2024 Junior Olympics

Club - Boys
1

This is a good time to start our discussion about the 2024 Junior Olympics, beginning with a summary of the Greenwich and CT Premier 16u and 18u boys’ teams. The summary was prepared by our East Coast correspondent. As he notes below, Ryan Ohl (Brunswick School Class of 2024 and Stanford, 20.36 and 44.18) will not play for Greenwich in the Junior Olympics. I heard he will either join his younger brother, Connor Ohl (Newport Harbor High School Class of 2026, 20.48 and 45.48), at Newport or not play at all. Ryan was one of the top three or four players in the Class of 2024. If he plays for Newport, I predict Newport will win the 18u division.

Here is the summary of the Greenwich and CT Premier teams:

“16u CT Premier: CT Premier’s 16u team is very young, but talented. They are probably a high-gold, low-platinum team.

“16u Greenwich Aquatics: Greenwich Aquatics’ 16u team is also young, but incredibly deep. Two of their top players are only 15 years old, but both are potential Big 4 recruits. The biggest name is Jackson Shaw (Class of 2028) who is already a member of the Cadet National Team. He is a right-handed attacker in the Ryan Ohl mold, and many consider him the heir apparent for the Greenwich program, as well as Brunswick as he enters his Freshman year this fall. Peter Saunders (Class of 2027) was a Cadet NTSC selection and is a very strong left-handed center and has Big 4 potential. Callum Walker (Class of 2026) is frequently in the national team picture and was a member of the Cadet National Team last year, and I assume he will be again when the team is officially announced. Those three are all key cogs for Brunswick next year. Robert Norell (Utility, Greenwich High School Class of 2026), Charlie Koven (Utility, GHS Class of 2026), JR Lindberg (Goalie, Brunswick Class of 2026), and Neveh Yechiely (Utility, Brunswick, Class of 2026) are all key contributors and likely NCAA Division 1 players. I expect Greenwich to compete in the top 12 of 16u, but their youth might keep them from competing for a medal.

“18u CT Premier: This CT Premier team is as good if not better than the team that finished 9th at JOs last year. The team is filled with seniors bound for college, as well as Juniors who will be top recruits for 2025. Kai Ross (UCSB) is the top player on the team and is a dominant center coming off of a gap year playing professionally for CN Echeyde in Spain. Returning from last year’s team are a cast of college bound players that are very strong, as well as Juniors that fill out the roster very well. Alex Piccin (Utility, Class of 2025) and Max Prokhin (RH Attacker, Class of 2025) are the top two college prospects on the team. Piccin attended Orange Lutheran this fall while living at the 6-8 Academy training under Ricardo and Tony Azevedo. He is [a potential Big 4 player]. Prokhin is a member of the Youth National Team and [will probably play college water polo at a Big 4 or Ivy League school]. The seniors on the team are Ned Smith (Center Defender, Bucknell), Petar Stjepanovic (Utility, Pacific), Jack Gee (Center Defender, Pacific), Lucas Vlak (Goalie, Bucknell), Chris Childs (Utility, Pomona-Pitzer). The team also has a few Juniors that are likely Division 1 college players in Henry Pennington (LH Attacker, Class of 2025), Noah Castillo (Center, Class of 2026), and Mark Malamud (RH Attacker, Class of 2025). Beyond this core, CT Premier has added three players to the team from outside of the program. Imme van der Schaaf (LH Attacker, Dutch Junior National Team), Boldiszar Valics (LH Attacker, USVE in Hungary), and Hugo Riley (Center, Australian Cadet National Team). Riley is an American citizen, and as a result does not qualify as an international player. All three should be key contributors[.] Imme van der Schaaf is [a] premier player as he was one of the leading scorers for the Netherlands at Junior World Championships last summer. Boldiszar is the brother of Bence Valics, Pepperdine’s all-time saves leader.

