CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — The Friends of Harvard Water Polo Head Coach Ted Minnis announced the addition of three first-years joining the institution’s men’s water polo program this fall. Two players hail from the United States and one from Australia, all set to hit the pool for the Crimson this season.
“I am excited for this class and what they will bring to the program,” Minnis added. “They come from both coasts of the country and the other side of the world. I believe they will arrive on campus and contribute right away.”
The Crimson returns Northeast Water Polo Conference (NWPC) Rookie of the Year Dean Strauser and Association of Collegiate Water Polo Coaches (ACWPC) All-America honorable mention selection Jack Burghardt as Harvard looks to build upon a 22-win season in 2024. Finishing with a 9-1 record in conference play, Harvard fell to Brown University in the NWPC Championship semifinals before defeating Iona University in the Third Place game. The Crimson has now recorded 20+ wins in each of the last ten seasons, as Minnis approaches his 300th career win with the men’s program. The long-tenured head coach sits just four wins shy of the 300-win mark.
FELIX PAL | SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA | THE SCOTS COLLEGE | ATTACKER
Competed for Scots College Water Polo First Team from 2022 to 2024 … Played for Sydney University Lions Water Polo Youth Teams from 2016 to 2024 and joined the club’s First Grade Men’s Team in 2024 and 2025 … Selected for the AAGPS First Water Polo Team in 2022 and 2023 … Named to the Combined Independent Schools (CIS) First Water Polo Team in 2023 … Scots College Water Polo MVP in 2023 and 2024 … Led Scots College First Grade in scoring in both 2023 and 2024 … Helped Scots College win the AAGPS Firsts Water Polo Premiership in 2024 … Competed on the Scots College Senior Swimming Team in 2023 and 2024; named Swimming Age Champion in 2019 and 2020 … Played for the New South Wales Water Polo State Team from 2021 to 2024 … Member of the Australian Men’s Water Polo Cadet Program (U18s) in 2023 and 2024 … Represented Australia on the 18U National Team at the 2024 FINA World Championships in Argentina, finishing 10th … Helped Sydney University Lions to four Australian Youth Club National Championships (2019, 2022, 2023, 2024) … Claimed silver in the 2024 Australian Water Polo League (AWL) and bronze in 2025 with Sydney University Lions … Won the National State Tournament Championship with NSW Blues in 2023 … Vice-Captain of Scots College History Society in 2023 and 2024 … Active in Scots College Drama Society (2020–2022) and Pipes and Drums (2019) … Enjoys fishing, reading, and going to the gym … Cousin Colin Chiapello played water polo at Harvard from 2014–2017, captained the team in 2017, won NWPC titles in 2016 and 2017, and reached the NCAA Final Four in 2017 … Father Damon Pal played water polo at the University of California, winning NCAA Championships in 1988, 1990, and 1991.
FROM COACH MINNIS: “Felix is a hybrid attacker who is long, fast and very athletic. He can play either on the perimeter as an attacker or at the center defender position. We will be able to use him in different places in the pool. Felix comes with so much international experience after spending time with the Australian Youth National team.”
EMIL SOGAARD-SRIKRISHNAN | GREENWICH, CONN. | BRUNSWICK HIGH SCHOOL | ATTACKER
Played water polo for four years at Brunswick High School and competed for Greenwich Aquatics for eight years as an attacker … Named Rookie of the Year as a freshman at Brunswick … Helped lead Brunswick to four consecutive NEPSAC water polo championships … Also wrestled for two years … Participated in NEPSAC water polo for one year … Served as Co-Editor-in-Chief of The Oracle, Brunswick’s student publication; three-year member and one-year editor-in-chief … Co-President of Brunswick’s Computer Science Outreach Program; involved for three years and president for two … Mentored younger students through the Brunswick Connections Program for two years … Served as a Trust Leader for the Brunswick Middle School Vermont Trip as a junior … Enjoys playing the guitar, wrestling, cooking, and writing … Brother Vilas Sogaard-Srikrishnan, Class of 2027, plays water polo at Harvard … Cousin Cameron Chesnutt played soccer at Stanford University and graduated in 2017.
FROM COACH MINNIS: “Emil has been around the program for a few years, as his older brother Vilas will be a junior, and we are excited to finally have him on our team. Emil is the type of player who does all the little things that his team needs for them to be successful. Emil sees the pool very well and is very good at getting his teammates involved in the game.”
CONNOR KIM | LOS ANGELES, CALIF. | HARVARD-WESTLAKE | ATTACKER
Played four years of varsity water polo at Harvard-Westlake … Competed for Los Angeles Premier for seven years and Bruin Water Polo Club for three years as an attacker … Named to the All-CIF First Team and Mission League honors in 2024–2025 … Earned Junior Olympics All-American honors across multiple years, including Honorable Mention, Second Team, and First Team from 2018 to 2025 … Led scoring at the 2024 Hungarian Tournament … Helped Harvard-Westlake win three Junior Olympics championships, including back-to-back titles … Contributed to a Mission League Championship at Harvard-Westlake … Member of the USA Water Polo National Team Pipeline since 2017 … Son of Alex and Heidi Kim.
FROM COACH MINNIS: “Connor has many strengths in the water, but what stuck out to me was how well he guards the perimeter on defense. He is so fast, and he uses his speed in the transition game to cover up and slow down his opponent’s transition game. Connor will add a layer to our transition game as well, with the way he can stretch the pool. In the front court Connor is a very talented shooter who defenses will need to account for where he is at all times.”
Information courtesy Harvard University Athletics Communications
