Men's Water Polo Adds Seven for 2022 Season
August 16, 2022 | Men's Water Polo
IRVINE, Calif.— UC Irvine men's water polo head coach Dan Klatt announces the seven newcomers joining the 2022 Anteater roster.
"We are extremely excited about our incoming student-athletes for the 2022-23 school year," stated Klatt. "Their physical abilities will impact our depth and performance in water polo, but more importantly their character, leadership, and commitment to academics and professionalism will help us become the connected and thoughtful team we hope to become. We are grateful for their belief and commitment to our program, and we look forward to watching them become strong independent young men."
Ethan Shipman | Sophomore | Attack | Fullerton, Calif. | Harvard-Westlake School | UCLA
Ethan Shipman is a four-year transfer from UCLA, completing two seasons with the Bruins. A strong performer in the classroom, Ethan was named to the MPSF All-Academic team, Pac-12 All-Academic team, UCLA Athletic Director's Honor Roll, and as an ACWPC All-Academic Honoree. In the pool, the attack registered three goals, 14 shots, nine assists, and six steals. While at Harvard-Westlake School, Shipman was both a two-time CIF Southern Section First Team All-American and D1 CIF Southern Section Champion.
Jack Stevens | Sophomore | Utility | Trabuco Canyon, Calif. | Tesoro HS | Saddleback CC
Jack Stevens comes to UC Irvine as a transfer from Saddleback Community College, where he spent one year playing for the Bobcats. In 36 games played, the utility led the team with 86 goals and 118 shots while recording 31 assists and 48 steals. Stevens was a four-year letter winner in both water polo and swimming at Tesoro High School. In water polo, Jack was a three-time team MVP and led the team in goals. As a swimmer, Stevens was a two-time All-American selection in butterfly while also taking part in two school record-setting relay teams.
Jackson Matos | Freshman | Utility | Tustin, Calif. | Foothill HS
Jackson Matos, a California native, is from nearby Tustin. Matos was a four-year letter winner at Foothill High School in both water polo and swimming. The utility played on the 2018-19 Men's Cadet National Team where he was a gold medalist and co-MVP in the USA Water Polo Junior Olympics.
Luka Krstic | Freshman | Driver | Belgrade, Serbia | Cronulla HS
Luka Krstic comes to California from Perth, Australia. The Serbian native competed in water polo, swimming, and soccer during his time at Cronulla High School in Sydney, Australia. The driver has been a member of the 2003 born Australian National Team since 2018, where he won a national championship after going undefeated during the season. Krstic spent time on the Sydney Lions club team under the direction of his father, Dusan, who played water polo on the professional level.
Owen Younger | Freshman | Driver | Orinda, Calif. | Campolindo HS
Owen Younger, a driver, comes from Campolindo High School in northern California. The former Cougar lettered in both water polo and swimming. In 2019, Owen led his team to become both the CIF NorCal Division 1 Champions and NCS Open Division Champions for water polo. Younger was also a NCS Scholar-Athlete.
John Billington | Freshman | Defender | Solano Beach, Calif. | Cathedral Catholic HS
John Billington, another California native on this roster, comes from Solano Beach. Billington was a letter winner at Cathedral Catholic High School in water polo. The defender led his team to become CIF Open Division Champions twice during his tenure as a Don. John earned All-CIF Open Division team honors as well.
Jasper Dale | Freshman | Center Defender | Carmel, Calif. | Robert Louis Stevenson HS
Jasper Dale makes the trip to Irvine from Carmel, California where he attended the Stevenson School. As a Pirate, Dale participated in water polo, swimming, basketball, and lacrosse. The center defender earned League MVP and All-CIF team honors for water polo.
Shipman, Stevens, Matos, Krstic, Younger, Billington, and Dale join the returning Anteaters on Wednesday August 17th to begin preparations for the Triton Invitational on Sept. 3-4 to kick off the 2022 season.
