Honoree. Three-time USA Water Polo Outstanding All-Academic. Led Okemos to first state championship in school history in 2018, winning state title game in five overtime periods after finishing runner-up in 2016 and 2017. Scored four goals in the championship game. Qualified for state meet in swimming in both the 200 and the 400 relays. Member of 680 Water Polo Club at the USA Water Polo Junior Olympics during the summer.
Personal: Jeffrey Hamilton Brill…born on 11/13/2000…son of Deborah Wilson and Larry Brill.
Will Gildea
Baltimore, Md./The Gilman School
Before Bucknell: Lettered for four years in water polo, three in swimming at the Gilman School under Head Coach Vaughan Smith. Was named Co-Captain senior year. Selected to the All-Conference MIAA Team, All-Eastern Team, Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) High School All-Star Team, and has been nominated for All-America Honors. Helped lead team to its best record in school history (24-5) during senior year, while leading the team in scoring senior season. Played year-round with Navy AC Club Team.
Personal: Wiliam Joseph Gildea IV…son of Bill and Kelly… has one sibling, P.J.
Release courtesy Bucknell University Athletics Communications
