SALEM, W.Va. — Two-time Association of Collegiate Water Polo Coaches (ACWPC) Division II All-America selection Djordje Stavrevski adds another honor to his list of accomplishments by earning selection to the 2023 Salem University Athletics Hall of Fame class.
The Salem Athletics Hall of Fame ceremony is traditionally held during the university’s homecoming festivities in parallel with the Salem Apple Butter Festival. This year, the Hall of Fame Ceremony will return to the Benedum Library, and will occur on October 6.
Stavreski was a star for Salem men’s water polo program from 2014-to-2017 and he held a school record in career goals (280) at the time of his graduation. He remains the school record holder in drawn kickouts (186).
The first athlete in Salem water polo history to record back-to-back All-America honors with First Team (2016) and Honorable Mention (2017) ACWPC nods, he completed his tenure in West Virginia with 280 goals, 90 assists, 125 steals and 186 drawn kickouts to rate among the best Tigers’ athletes in school history.
He began his career with 77 goals, 13 assists, 39 steals and a school record 56 drawn kickouts as a freshman in 2014. The September 22 Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) Southern Division Rookie of the Week, he earned All-Tournament honors for helping Salem earn Third Place at the 2014 CWPA Division II Eastern Championship hosted by Gannon University.
He built on his early success as a sophomore in 2015 by tallying 69 goals, 10 assists, 30 steals and 52 drawn kickouts. The September 21 and November 2 CWPA Southern Division Player of the Week, he again earned CWPA Division II Eastern Championship All-Tournament recognition for helping the Tigers finish in Third Place at home in Salem, W.Va. His most memorable game occurred on September 19 at home by posting a school record 12 goals to make the difference in a 21-19 defeat of Monmouth College.
In 2016, he racked up 82 goals, 45 assists, 30 steals and 46 drawn kickouts to collect Mid-Atlantic Water Polo Conference (MAWPC)-West Region All-Conference First Team and MAWPC-West Championship Second Team laurels for helping the Tigers finish in Fourth Place at the MAWPC Championship. A CWPA Division II Eastern Championship First Team selection for aiding Salem’s efforts in finishing in Second Place at the event hosted by Mercyhurst University, he capped off his junior season by claiming ACWPC Division II All-America First Team status.
In his senior season of 2017, he added 52 goals, 22 assists, 26 steals and 32 drawn kickouts. A MAWPC-West All-Conference and MAWPC-West Championship All-Tournament First Team pick, he assisted Salem in taking Third Place at the MAWPC-West Championship and claiming a runner-up mark at the CWPA Division II Eastern Championship hosted by Gannon. The November 6 MAWPC Player of the Week, Stavrevski concluded his time as a Tiger with honors as an ACWPC Division II All-America Honorable Mention pick.
Away from the pool, Stavrevski exceeded his athletic performance in the classroom by earning notice as a four-time ACWPC and CWPA/MAWPC Scholar-Athlete selection. His academic success was a cornerstone for a Salem program which led the nation (Division I, II, III) in team grade point average three-times (2015, 2016, 2017) during his time in the Mountain State.
