Eight SCIAC teams enter the 2025 season ranked in the CWPA Men’s Varsity Division III Top 10, including in each of the top six slots.
CWPA Poll
Defending national champion University of Redlands holds the top spot ahead of both Pomona-Pitzer Colleges and Chapman University who are tied for second just ahead of Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Colleges. The Bulldogs defeated the Panthers in an epic
14-13 USA Water Polo Collegiate National Championship final after sharing the regular season crown with the Sagehens. However, Redlands must replace its top eight players who graduated while Pomona-Pitzer returns a pair of All-SCIAC sophomores in
Zach Whitfield and
Miles Chiang as
SCIAC Preseason Poll favorites. Chapman, meanwhile, welcomes back breakout star
Davin Castillo, who was one of just two sophomores alongside Whitfield to make the All-SCIAC First Team, and program single-game saves record-holder
Jackson Sanders.
The Stags, just one year removed from also from sharing top conference honors with Redlands, boast a pair of former Newcomer of the Year honorees in
Nick Kennedy and
Luke “Bear” Weigle. California Lutheran University and Whittier College also tied for fifth while the University of La Verne ranks ninth and Occidental College received votes.
The rookie trio of Newcomer of the Year
Noah Bigara and Second Team All-SCIAC selections
Lorenzo Angelucci and
Zander Montoya led a dangerous new-look Whittier College squad last fall. University of La Verne’s
Robert Echeverria has shed the interim title and brings in 14 newcomers to mix in behind returning points leader
Jordan Baker. Second Team All-SCIAC pick
Travis Hughes is back to carry Occidental College.
Action begins for La Verne, Oxy and Redlands on Friday, Aug. 29 largely facing Division I competition with the former pair participating in the University of California, San Diego Triton Invitational while the Bulldogs head to the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado. Chapman and Pomona-Pitzer join the mix on Saturday, Aug. 30 in Irvine and La Jolla, respectively, before everyone sees game time by the following weekend.
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