Seven Newcomers Join Men's Water Polo 2023 Roster
August 18, 2023 | Men's Water Polo
IRVINE, Calif.— UC Irvine men's water polo team head coach Dan Klatt has announced the addition of seven players to the 2023 roster.
Nolan Cary | Freshman | Goalkeeper | Redondo Beach, Calif. | Loyola HS
Nolan Cary joins the Anteaters from Loyola HS in Redondo Beach, Calif., where he was a four year letter winner and three year starter. The goalkeeper won the D1 CIF Southern Section Championship (2021), North South Challenge Championship, and Santa Barbara Invitational Championship (2019).
Wyley Dale | Freshman | Center | Carmel, Calif. | Robert Louis Stevenson HS
Wyley Dale reunites with his brother and now teammate Jasper Dale for the upcoming season. Dale, who hails from Carmel, Calif., attended Robert Louis Stevenson High School. A member of the 2023 USA Youth National Team, Dale was also a member of the 16U Junior Olympics in 2019 where he was named an All-American. The center is a two-time league Offensive Player of the Year (2021, 2022), League MVP (2022), All-CSS Third Team selection (2021) while leading the league in goals (2021).
Tyler Laymon | Freshman | Defender | Livermore, Calif. | De La Salle HS
Tyler Laymon, a California native, is from Livermore where he attended De La Salle HS. An experienced player, Laymon has played water polo in Croatia, Hungary, Italy, and Malta. The incoming freshman was a member of the USA Men's Water Polo Development Cadet (2019, 2021), USA Youth National Team (2022), and 18U Junior Olympics team. Academically, Laymon is a four-time USA Water Polo Academic All-American and had high honors all four years of his high school career.
Brody Luke | Freshman | Attacker | Buellton, Calif. | Dos Pueblos HS
Brody Luke hails from Buellton, Calif., where he attended both Santa Ynez and Dos Pueblos high schools. Luke was named to both the All-CIF Division II First Team and First Team All-Channel league. In the classroom, the attacker has earned the California State Seal of Biliteracy for French and Spanish, awarded the Scholar Athlete Award for both water polo and swim, and was a member of the National Honor Society. Luke will be utilizing a redshirt year for the 2023 season.
Johann Thrall | Freshman | Attacker | Lake Forest, Calif. | JSerra Catholic HS
Johann Thrall joins the Anteater team from JSerra Catholic High School in San Juan Capistrano. Thrall helped to lead his team to a Trinity League Championship title and North South Championship while also competing with the ODP Academy team in 2022. In 2019, the attacker was a First Team All-CIF Southern Selection. The incoming freshman landed a spot on the honor roll all four years as well.
Gage Verdegaal | Freshman | Attacker | Hanford, Calif. | Newport Harbor HS
A local product, Gage Verdegaal comes to Irvine from nearby Newport Harbor HS. A 2022 graduate, Verdegaal spent the past year in Spain playing water polo for UE Horta. In 2021, the attacker won the CIF Southern Section Open Division Championship and was named to both the CIF Southern Section All-Second Team and OC Register First Team. Verdegaal has also spent time playing with the USA Water Polo Cadet, Developmental, and Youth National Teams.
Ben Youngblood | Freshman | Utility | Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif. | Trabuco Hills HS
Ben Youngblood joins the Anteaters from Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif., where he attended Trabuco Hills high school. Youngblood was named to both the All-CIF Second Team and First Team All-Seaview league. Outside of the pool, the utility player was a three-time academic All-American. Youngblood will be utilizing a redshirt year for the 2023 season.
Nolan Cary | Freshman | Goalkeeper | Redondo Beach, Calif. | Loyola HS
Nolan Cary joins the Anteaters from Loyola HS in Redondo Beach, Calif., where he was a four year letter winner and three year starter. The goalkeeper won the D1 CIF Southern Section Championship (2021), North South Challenge Championship, and Santa Barbara Invitational Championship (2019).
Wyley Dale | Freshman | Center | Carmel, Calif. | Robert Louis Stevenson HS
Wyley Dale reunites with his brother and now teammate Jasper Dale for the upcoming season. Dale, who hails from Carmel, Calif., attended Robert Louis Stevenson High School. A member of the 2023 USA Youth National Team, Dale was also a member of the 16U Junior Olympics in 2019 where he was named an All-American. The center is a two-time league Offensive Player of the Year (2021, 2022), League MVP (2022), All-CSS Third Team selection (2021) while leading the league in goals (2021).
Tyler Laymon | Freshman | Defender | Livermore, Calif. | De La Salle HS
Tyler Laymon, a California native, is from Livermore where he attended De La Salle HS. An experienced player, Laymon has played water polo in Croatia, Hungary, Italy, and Malta. The incoming freshman was a member of the USA Men's Water Polo Development Cadet (2019, 2021), USA Youth National Team (2022), and 18U Junior Olympics team. Academically, Laymon is a four-time USA Water Polo Academic All-American and had high honors all four years of his high school career.
Brody Luke | Freshman | Attacker | Buellton, Calif. | Dos Pueblos HS
Brody Luke hails from Buellton, Calif., where he attended both Santa Ynez and Dos Pueblos high schools. Luke was named to both the All-CIF Division II First Team and First Team All-Channel league. In the classroom, the attacker has earned the California State Seal of Biliteracy for French and Spanish, awarded the Scholar Athlete Award for both water polo and swim, and was a member of the National Honor Society. Luke will be utilizing a redshirt year for the 2023 season.
Johann Thrall | Freshman | Attacker | Lake Forest, Calif. | JSerra Catholic HS
Johann Thrall joins the Anteater team from JSerra Catholic High School in San Juan Capistrano. Thrall helped to lead his team to a Trinity League Championship title and North South Championship while also competing with the ODP Academy team in 2022. In 2019, the attacker was a First Team All-CIF Southern Selection. The incoming freshman landed a spot on the honor roll all four years as well.
Gage Verdegaal | Freshman | Attacker | Hanford, Calif. | Newport Harbor HS
A local product, Gage Verdegaal comes to Irvine from nearby Newport Harbor HS. A 2022 graduate, Verdegaal spent the past year in Spain playing water polo for UE Horta. In 2021, the attacker won the CIF Southern Section Open Division Championship and was named to both the CIF Southern Section All-Second Team and OC Register First Team. Verdegaal has also spent time playing with the USA Water Polo Cadet, Developmental, and Youth National Teams.
Ben Youngblood | Freshman | Utility | Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif. | Trabuco Hills HS
Ben Youngblood joins the Anteaters from Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif., where he attended Trabuco Hills high school. Youngblood was named to both the All-CIF Second Team and First Team All-Seaview league. Outside of the pool, the utility player was a three-time academic All-American. Youngblood will be utilizing a redshirt year for the 2023 season.
Players Mentioned
GOALKEEPER
/ Men's Water Polo
UTILITY
/ Men's Water Polo
CENTER
/ Men's Water Polo
DEFENDER
/ Men's Water Polo
ATTACKER
/ Men's Water Polo
ATTACKER
/ Men's Water Polo
ATTACKER
/ Men's Water Polo
UTILITY
/ Men's Water PoloMonday, April 20
Monday, April 20
Thursday, February 26
Friday, November 21
