USA Water Polo Announces 2025 Junior Olympic All-Americans
USA Water Polo recently released the 2025 Junior Olympic All-American selections, recognizing the nation’s top youth talent across multiple age divisions and sessions. The selections, submitted by the coaching staffs of awarded clubs, reveal both the continued dominance of established powerhouses and the sport’s expanding geographic reach.
The Junior Olympic Tournament spanned mid-July through early August, with Sessions I and II taking place July 19-22 and July 24-27 in Orange County, California, while Session III ran July 31-August 3 in North Texas. The geographic split proved significant. California sessions required teams to qualify through their zone’s qualifier tournament, while Session III was open to all zones without qualification requirements.
Each four-day session featured teams competing within their age categories across three divisions: Championship, Classic, and Invitational, depending on the number of teams in each age group.
Session I MVPs
California clubs showed why they remain the standard for elite youth water polo.
Del Mar Water Polo Club’s performance in the boys’ divisions stood out, with Braxton Harp and Sungwon Shin earning MVP honors in the 12 & under and 16 & under divisions, respectively. The club also earned multiple first and second team selections across multiple age groups, exemplifying the program’s depth.
Channel Islands United delivered a similar performance in 14 & under Boys, landing a set of co-MVPs, Channing Wigo and Ren Fujikake, along with eight all-tournament selections. Meanwhile, North Irvine Water Polo Club dominated the 18 & under boys division, with Gavin Conant taking MVP honors as part of the club’s five total honorees.
Greenwich Aquatics emerged as a notable East Coast presence in the California sessions, earning seven total all-tournament selections, including first, second, and honorable Mentions, a significant showing for the Connecticut-based program.
Session II MVPs
The girls’ side saw similar dominance. Newport Beach Water Polo swept through two age divisions, with Cece Mesenbrink claiming MVP in the 14 & Under girls class and Gabriella Alexson earning the honor in 16 & under girls. The club received nearly half the first and second Team positions across those divisions.
San Clemente Water Polo stood out in the 12 & under girls division with Matilin Leinen taking MVP honors, while Saddleback El Toro dominated the 18 & under girls selections with Christina Flynn earning MVP among the club’s five total selections.
Texas Thunder Water Polo Club claimed the 12 & under mixed division through Travis Ronayne’s MVP performance. Santa Barbara 805 and San Diego Shores Water Polo Club also showed impressive depth, earning multiple first and second team selections across several age groups.
Session III MVPs
While California clubs dominated the first two sessions, programs from around the country earned recognition in Session III.
Puerto Rico Water Polo Club (PRWPC) demonstrated remarkable strength with Kala Rust Besosa earning MVP in 12 & under mixed and Luis Felipe De Zengotita taking the honor in 14 & under boys. The program also earned eleven placements on the first and second teams across multiple divisions.
Peak Polo demonstrated impressive depth across multiple divisions, with Ivey Tirman earning MVP honors in 16 & under girls and placing 13 additional selections.
Midwest programs also received recognition. Nicholas Zimmerman of Clayton Water Polo Club from Missouri produced an 18 & under boys MVP performance, while Pittsburgh Water Polo earned numerous honors across divisions. East County Aquatics of California made a strong showing, with Dominic Livitski earning MVP honors in the 16 & under boys division alongside three other nominations.
Alena Gonzalez was named MVP of the 18 & under girls division, highlighting a standout showing for North Idaho Water Polo, which earned multiple selections. Texas programs showcased their continued growth across the state. Brooklyn Cejka of Viper Pigeon earned MVP in 14 & under girls, while other programs such as Houston Hydra Water Polo Club, HydrAlamo, and West Houston Water Polo, all earned first and second team selections.
East Coast and Southern programs rounded out the geographic diversity, with Greater New Haven Water Polo from Connecticut, Orlando area programs from Florida, and Ohio clubs all earning All-American honors. California’s dominance remains undeniable, but the emergence of programs in Idaho, Missouri, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, and across the South and Midwest suggests water polo’s future looks different than its past.
The complete list of All-American selections is available on the USA Water Polo website.