“18u Greenwich Aquatics: Greenwich Aquatics’ 18u team is affected by the loss of Ryan and Connor Ohl, but they are still very strong. Their top two players are Ben Atkinson (Center Defender, Class of 2025) and Adam Blum (LH Center, Class of 2025), both from Brunswick. Both should be going to Big 4 schools. . . . The team is bolstered by a group of Seniors that are very strong and college-bound: Jack Dillane (Center, Bucknell), Tyler Fahey (RH Attacker, Fordham), Csongor Bartusek (Center Defender, Fordham). The team also has a strong group of rising seniors that should play at the college level. Luke Mendelsohn (Utility, GHS Class of 2025), Jake Melley (RH Attacker, GHS Class of 2025), James Walker (Goalie, Brunswick Class of 2025), Leo Dilascia (Goalie, GHS Class of 2025), and Emil Sogaard-Srikrishnan (RH Attacker, Brunswick Class of 2025) should all play at the Division 1 level in college. This team is smart, fast, and deep. I would be surprised if they finish outside of the top 15.”

More to follow in the coming days.

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Jeff, do you know how the NE Zone teams placed for quals? 18s specifically

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Here are the NEZ boys’ 14u, 16u, and 18u results as reported by a knowledgeable observer:

14U Boys Results

  1. Greenwich Blue
  2. Capital
  3. Greenwich White
  4. Brooklyn A
  5. CT Premier
  6. Asphalt Green
  7. Maverick
  8. Navy
  9. Greenwich Gold
  10. Brooklyn B
  11. Princeton
  12. District Blossoms

16U Boys Results

  1. Greenwich Blue
  2. CT Premier
  3. Capital
  4. Maverick A
  5. Greenwich White
  6. Navy
  7. Asphalt Green
  8. Maverick B

18U Boys Results

  1. Greenwich
  2. CT Premier
  3. Maverick A
  4. Navy
  5. Capital
  6. Asphalt Green
  7. Maverick B

Greenwich beat CT Premier 11-8 in the 18u boys’ finals.

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Someone on Water Polo Planet created projected brackets for 18u and 16u boys. Pretty cool!

Here is 18u:

Screen Shot 2024-07-02 at 7.00.39 PM
Screen Shot 2024-07-02 at 7.00.39 PM1746×486 49.6 KB

Here is 16u:

Screen Shot 2024-07-02 at 7.02.16 PM
Screen Shot 2024-07-02 at 7.02.16 PM1738×482 47.2 KB

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A link for the Session One schedule is shown below. The rosters haven’t been posted yet.

2024_NJO_Public_Sched_S1.xlsx - Microsoft Excel Online (live.com)

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Top 3 poll at JO’s 18U boy? <Select your 3 favorites>

  • Mission A
  • Newport
  • CCUnited
  • Mission Seniors
  • LA Premier
  • SoCal
  • Shores
  • Greenwich
  • Stanford
  • Trojan
  • 680
  • Atherton
  • Vanguard
0 voters
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I cant wait to see what team jumps into the top 12 that is not on your list

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Me too. Biggest long shot to make top 8?

I am going to throw out SJ Express as the cardiac kids.

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Anyone have a new link that works? This one is no longer working and its the one on USAWater polo site also.

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With yet another chance to be dead wrong in public, my predictions for the top six spots in the boys’ 18u age group follow below. I don’t think the six teams I have listed are the six best teams because the seeding and scheduling formula used by USA Water Polo is based upon the results of the 2023 Junior Olympics, not the results of the 2024 club competition. In addition, the composition of the second-day groups slightly favors the No. 3 and 4 seeds over the No. 1 and 2 seeds. I think Atherton or Greenwich will benefit the most from the formula used by USA Water Polo and CC United and CT Premier will be the most disadvantaged. CC United is probably one of the eight best teams in the tournament but, if my predictions are accurate, they won’t finish in the top 12.

