CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — Returning to the Northeast Water Polo Conference (NWPC) title game for the second time in three seasons, the Harvard University men’s water polo team experienced a 2025 campaign that stands out as a testament to the group’s steady growth, resilience and determination.
Starting the season 3-1 after knocking off Bucknell University, Gannon University and Wagner College at the Bruno Classic, the Crimson then faced four nationally ranked opponents over its next six games to the start the season to sit at 4-6 heading into its first conference weekend of the season.
Beginning with two 20+ goal outbursts against Iona University and Long Island University, the Crimson knocked off its biggest rival in Princeton University on the road to help kickstart a hot second half for Harvard.
Winning eight straight games and 13 of its next 15 games heading into the playoffs, the Crimson picked up its statement win of 2025 with a 16-15 win over Pepperdine University in California.
Beating Brown for the third time this season, in the second round of the NWPC Championship, the season sweep over the Bears set up a rematch of the 2023 NWPC Championship game with the Tigers.
Out of the pool, Harvard earned two major NWPC Awards with five others earning conference honors. Jack Burghardt was the first Crimson since 2021 to win NWPC Most Valuable Player, while Ted Minnis earned his third Coach of the Year award after leading the Crimson to NWPC Regular season title. Jack Burghardt, Lukas Peabody, Dean Strauser, Tyler Hogan, Jacob Tsotadze and Tanner Furtak rounded out the Crimson All-Conference selections.
The 2025 season was one to remember for the Crimson, laying a strong foundation for the standards the program aims to carry into next year.
