Males’s Water Polo | September 01, 2022
After a productive enterprise journey to Europe, the USC males’s water polo staff is able to clock in for work within the house workplace. Again in July, the Trojans journeyed to Europe for a staff coaching journey jam-packed with competitors. What’s extra, the enterprise provided USC’s seven newcomers worthwhile hours alongside returning Trojans, increase chemistry and expertise certain to present head coach Marko Pintaric‘s 2022 squad a robust basis for the season to come back.
“It was tremendous worthwhile by way of expertise,” Pintaric mentioned of the journey, which took the Trojans by means of Spain and Croatia. “We performed about 15 video games, and the No. 1 factor was that our newcomers had an opportunity to play collectively, work on fundamentals of our system and develop our staff chemistry. Often that takes the entire yr.”
As NCAA finalists final season, this yr’s Trojans open the 2022 marketing campaign ranked No. 2 within the nation. USC went 18-3 general in that run to the title match — this system’s fifteenth look within the remaining in its 16 consecutive journeys to the NCAA tourney. Two All-Individuals — Jake Ehrhardt and Ashworth Molthen — each return from that 2021 roster, which additionally featured All-MPSF honoree Carson Kranz. In all, USC’s arsenal contains savvy seniors Marcus Longton and Chris Sturtevant. Ehrhardt and Sturtevant function USC’s staff captains, main a 30-player Trojan roster boasting stability, expertise and willpower to carry this system its eleventh nationwide championship.
“Yearly our final purpose is to win the nationwide championship,” Pintaric mentioned. “The energy of our staff that I am noticing is our staff chemistry and management. Our seniors specifically know the system they usually’ve been to the NCAA Event yearly, so they’re instructing the newer gamers what it takes.”
Ehrhardt has 4 seasons of expertise with the Trojans, having been a freshman when USC gained its most up-to-date NCAA crown in 2018. He additionally has U.S. Nationwide Crew expertise — though he’s not alone. Redshirt senior Molthen additionally has been a member of Crew USA, and junior Kranz represented america on the 2021 FINA Junior World Championship. Moreover, three newcomers noticed worldwide motion on the latest FINA Youth World Championships, the place freshmen Evan Ausmus and Bernardo Herzer performed for the USA, and freshman Andrej Grgurevic capped up for Australia.
Final season, Ehrhardt, Molthen, Longton and Kranz all logged no less than 20 targets for the Trojan trigger, and their firepower will probably be key to USC’s gameplan in 2022. They’re going to have loads of help, too. Savvy perimeter scoring prowess additionally returns within the palms of Sturtevant, Chris Agliozzo, Luka Brnetic, Jake Carter, Tom McGuire and Joshua Waldoch, whereas the offensive grunt work at two-meters falls largely on the muscle of Max Miller and Tony Nardelli.
USC’s incoming reinforcements are headlined by Italian import Massimo Di Martire, who additionally has Nationwide Crew expertise and who joins the Trojans as a grad scholar. And along with Ausmus, Grgurevic and Herzer, USC’s true freshmen are primed to shine. Lefties Charlie Saunders and Jack Vort pair properly with the two-meter energy of Zac Crenshaw. In the meantime, followers can count on to see extra of returners Reed Stemler, Henry Saunders and Aidan Wattson.
To not be missed is USC’s depth between the pipes. Goalies Blake Jackson, Kyle McKenney and Garrett Allen every logged minutes final yr and stand to offer a stanch rotation of defensive spine together with redshirt freshman Eric Hubner and true freshman Herzer.
“I am very assured in our group of goalies,” Pintaric mentioned. “They work arduous, and the protection in entrance of them is working arduous to guard them, too. Offensively now we have lefties, guards who can shoot and glorious shooters throughout. Our post-up sport can be robust. We’ve got eight guys who can go in and submit up. Our offense is wanting constant, and I am excited for this season to begin.”
USC’s 2022 marketing campaign begins this weekend with a visit to San Diego for the Triton Invitational. The Trojans kick off the tourney on Saturday (Sept. 2) with an opener towards Concordia at 9:20 a.m. at UC San Diego’s Canyonview Aquatic Middle. At 3 p.m. that afternoon, USC will face both UC Irvine or Redlands. On Sunday (Sept. 3), semifinals and placement video games are on faucet. To comply with alongside, go to the Triton Invitational Central Web page.
