BRONX, N.Y. — Fordham University water polo head coach Bill Harris announced the addition of nine players for the 2019 season.
The Rams welcome one transfer in Oscar Nomura (Irvine, Calif./Irvine (Wagner College)) and eight freshmen. The freshmen class includes utility Matthew Hahn (Southlake, Texas/Southlake Carroll), attacker Jason Hiremath (Honolulu, Hawaii/Punahou), utility Stephen Judge (Scarsdale, N.Y./Iona Prep), attacker Skyler Knoflick (Walnut Creek, Calif./Northgate), two-meter defender Daniel Lynch (Indian Head Park, Ill./Fenwick), goalkeeper Aldo Ordoñez (Austin, Texas/Liberal Arts & Science Academy), attacker Quinn Wagner (Westport, Conn./Staples) and driver Sebastian Zapatero (Venice, Calif./Santa Monica).
Here is background on each incoming player:
Oscar Nomura – Utility – Irvine, Calif./Irvine (Wagner)
Transfer from Wagner College… Played 92 games over three seasons with the Seahawks… Totaled 112 goals… Second Team All-MAWPC as a freshman… Multi-sport athlete at Irvine High School in California… Competed on the varsity volleyball, swimming, and water polo teams… Helped the Anteaters qualify for the Pacific Coast League (PCL) Semifinals for water polo in 2015 … Named PCL All-League First Team in 2015 and All-League Second Team in 2013 and 2014 … Team leader in goals in both his junior and senior campaigns with 61 each year.
Matthew Hahn – Utility – Southlake, Texas/Southlake Carroll
Four-year varsity water polo player and swimmer at Southlake Carroll High School in Texas… Two-year water polo captain… Two-time All-Region selection (2018 & 2019) and a 2019 First Team All-State pick… Team MVP for swimming in 2018… 2019 NISCA All-American… All-State First Team in the 200 freestyle relay and Second Team in the 100 freestyle… Played club for Thunder Water Polo… Received Academic All-America honors from USA Water Polo and the NISCA… Member of the National Honors Society… Recipient of the Dragon Aquatic Scholar Award.
Jason Hiremath – Attacker – Honolulu, Hawaii/Punahou
Four-year varsity water polo player and swimmer at Punahou High School in Hawaii… Two-time All-America water polo player as a sophomore (6th Team) and a senior (5th Team)… Named the State MVP as a senior after earning First Team as a sophomore and Second Team as a junior… Two-time Second Team All-State swimmer in the 200 medley relay… Member of the U18 USA Masters Future Team, which took second place at the Water Polo Carnival in Hungary… Also played club water polo for the Hawaiian Islands WPC, Stanford WPC, and the Royal 559 WPC… 2014 Junior Olympics National Champion with the Stanford Water Polo Club.
Stephen Judge – Utility – Scarsdale, N.Y/Iona Prep
Four-year swimmer at Iona Prep in New Rochelle… Served as team captain senior year… Played club water polo for Greenwich Aquatics… Won the 2016 National State Challenge with Greenwich… Helped team place in second at the 2017 U16 Kap 7 Tournament… Took third place at the U16 Gold Division at the Junior Olympics, while taking second in the 18U Gold Division… Served as vice president of the student body at Iona Prep.
Skyler Knoflick – Attacker – Walnut Creek, Calif./Northgate
Varsity water polo player at Northgate High School in California… Team captain and MVP during the 2018-19 season… League MVP as a senior… Three-year Scholar Athlete (2016-18)… Helped Northgate to the NCS Championship in 2015-16… Recipient of the Seal of Biliteracy and the Leadership Award… Joins older brother, Tristen, on the Fordham water polo team.
Daniel Lynch – 2M Defense – Indian Head Park, Ill./Fenwick
Two-year water polo player and four-year swimmer at Fenwick High School in Oak Park, Illinois… Team co-captain for both squads his final two years… Selected All-State twice for water polo, as well as All-Sectional and All-Conference… State qualifier in both water polo and swimming… Set 100 breaststroke school record as a junior… Recipient of the Leader of the Year Award for swimming… Played club for Windy City Water Polo.
Aldo Ordoñez – Goalkeeper – Austin, Texas/Liberal Arts & Science Academy
Graduate of the Liberal Arts & Science Academy in Texas… Played varsity water polo… Two-year captain and two-time MVP… Second Team All-State selection as a senior, as well as All-Region MVP… Was a First Team All-Region pick as a freshman… Played club for Los Angeles Premier, Texas Longhorn Aquatics and the Nuevo Leon State Team (Mexico)… Helped Texas Longhorn Aquatics win the Lonestar League Championship three times (2017-19)… Led Nuevo Leon to the 2018 National Championship, finishing as runner-up, while taking third in 2017… Member of the 2017 16U USCC Champions, the 2017 16U Futures Superfinals Champions, and the 2018 18U Futures Superfinals Champions with Los Angeles Premier… Participated in the ODP Southwest Zone Team from 2014-18… Member of the National German Honor Society and earned gold (2018) and silver (2016) status on the National German Exam… Part of the National Hispanic Recognition Program.
Quinn Wagner – Attacker – Westport, Conn./Staples
Four-year varsity water polo at Staples High School in Connecticut… Two-year captain… Finished career as the team’s all-time leading scorer… 2018 Team MVP… Four-time Cardinal Cup All-Tournament selection… Also swam varsity for Staples for two seasons… Played seven years for Chelsea Piers Water Polo Club in Stamford… Four-year participant for the ODP Northeast Team… USA Water Polo All-Academic… Staples Scholar Athlete Award winner.
Sebastian Zapatero – Driver – Venice, Calif./Santa Monica
Played four seasons of varsity water polo at Santa Monica High School in California… Helped Santa Monica to two Ocean League Championships as a junior and a senior, while winning the CIF SS D4 Championship in his final season… Three-time All-Ocean League selection, earning First Team honors twice and Second Team honors once… Played club water polo for West-Side Aquatics… U16 Junior Olympics Bronze Division Champions.
Release courtesy Fordham University Athletics Communications
