BRIDGEPORT, Pa. — Princeton University rising sophomore Gavin Appeldorn (Newport Beach, Calif./Newport Harbor) and United States Naval Academy rising junior Kiefer Black (San Diego, Calif./La Jolla) combined for three goals, three assists, a steal and a field block as the United States outclassed the Islamic Republic of Iran, 23-5, to reach the quarterfinals of the 2025 World Aquatics Men’s U20 Water Polo Championships in Zagreb, Croatia.
Courtesy the victory, Team USA – which previously faced Croatia (19-10 L, June 14), Hungary (13-12 L, June 15) and Montenegro (16-10 W, June 16) to claim Third Place in Group A – earns a showdown with Group B runner-up Serbia on Thursday, June 19, at 2:30 p.m. Eastern in the tournament quarterfinals.
Hungary led by Fordham University rising sophomore Andras Toth (Pecs, Hungary/PTE Babits Gyakorlo Gimnazium) and Princeton rising sophomore Ádám Peocz (Fr., Budapest, Hungary) returns to the water at 10:00 a.m. Eastern on June 19 in another quarterfinal clash against the victor of a crossover game matching Group B fourth place finisher Italy versus Group E champion Australia. The Hungarians claimed Group A and earned a day off on June 18 thanks to dispatching Montenegro (18-10 W, June 14), the United States (13-12 W, June 15) and Croatia (15-11 W, June 16).
Streaming coverage of both games – and the entirety of the 2025 World Aquatics Men’s U20 Water Polo Championships – is available on the World Aquatics’ YouTube page by CLICKING HERE.
The United States did not miss with its salvos against Iran as the Americans outscored their foe 7-1 and 5-1 in the first and second quarters prior to tacking on 3-0 and 8-3 scoring advantages in the third and fourth quarters, respectively. A box score of the game is available by CLICKING HERE.
Appeldorn appeared in 16:19 of playing time and chipped in an assist, while Black factored in five of Team USA’s 23 goals by burying a trio of shots (two-for-two action shots, one-for-one man-up), dishing out a pair of helpers, grabbing a steal and blocking a shot during 23:16 of action.
Through four games, Black is shooting four-for-seven with two assists, a steal and a field block, while Appeldorn has a steal and an assist.
