BRIDGEPORT, Pa. — Princeton University rising sophomore Gavin Appeldorn (Newport Beach, Calif./Newport Harbor) was named to the USA Water Polo Junior National Team that will compete at the World Aquatics Men’s U20 Water Polo Championships on June 14-21 in Zagreb, Croatia.
A 2024 Association of Collegiate Water Polo Coaches (ACWPC) Honorable Mention All-America selection, he played in all 32 games and made 19 starts during a Northeast Water Polo Conference (NWPC) season for the Tigers. He led the team in drawn ejections with 61 and added 52 goals, 31 steals, 17 assists and six blocks as Princeton finished 23-9 with victories over 11 nationally-ranked teams.
In addition to his All-America honor, Appeldorn garnered All-NWPC Second Team, NWPC Championship All-Tournament Second Team and NWPC Championship Rookie of the Tournament accolades in 2024.
The United States will compete in Group A with Hungary, Croatia and Montenegro, while Group B (Greece, Serbia, Italy, Spain), Group C (Brazil, Germany, South Africa), Group D (Kazakhstan, Islamic Republic of Iran, New Zealand), Group E (Colombia, Argentina, Australia) and Group F (Canada, China, Sinagpore) will also bid to claim the premier global age-group water polo tournament.
Additional information on the tournament – including a game schedule – is available on the World Aquatics website by CLICKING HERE.
United States Men’s Junior National Team (Hometown/School/Club)
1. Charles Mills (Tiburon, Calif./University of Southern California/San Francisco Water Polo)
2. Baxter Chelsom (Los Angeles, Calif./University of California-Davis/Los Angeles Premier)
3. Peter Castillo (Costa Mesa, Calif./University of California-Los Angeles/Newport Beach WPC)
4. William Schneider (San Clemente, Calif./Stanford University/Mission WPC)
5. Jonathan Carcarey (Santa Maria, Calif./Pepperdine University/SOCAL)
6. Gavin Appeldorn (Newport Beach, Calif./Princeton University/Newport Beach WPC)
7. Ryder Dodd (Long Beach, Calif./University of California-Los Angeles/Mission WPC)
8. Ryan Ohl (Greenwich, Conn./Stanford University/Greenwich Aquatics)
9. Landon Akerstrom (Costa Mesa, Calif./University of California-San Diego/SOCAL)
10. Connor Ohl (Newport Beach, Calif./Newport Harbor High School/Newport Beach WPC)
11. Benjamin Liechty (Newport Beach, Calif./University of California-Los Angeles/Newport Beach WPC)
12. Bode Brinkema (San Juan Capistrano, Calif./University of California-Los Angeles/Mission WPC)
13. Kiefer Black (San Diego, Calif./United States Naval Academy/La Jolla United)
14. Max Zelikov (Boca Raton, Fla./Stanford University/South Florida WPC)
15. Corbin Stanley (Yorba Linda, Calif./Long Beach State University/SOCAL)
Staff
Jack Kocur – Head Coach
Felix Mercado – Assistant Coach
Alex Rodriguez – Assistant Coach
Derek Clappis – Assistant Coach
2025 Team USA World Aquatics Men’s Junior World Championship Schedule (subject to change)
June 14 – USA at Croatia 1:00 p.m. Eastern/10:00 a.m. Pacific
June 15 – USA vs Hungary 11:30 a.m. Eastern/8:30 a.m. Pacific
June 16 – USA vs Montenegro 11:30 a.m. Eastern/8:30 a.m. Pacific
June 17 – TBD
June 18 – TBD
June 19 – TBD
June 20 – TBD
June 21 – TBD