"We are extremely excited about our incoming student-athletes for the 2022-23 school year," stated Klatt. "Their physical abilities will impact our depth and performance in water polo, but more importantly their character, leadership, and commitment to academics and professionalism will help us become the connected and thoughtful team we hope to become. We are grateful for their belief and commitment to our program, and we look forward to watching them become strong independent young men."
Ethan Shipman | Sophomore | Attack | Fullerton, Calif. | Harvard-Westlake School | UCLA
Ethan Shipman is a four-year transfer from UCLA, completing two seasons with the Bruins. A strong performer in the classroom, Ethan was named to the MPSF All-Academic team, Pac-12 All-Academic team, UCLA Athletic Director's Honor Roll, and as an ACWPC All-Academic Honoree. In the pool, the attack registered three goals, 14 shots, nine assists, and six steals. While at Harvard-Westlake School, Shipman was both a two-time CIF Southern Section First Team All-American and D1 CIF Southern Section Champion.
Jack Stevens | Sophomore | Utility | Trabuco Canyon, Calif. | Tesoro HS | Saddleback CC
Jack Stevens comes to UC Irvine as a transfer from Saddleback Community College, where he spent one year playing for the Bobcats. In 36 games played, the utility led the team with 86 goals and 118 shots while recording 31 assists and 48 steals. Stevens was a four-year letter winner in both water polo and swimming at Tesoro High School. In water polo, Jack was a three-time team MVP and led the team in goals. As a swimmer, Stevens was a two-time All-American selection in butterfly while also taking part in two school record-setting relay teams.
Jackson Matos | Freshman | Utility | Tustin, Calif. | Foothill HS
Jackson Matos, a California native, is from nearby Tustin. Matos was a four-year letter winner at Foothill High School in both water polo and swimming. The utility played on the 2018-19 Men's Cadet National Team where he was a gold medalist and co-MVP in the USA Water Polo Junior Olympics.
Luka Krstic | Freshman | Driver | Belgrade, Serbia | Cronulla HS
Luka Krstic comes to California from Perth, Australia. The Serbian native competed in water polo, swimming, and soccer during his time at Cronulla High School in Sydney, Australia. The driver has been a member of the 2003 born Australian National Team since 2018, where he won a national championship after going undefeated during the season. Krstic spent time on the Sydney Lions club team under the direction of his father, Dusan, who played water polo on the professional level.
Owen Younger | Freshman | Driver | Orinda, Calif. | Campolindo HS
Owen Younger, a driver, comes from Campolindo High School in northern California. The former Cougar lettered in both water polo and swimming. In 2019, Owen led his team to become both the CIF NorCal Division 1 Champions and NCS Open Division Champions for water polo. Younger was also a NCS Scholar-Athlete.
John Billington | Freshman | Defender | Solano Beach, Calif. | Cathedral Catholic HS
John Billington, another California native on this roster, comes from Solano Beach. Billington was a letter winner at Cathedral Catholic High School in water polo. The defender led his team to become CIF Open Division Champions twice during his tenure as a Don. John earned All-CIF Open Division team honors as well.
Jasper Dale | Freshman | Center Defender | Carmel, Calif. | Robert Louis Stevenson HS
Jasper Dale makes the trip to Irvine from Carmel, California where he attended the Stevenson School. As a Pirate, Dale participated in water polo, swimming, basketball, and lacrosse. The center defender earned League MVP and All-CIF team honors for water polo.
Shipman, Stevens, Matos, Krstic, Younger, Billington, and Dale join the returning Anteaters on Wednesday August 17th to begin preparations for the Triton Invitational on Sept. 3-4 to kick off the 2022 season.
Players Mentioned
/ Men's Water Polo
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/ Men's Water Polo
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/ Men's Water Polo
UTL
/ Men's Water Polo
ATK
/ Men's Water Polo
UTL
/ Men's Water Polo
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