Boys 18u Top Six

  1. Newport Beach. Newport Beach’s 18u team is the Newport Harbor 2023 high school team with Brunswick’s Ryan Ohl and three incoming Newport Harbor transfers: center defender/center Lucca Van Der Woude (Class of 2025, transferred from Harvard-Westlake, UCLA?, NTSC youth national team selection), LH attacker James Mulvey (Class of 2025, transferred from JSerra, Navy?, NTSC youth national team selection), and center defender Santino Rossi (2025, transferred from Mater Dei). I would have picked Newport to win the 18u age group even if Ryan Ohl (Brunswick Class of 2024, Stanford, junior national team, 20.36 and 44.18) were not on the team but adding him to the roster makes Newport the heavy favorites. Ohl was one of the top four players in the Class of 2024. Among other notable players on Newport’s 18u team, Ryan joins his younger brother, Connor Ohl (Class of 2026, youth national team, 20.48 and 45.48), center Peter Castillo (Class of 2024, UCLA, junior national team), goalie Luke Harris (Class of 2025, USC, youth national team), center defender Gavin Appledorn (Class of 2024, Princeton, youth national team), and Owen Tift (Class of 2024, Pepperdine). Castillo was probably the second-best player in the Class of 2024 after JSerra’s Ryder Dodd and has Olympic-team potential. Connor Ohl is one of the two or three best players in the Class of 2026. Kai Kaneko (Class of 2026, cadet national team), LH attacker Mason Netzer (Class of 2026, NTSC youth national team selection), and center Geoffrey Slutzky (Class of 2026) will probably start on Newport Harbor’s 2024 team. Kaneko, Netzer, and Slutzky are on Newport’s 16u and 18u rosters. If there are scheduling conflicts affecting the 16u and 18u teams, my guess is Kaneko, Netzer, and Slutzky will focus on the 16u team. Newport’s 18u team is coached by Ross Sinclair, one of the best coaches in the country (at any level).

  2. Vanguard. If they win their initial groups, Newport, Vanguard, and CC United will be in Group N. If so, Group N will be the strongest of the second-day groups of three teams. I predict Newport will win Group N, Vanguard will finish second, and CC United will finish third. If CC United were in any other second-day group, they would have a good chance to finish in the top 10. If Vanguard finishes second in Group N, they will have to win an extra game to make it to the semifinals. I predict they will do so. Vanguard’s 18u team has players from a number of the top high school water polo programs and one international player. They are led by, among others, goalie Nehemiah Pavoggi (Oaks Christian Class of 2024, USC, NTSC youth national team selection), goalie Tyler Swensen (Laguna Beach Class of 2024, Santa Clara), center Corbin Stanley (Foothill Class of 2024, LBSU, youth national team), center Ethan Spoon (Huntington Beach Class of 2024, U.C. Irvine), center defender/center Logan McGann (Santa Margarita Class of 2027, NTSC cadet national team selection), LH attacker Nathan Banos (Mater Dei Class of 2024, Princeton, youth national team), LH attacker Alex Oprea (Mater Dei Class of 2024, Cal), Keegan McGann (Santa Margarita Class of 2024, U.C. Irvine), Cade Atherton (Laguna Beach Class of 2024, Pepperdine), Christian Hammonds (Huntington Beach Class of 2024, UCSD), Oleg Shatskikh (Irvine Class of 2024, U.C. Davis), and Evan Wu (Santa Margarita Class of 2026, cadet national team). Vanguard is coached by Bret Lathrope, who played for James Lathrop at Miramonte and Adam Wright at UCLA. Lathrope is an assistant coach at LBSU. He was formerly the head coach at MIT and an assistant coach at UCLA.

  3. Mission White. If they win their initial groups, Mission White, SoCal, and CT Premier will be in Group M. I predict Mission White will win Group M, SoCal will finish second, and CT Premier will finish third. It won’t surprise me if CT Premier finishes second. Mission White is comprised of JSerra’s Class of 2024 players (less Ryder Dodd) and one international player, Csanad Noel Kiss. I’ve heard that Kiss is a good shooter and has Division 1 potential. Among other players, Mission White will be led by goalie Joey Kent (UCLA), center defender Maddox Arlett (Cal, youth national team), center Will Schneider (Stanford, junior national team), Bode Brinkema (decommitted from USC, youth national team, 20.48 and 44.93), and Tas Palcza (Princeton). Schneider has senior national team potential. Mission White is coached by Arash Borujerdpur. JSerra coach Brett Ormsby is coaching Mission Black. I don’t think Mission White has the depth to finish in the top two.

