Between the Pipes: Zayd Mahmoud's Final Stand

Zayd Mahmoud is a fifth-year senior at UC Irvine and has anchored the water polo team in goal for over 1200 minutes. With 384 career saves and a 24-18 record, Zayd has left a lasting impact on the program and established himself as a force in the pool. He has also matched his athletic success in the classroom, making both the Big West Commissioner’s Honor Roll and Big West Fall All-Academic Team. As Zayd closes the chapter on his college water polo career, he leaves behind a legacy of leadership, dedication, and hard work that will continue to shape the program long after him. 

Zayd tried a wide variety of sports as a kid and was introduced to water polo through a youth camp. He liked the aspect of overhand throwing and was drawn to the goalkeeper position in every sport he played. 

“I really enjoyed the individual aspect of goalkeeping within the team sport,” Zayd said. 

It wasn’t until about seventh or eighth grade that Zayd realized he could compete at the Division I level. He found himself surrounded by college players and other young athletes who had the same goals as him, and that became a defining point in his development. 

“I realized that the level of competition that I was playing with was high enough to set me up for success at the highest level,” Zayd recalled. 

The college recruiting process is already difficult for many young athletes, but going through the process while in the middle of a global pandemic created even more uncertainty. Roster spots and face-to-face communication were limited, so in order to stand out, athletes like Zayd had to work extremely hard.

Growing up in the Bay Area, Zayd had visited Irvine for water polo growing up and felt drawn to the familiar area. The team, coaching staff, and culture at UC Irvine was what sealed the deal for Zayd and ultimately made him an Anteater. 

In his five years at UCI, Zayd played a key role in some of the program’s most impressive achievements. He was a part of the ‘Eater teams that won the Big West Championship in 2023 and earned back-to-back regular season titles in 2023 and 2024. Yet, when he reflects on his collegiate career, it isn’t the shiny hardware that he feels most proud of, it’s the persistence that he and his teammates have showcased over the years. 

“I’m most proud of the consistency that it takes to compete at this level and uphold the standard that we strive to uphold,” Zayd said. 

As both a senior and a goalkeeper, Zayd has taken on a big leadership role this season. His teammates and coaches have especially looked to him to be a source of optimism and confidence. Whether it's leading the team through different cheers and pregame rituals or offering words of encouragement, Zayd has embraced his role as a leader. 

“A goalie has to have a lot of belief in the team and show confidence through failure and discouragement,” Zayd said. “This year more than ever, the team trusted me to always see the best in everybody and believe in what we can do.” 

The team has also helped shape Zayd into the player and leader that he is today. His teammates have learned to push Zayd to be his very best and improve his game every single time he’s in the pool. 

“They always believe that I have more in me,” Zayd said. “I want them to believe that they haven't seen my best performance yet and that there’s always a new level that I, and we as a team, can take it to.”

The coaching staff has been a big part of Zayd’s development as well. They push Zayd, and the team, to correct small mistakes that end up having a large impact on his game. 

“They do a good job of pushing you to your ceiling and never believing that the state you’re currently in is all you have,” Zayd said. 

A lot of the recent success of the program can be attributed to Coach Dan Klatt. He pushes Zayd and his teammates to believe that they have more in them and always ensures that they have a path to victory. 

“He’s very intentional about his game planning and does a really good job of coaching a system that will lead us to victory,” Zayd said. “He puts us in situations where we can win and be intentional with our game play.” 

Zayd carries countless favorite memories from his time as an Anteater. He recalls his first minutes in the pool during his freshman year against Redlands, where he was hungry to take any opportunity and make an impact. Winning the Big West in 2023 stands out as well, as he and his teammates accomplished their ultimate goal of winning the conference and making the program’s first NCAA tournament appearance in 30 years. 

“That was a time when the team really came together and competed at our highest level,” Zayd said. 

But what stands out the most to Zayd about his time at UC Irvine was being able to spend summers training with his friends. 

“Spending time with my teammates and being dedicated to a goal together and living with one another is something that I will look back on fondly,” Zayd said. 

Like every student-athlete, along with incredible moments, Zayd had to face challenges throughout his career as well. His biggest obstacle has been staying in the game and out of his head. 

“Dealing with uncertainty has been really difficult for me,” Zayd said. “It’s easy to get in your head and it's taken me time and effort to get out of that headspace and believe in myself.” 

Looking back on his career, Zayd has developed and learned a lot during his time at UC Irvine. His advice to young athletes is simple; always believe in yourself. 

“Never assume that something will be too difficult for you,” Zayd said. “Never let fear cause you to hold back effort because you’re worried about the disappointment of trying your hardest and failing,” 

UCI and Zayd’s teammates have taught him many things that he will carry on far beyond his water polo career. The most important lesson though, is that attitude is everything. 

“My teammates have taught me that half the battle is mental and if you believe that you can do something, you are far more likely to do it,” Zayd said. 

Although his collegiate career may be coming to a close, Zayd and his teammates still have unfinished business; the Big West Championship this weekend. The team has worked hard to prepare themselves for this moment.

“The Big West teams have a lot of varying play styles and it’s important that we are able to adapt to our opponent,” Zayd said. “But at the same time, we have to play our game regardless of who we are facing, we have to stick to our system and our plan to win.” 

As a veteran on the team, Zayd has been a part of championship and title winning teams in the past, and is taking what he has learned in those situations into the upcoming tournament. 

“The first thing is to believe in every player and believe that everyone is capable of accomplishing our goal,” Zayd said. “For me, it’s important to never be surprised, especially as a goalie, you never want to be caught off guard.” 

As Zayd closes the chapter on his collegiate water polo career, he's uncertain of where life will take him next. But before he takes his next steps beyond UC Irvine, he must turn his attention one last time to his spot between the pipes as he and his team fight for another Big West title. 

Zayd and the ‘Eaters will host the Big West Men’s Water Polo Championship this weekend, Nov. 21-23, at Anteater Aquatics Complex. They sit as the No. 5 seed in the tournament and will face No. 4 UC San Diego on Friday, Nov. 21 at 12 p.m.