PRINCETON, N.J. — After coming off a Northeast Water Polo Conference (NWPC) title and the program’s sixth National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Tournament appearance, the Princeton University Tigers have announced their Class of 2023 men’s water polo recruits.
“We are delighted to welcome in this fantastic group of well-rounded student-athletes who will make a great impact on our program, the university and surrounding community,” said head coach Dustin Litvak. “Our staff worked very hard to find young men with great character, abilities and a drive to bring Princeton Water Polo to the next level. We believe that this diverse recruiting class, which features two international students that have played at a very high level, and three First-Team All-Americans, is one of the strongest incoming classes in the country. “
Joan Coloma
High School: Jesuïtes Casp
Hometown: Barcelona, Spain
Height: 6’3″
Club: Club Natació Sant Andreu
Position: Defender
High school did not have sports … Played water polo for 11 years including last three with Club Natació Sant Andreu … Won the Extraordinary Medal of Sport’s Merit … Won a silver medal as a member of Spain’s 2018 Youth World Championships Team
Personal: Son of Maria Del Carmen Roqueta Alcaraz and Alfredo Coloma Rodríguez … Has a sister, Nuria and brother, Alfredo.
High School: Lawrenceville
Hometown: Princeton, N.J.
Height: 6’2″
Club: Princeton Tigers
Position: Utility
High School: A senior captain who set the school record for goals in the state tournament (25) … State Finals MVP in 2018 … Named All-League and Eastern All-Tournament twice … Won the Wilder Award in 2017 … Team won the state title and secured Eastern First Division placement in back-to-back years (2017, 2018) … Member of the McLlellan Society, Lawrenceville Prefect and Lawrentians Choral Ensemble.
Academic: National Merit Scholarship Finalist.
Personal: Son of Debby and Chaz Foster … Has a sister, Caroline … Mother, Debby ’92, attended Princeton and played lacrosse … Grandfather, Charles ’64, is also a Princeton alum … Father, Chaz, played water polo at Washington and Lee.
High School: Woodside
Hometown: Woodside, Calif.
Height: 6’0
Club: Stanford, Mid-Peninsula
Position: Attacker
High School: Senior captain that had 42 career goals … Helped team to the CCS for the first time in over 15 years as a freshman … Unit went to the playoffs as a senior … Lettered in swimming … Member of the Woodside Theatre Department … Eagle Scout.
Academic: USA Water Polo All-Academic with outstanding honors in 2017 … Member of the California Scholarship Federation … Valedictorian … Made the Principal’s List seven times.
Personal: Son of Kathryn and Skip Hovsmith … Has two sisters, Jaclyn and Elayne … Sister, Jaclyn ’20, Father, Skip ’80, Mother, Kathy ’81, Great Grandfather, Arthur ’13, and Great, Great Grandfather, Herbert ’79, all went to Princeton.
Antonio Knez
High School: Gimnazia Dubrovnik
Hometown: Dubrovnik, Croatia
Height: 6’3″
Club: VK Jug CO, VK Bellvue
Position: Goalkeeper
Club: Led VK Jug to the Croatian Junior National Cup title in 2015 before three second-place finishes in the Croatian Junior National Championships … VK Jug also nabbed two runner-up spots in the Olympic Hopeful Invitational … Won the Croatian 1B League crown with VK Bellvue for three straight years.
Academic: Academic Excellence Award from the Teacher’s Council three straight years.
Pierce Maloney
High School: Harvard-Westlake
Hometown: Los Angeles, Calif.
Height: 5’10”
Club: Los Angeles Premier
Position: Attacker
High School: Senior captain … Three-time All-CIF SS highlighted by a first-team accolade in 2018 … Team won the 2018 CIF SS D-1 title … 2018 First Team All-American
Personal: Son of Nicole and Robert Maloney … Has two siblings, Cleo and Keller. Brother, Keller, also plays on the men’s water polo team.
Ryan Neapole
High School: Harvard-Westlake
Hometown: Los Angeles, Calif.
Height: 6’1″
Club: Los Angeles Premier
Position: Utility
High School: Senior captain … CIF Southern Player of the Year and Mission League MVP in 2018 …. Team was the 2018 CIF D1 Southern Section Champions … 2018 First Team All-America
Personal: Son of Eileen and Bob Neapole … Stepmother is Kimberley Bruce … Has a sister, Caitlin and two step-sisters, Ashley and Hailey.
Yurian Quinones
High School: Santa Margarita Catholic
Hometown: Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.
Height: 6’3″
Club: OCWPC, Set
Position: Attacker
High School: Senior captain that finished with 150 career goals … His 2018 season featured All-CIFSS D-I and All-Trinity League first team accolades and All-Orange County second team and So-Cal All-Varsity Awards … The year prior saw All-CIF D-I and All-Trinity League second team nominations … Team was the Trinity League runner-up in 2018 and won the 2016 CIFSS DII title … Was named team’s MVP in 2018 and was a two-time team Defensive Player of the Year … 2018 First Team All-America… Lettered in swimming where he holds the school record in the 4×50 free style … Member of the SMCHS Investment Group.
Personal: Son of Nascina Rodriguez and Luis Quinones … Has a brother, Yuruan.
Alex Roose
High School: Tamalpais
Hometown: Mill Valley, Calif.
Height: 6’2″
Club: SHAQ, SOMA
Position: Attacker
High School: Registered 55 goals in his career … Team won North Coast Section Division-I title and was the MCAL runner-up twice … Was picked for the Coach’s Award … Lettered in swimming.
Personal: Son of Merone and Jeroen Roose … Has a sister, Nadine, and brother, Lucien.