  4. LA Premier. If they win their initial groups, LA Premier, SD Shores, and 680 will be in Group P. I predict LA Premier will win Group P, SD Shores will finish second, and 680 will finish third. It won’t surprise me if SD Shores wins. LA Premier is Harvard Westlake’s 2023 high school team, less three players: second-team goalie Jaaziah McZeal (Harvard Westlake Class of 2025), center defender/center Lucca Van Der Woude (Newport Harbor Class of 2025, UCLA?, NTSC youth national team selection), and Aidan Romain (NTSC youth national team selection). McZeal decided to stop playing water polo, Van Der Woude transferred to Newport Harbor, and Romain decided to spend his last two years of high school in Spain. Of these three players, Van Der Woude will be the hardest for Harvard-Westlake and LA Premier to replace. LA Premier’s 18u team will be led by, among others, goalie James Peace (Class of 2024, Cal), center defender Collin Caras (Class of 2025, NTSC youth national team selection), center Otto Stothart (Class of 2025), center Harry Siafaris (Class of 2027, development national team), Connor Kim (Class of 2025, Princeton or Stanford?, NTSC youth national team selection), LH attacker Dean Strauser (Class of 2024, Harvard), Alex Heenan (Class of 2024, UCLA), Ben Oerlemans (Class of 2024, will play for Stanford in 2025), and Taj Draper (Class of 2025). Stothart may be the most talented Class of 2025 player. However, to reach his full potential, he will need to keep his emotions in check. LA Premier is coached by former UCLA player and assistant coach Jack Grover. Grover, beginning his third year at Harvard-Westlake and LA Premier, is already one of the best high school coaches in the country. LA Premier doesn’t have as much depth as some of the other top 10 teams and can’t afford to lose any of its top players to injury.

  5. SD Shores. SD Shores has players from several top high school programs and one international player, Hungarian Csaba Rázga. Rázga played for SD Shores 16u team last summer. I haven’t seen him play but I’ve heard that he is really good. Other than Rázga, SD Shores is led by goalie Jaxon Leach (Bishop’s Class of 2024, Pepperdine), center defender West Gartland (La Jolla Class of 2024, Fordham), center defender/center/attacker Louis Fehrensen (Valhalla Class of 2023, played for San Jose State in 2023), center defender/attacker Caspar Lightner (Bishop’s Class of 2025), center Soren Martin (La Jolla Class of 2024), LH attacker Chris Calis (Loyola Class of 2024, Cal), Charles Martin (Bishop’s Class of 2025, NTSC youth national team selection), Lukas Peabody (Bishop’s Class of 2024, Harvard), and West Bancroft (La Jolla Class of 2024, Santa Clara). SD Shores is coached by Sean Thomas.

  6. Atherton. Atherton is Sacred Heart’s 2023 high school team. They will have to beat a good La Jolla team to win Group K. If that happens, Atherton will probably join Mission Black (if Mission Black beats San Jose Express to win Group C) and Greenwich (if Greenwich beats Pride to win Group F) in Group O. On paper, Group O is the weakest of the four second-day groups of three because No. 3 seed Mission Black (the JSerra 2024 high school team) will probably be missing two of their best players: goalie Jonas Ransford (Class of 2026, starting goalie for the cadet national team at the World Championships before he was injured) and Gavin Conant (Class of 2025, USC, youth national team). Ransford and Conant are reportedly recovering from injuries and are likely to miss the Junior Olympics. Without Ransford and Conant, I don’t think Mission Black will beat Atherton or Greenwich. Among other players, Atherton is led by goalie Murdoch Baker-Matsuoka (Class of 2026, NTSC youth national team selection), goalie Hugo Thinard McLane (Class of 2025), center defender Tyler Hogan (Class of 2024, Harvard), center Oliver Marcin (Class of 2026, NTSC youth national team selection), LH attacker Andrew Spencer (Class of 2024, UCLA, NTSC youth national team selection), LH attacker Clay Carrington (Class of 2026), Gates Gamble (Class of 2027), Nelson Harris (Class of 2025), and Luke Kirincich (Class of 2025, Navy?). Atherton is coached by SHP’s Brian Kreutzkamp, who has won CIF Southern Section and Central Coast Section Division 1 titles and a California community college title. Baker-Matsuoka and Carrington are on the roster for Atherton’s 16u and 18u teams. I don’t think Atherton will finish in the top 10 in the 18u age group if Baker-Matsuoka and Carrington focus on the 16u age group.

