LEBANON, Ill. — McKendree University men’s water polo head coach Ryan Hall announced the addition of 18 student-athletes to bolster the roster for the 2018 season. The Bearcats are welcoming the additions of Nico Rodriguez, Andrew Miller, Evan Gent, Tony Sunagawa, Josh Carlson, Brad Nelms, Matthew Haygood, Peter Germuska, Noah Slack, Pedro Osorio, Jesus Osorio, Kyle Moore, Bryce Tully, Jesse Mondragon, Owen Martin, Jackson Spencer, Aaron Jacobs and Tristen Clue.
“I am very excited about this group of incoming players coming to McKendree,” said Hall. “We are adding experience, size, and speed to our returning class of athletes and I expect us to take a big step forward in becoming a more competitive program and conference championship contender. Not only are we adding talent in the pool, but I am pleased with the large number of incoming athletes who have excelled in the classroom. I am confident these young men will make the most out of their time here at McKendree and I look forward to coaching them this fall.”
Nico Rodriguez (Hometown: Winter Park, Florida)
Oviedo High School
Attacker/Utility
Three time First Team All-Conference selection…Two time District Champion…Regional Runner-Up as a junior…Led conference in goals as a junior and senior…Led team in goals all four years…Selected for National Team Selection Camp 2016…U14 Sunshine State Winner…16 Sunshine State Runner-Up.
Andrew Miller (Hometown: Hudsonville, Michigan)
Hudsonville High School
Third Coast Thunder Dragons Water Polo
Attacker/Driver
First Team All-Conference selection as a senior…All-Region Team selection as a senior…All-Region Tournament Team selection as a senior…All-State Team selection as a senior…Team captain for high school and club teams…95 career goals at Hudsonville High School…Second Place in State as freshman and sophomore…Third Place in State as a junior…Fourth place in State as a senior.
Evan Gent (Hometown: San Diego, California)
Mt. Carmel High School
Pacific Polo
Attacker
Four year member of Varsity…Led team in steals and assists for three years…Led team in goals as a senior…Varsity captain for three years…155 career goals…101 career assists…170 career steals…Silver medal at Junior Olympics in Gold Division with Pacific Polo.
Tony Sunagawa (Hometown: Chino Hills, California)
Chino Hills High School
Foothill Water Polo Club
Attacker
First Team All-Conference…Defensive MVP Senior Year…109 points as a junior, 75 goals, 34 assists, and 30 steals.
Josh Carlson (Hometown: New Lenox, Illinois)
Lincoln Way West High School
Lincoln Way Area Water Polo
Attacker
First Team All-Conference selection as a junior…Second Team All-Sectional as a sophomore…Three time All-Conference Swimmer…Second Most Career Goals in School History prior to senior season…Member of National Honor Society…Spanish Honor Society…Mu Alpha Theta…Three time High Honor Roll.
Brad Nelms (Hometown: Lake Forest, California)
El Toro High School
SET Water Polo Club
Defender
Captain of Varsity team as a senior…Competed as a member of SET Water Polo Club since 2011.
Matthew Haygood (Hometown: Chino Hills, California)
Chino Hills High School
Utility
Offensive MVP as a senior…Scored 80 goals as a junior…Netted 64 goals as a sophomore.
Peter Germuska (Hometown: Encinitas, California)
La Costa Canyon High School
San Diego Shores Water Polo Club
Utility
Varsity team captain as a senior…Offensive MVP as a senior…Led team with 67 goals, 54 steals, 36 ejections drawn as a senior…Scored 34 goals, 15 steals, 17 ejections drawn as a junior…Two time Union Tribune Academic Honoree…Two time La Costa Canyon Scholar Athlete Award Winner…San Diego Shores Junior Olympic Participant 2015-2018…JV team captain 2016…Work Horse Award 2017…Two Time La Costa Canyon High School Maverick Award winner.
Noah Slack (Hometown: Chino, California)
Don Lugo High School
CHAWP
Attacker
League MVP as a senior…First Team All-CIF as a senior…First Team All-League as a junior…Second Team All-CIF as a junior…Second Team All-League as a sophomore…Third Team All-CIF as a sophomore…Most Improved Award as a freshman…Varsity team captain as a junior and senior…Three time Scholar Athlete Award Winner.
Pedro Osorio (Hometown: San Bernardino, California)
Cajon High School
Renegades Water Polo Club
Defender
First Team All-CBL as a senior…First Team All-Area as a senior…Second place at 2015 16U Junior Olympics Classic Division…Second Team All-OEC as a freshman.
Jesus (Chava) Osorio (Hometown: San Bernardino, California)
Cajon High School
Renegades Water Polo Club
Utility
First Team All-CBL as a junior and senior…First Team All-Area as a senior… Second place at 2015 16U Junior Olympics Classic Division.
Kyle Moore (Hometown: Whittier, California)
La Habra High School
Foothill Water Polo Club
Attacker
La Habra High School record holder for career assists (153)…La Habra High School record holder for assists in one season (60)…Second Team All-Freeway League as a senior…144 career goals…153 career assists…123 career assists…Second Place in League as a senior…Made it to the second round of CIF-SS Playoffs as a senior.
Bryce Tully (Hometown: Yucaipa, California)
Yucaipa High School
Goalie
Two-Time All-League…One-Time All-CIF…One-Time CIF Finalist…555 career saves…team captain as a senior…320 saves with 10.8 saves per game as a senior…235 saves with 7.6 saves per game as a junior.
Jesse Mondragon (Hometown: Riverside, California)
Riverside City College
Attacker
Swimming All-American in the 200 freestyle relay, 200 freestyle, and 50 freestyle…43 goals, 79 assists, 24 drawn ejections, and 92 steals in two years at Riverside City College…251 goals, 152 assists, 60 drawn ejections, and 157 steals in three years playing for Ramona High School.
Owen Martin (Hometown: Flower Mound, Texas)
Flower Mound High School
Thunder Water Polo Club
Utility
Second place at Texas State Championship 2017…Third place at Texas State Championship 2015 & 2016…Four year member of the varsity water polo team…24th in Platinum bracket of National Junior Olympics in 2017…2016 Olympic Development team alternate.
Jackson Spencer (Hometown: O’Fallon, Missouri)
Fort Zumwalt West High School
St. Louis Area Water Polo Club
Defender
130 career goals and 53 assists in three varsity seasons…Second team All-Conference as a junior…School record holder in 50 yard freestyle (21.43).
Aaron Jacobs (Hometown: Houston, Texas)
Jersey Village High School
Cy-Fair Sharks Water Polo
Utility
Player of the Year for TISCA Region 2 as a senior…Three-time Regional Champion…One-time Regional Runner Up…First team All-State as a junior… First team All-Region as a junior…Second team All-Region as a sophomore…Graduated with Summa Cum Laude honors.
Tristen Clue (Hometown: Chino Hills, California)
Chino Hills High School
Raptor Sports School
Defender
Two year member of Chino Hills varsity water polo…Scored 100 career goals…registered 150 career assists…recorded 65 career steals.
Release courtesy McKendree University Athletics Communications
