IRVINE, Calif. – The Association of Collegiate Water Polo Coaches (ACWPC) announced the 2023 Men's Water Polo All-America Teams, and 11 Big West student-athletes were honored for their efforts this season. All six Big West member institutions had at least one honoree.
Freshman attacker Robert Lopez Duart of Long Beach State and UC Santa Barbara’s Dash McFarland headline the list for The Big West by earning second-team honors.
McFarland, a junior center for the Gauchos, earned Big West Player of the Year acclaim in 2023 en route to a first career All-American honor. The product of Berkeley, Calif., manufactured 82 goals (2.7 per game), three assists, 12 steals, and 68 drawn exclusions this year. McFarland found the back of the net three or more times in 15 contests this season, including six games with five or more strikes.
Lopez Duart compiled an impressive 87 goals this season, earning the nod for Big West Freshman of the Year. The Barcelona, Spain native’s goal-scoring benchmark is the second-most scored in a season in Long Beach State program history, and topped in the league in 2023.
UC Davis senior utility Aleix Aznar Beltran sports a spot on the third team alongside UC Irvine sophomore attacker Luka Krstic. Aznar Beltran amassed a career-high 60 points (41 goals, 19 assists) during the 2023 campaign en route to an All-Big West First Team selection. Kristic contributed a team-high 68 points (41 goals, 25 assists), for the conference champion Anteaters. UC Irvine punched its ticket to the NCAA Championship for the first time in 30 years behind the play of its All-Big West First Teamer.
The Big West saw seven more student-athletes mentioned with UC San Diego sophomore center Bennett Axline, Long Beach State junior attacker Evan Cain, Long Beach State sophomore utility Bruno Chiappini, Cal State Fullerton junior defender Togan Ozbek, and UC Irvine junior center Tyler Padua, UC Irvine attacker freshman Joahnn Thrall, and UC Davis redshirt-senior goalkeeper Aaron Wilson named honorable mention.
Axline led the Tritons in goals (59), shots (116), and drawn exclusions (83) while finishing second on the team with 31 steals. The sophomore earned All-Big West Second Team honors.
Long Beach State’s duo of Cain and Chiappini contributed 60 and 47 tallies, respectively. The Beach boasted both players on the All-Big West First Team.
Ozbek finished second overall in The Big West with 99 total points for first-year program Cal State Fullerton. The Istanbul, Türkiye product led the team in scoring (58 goals), and assists (48).
Padua and Thrall were key contributors to UC Irvine’s conference championship season. The duo delivered 29 and 65 points, respectively, to the Anteaters, with both earning All-Big West Second Team accolades.
Wilson closed the year out with a save percentage of .505 to lead the league. The Aggie goalie's 224 saves fell just one short shy of the top spot in The Big West and subsequently earned recognition on the All-Big West First Team.
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ACWPC Second Team All-America
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Name
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Year
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Pos.
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School
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Hometown
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Robert Lopez Duart
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Fr.
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Attacker
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Long Beach State
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Barcelona, Spain
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Dash McFarland
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Jr.
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Center
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UC Santa Barbara
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Berkeley, Calif.
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ACWPC Third Team All-America
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Name
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Year
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Pos.
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School
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Hometown
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Aleix Aznar Beltran
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Sr.
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Utility
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UC Davis
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Barcelona, Spain
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Luka Krstic
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So.
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Attacker
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UC Irvine
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Belgrade, Serbia
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ACWPC Honorable Mention All-America
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Name
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Year
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Pos.
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School
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Hometown
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Bennett Axline
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So.
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Center
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UC San Diego
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Rancho Bernardo, Calif.
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Evan Cain
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Jr.
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Attacker
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Long Beach State
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Riverside, Calif.
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Bruno Chiappini
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So.
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Utility
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Long Beach State
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Sao Paulo, Brazil
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Togan Ozbek
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Jr.
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Defender
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Cal State Fullerton
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Istanbul, Türkiye
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Tyler Padua
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Jr.
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Center
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UC Irvine
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Huntington Beach, Calif.
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Johann Thrall
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Fr.
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Attacker
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UC Irvine
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Lake Forest, Calif.
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Aaron Wilson
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R-Sr.
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Goalkeeper
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UC Davis
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Glendora, Calif.
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