If Ransford and Conant play for Mission Black, I predict Mission Black will finish in the top six.

Other teams to watch: CC United, SoCal, Greenwich, CT Premier, Stanford, 680, Pride, Trojan, San Francisco, La Jolla, and San Jose Express.

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11

CCU (east bay super team includes Hakan from Shaq, Engs from Lamo, and Hubbard from 680) will be 6th.

  1. Newport

  2. Mission seniors

  3. Vanguard

  4. SD shore

  5. Mission A

  6. CCU

  7. 680

  8. Atherton

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Here are my predictions for the Boys’ 16u age group:

  1. Del Mar
  2. Newport (if Kaneko, Netzer, and Slutzky play in the meaningful games)
  3. Stanford
  4. CC United
  5. Trojan
  6. SOCAL
  7. Greenwich
  8. Diablo
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Engs was on CCU last jo’s, fyi.

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Does anyone have a link to rosters?

Will games be live streamed?

Great write up, Jeff. Always nice to learn a little bit about the teams heading into the action. Will be a fun week of water polo. Looking forward to it.

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Rosters : Sport:80 | Investing in Sport

Livestream: 2024 USAWP Junior Olympics Session 1 | July 20-23, 2024 - Game On Live Studio

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@GOLS- kudos to GOLS for streaming from 30 sites and putting it in an easily readable schedule.

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San Francisco almost beat Newport in the 18u age group, losing 11-10. The San Francisco team includes two strong international players and several former Del Mar players, including Ben Mirisch (Cathedral Catholic Class of 2024, USC).

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Sorry Jeff your CT premier got beat pretty bad by CIU! 13-3! CIU’s defense almost shut them out! They will win the game tonight to stay in platinum for sure but they need to figure out how to run a proper offence. They looked good at the quicksilver cup only losing a by small margins. I overheard heard in the stands that CIU had 3-4 starters missing when CT beat them by 2 last weekend so I am guessing they were not ready for the team that showed up today.

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As rolled1 suggests, that’s why they play the games. Ask the 2006 St. Louis Cardinals (had the worst regular season record for a World Series Champion) and the 1984-85 Georgetown Hoyas (the overwhelming favorite to beat Villanova in the NCAA championship game but lost by 2 as Villanova shot 78 percent from the field).

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After the first day of Session One, four clubs made one of the top groups of three teams (Groups M, N, O, and P) in the 14u, 16u, and 18u age groups: Channel Island, Newport, Greenwich, and San Diego Shores. I didn’t check to see how these clubs did in the 10u and 12u age groups. If we use the USA Water Polo seeding as the measuring stick, there were no major surprises in the 18u age group. Channel Island, the No. 16 seed, easily beat CT Premier, the No. 9 seed. SHAQ, the No. 42 seed, beat Colorado, the No. 31 seed, by 10. SHAQ has two “Big 4” recruits: center/attacker Soren Jessen (Terra Linda Class of 2025, UCLA) and attacker/center Vincent Krilanovich (Archie Wiliams Class of 2025, Stanford, 21.35 and 45.89). I’m glad to see that Danny Roland, former goalie at Drake, UCLA, and UCSB, is coaching Terra Linda and SHAQ’s 18u team. SHAQ will have a Top 12 18u team next year.