Sixteen members of the UCLA men’s water polo team have been recognized for their academic achievements by earning ACWPC All-Academic honors, according to an announcement from the Association of Collegiate Water Polo Coaches. The announcement follows a successful season in which UCLA secured its 14th NCAA Championship title on December 7, 2025, after defeating Stanford in the semifinals and USC in the final.
The Bruins concluded the season with a team grade point average of 3.42, ranking them 17th nationally among all divisions. To be eligible for the ACWPC All-Academic award, student-athletes must maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 3.2 during the current season. The awards are categorized as “excellent” (3.2 to 3.4), “superior” (3.41 to 3.7), and “outstanding” (3.71 to 4.0).
Two players achieved “outstanding” status: freshman attacker Jackson Harlan and redshirt sophomore defender Max Matthews, with Matthews earning this distinction for a second consecutive year.
Six Bruins were named to the “superior” list: redshirt senior attacker Chase Dodd, redshirt freshman attacker Alex Heenan, sophomore goalkeeper Joey Kent, redshirt senior center Eli Liechty, senior attacker Noah Rowe, and redshirt sophomore attacker Vinnie Merk.
Eight other athletes received “excellent” honors: senior utility Gray Carson, sophomore utility Peter Castillo, redshirt senior attacker Trey Doten, redshirt junior utility Ben Larsen, junior utility Ben Liechty, junior attacker Wade Sherlock, redshirt sophomore goalkeeper Nate Tauscher, and redshirt freshman center/defender Harry Tucker.
