Photo by: Emeline Delanis
Lancers Sign Seven in 2019 Recruiting Class
5/6/2019 9:31:00 AM | Men's Water Polo
RIVERSIDE, Calif. – Coming off one of the best seasons in the NCAA era, California Baptist University added seven recruits for the 2019 season.
Last season, the Lancers posted their best season in the NCAA era, going 22-12 on the campaign, with a school-record eight wins against top-20 teams and the highest ranking in program history at No. 11.
A total of seven recruits are coming to help CBU build on its success from a season ago. Nicholas Flemington, Tristan Felberg, Angel Sanchez, Thomas de Witt, Joseph Griffin, Trent Itow and Woody Gates make up the 2019 class.
"We are extremely excited about our 2019 recruiting class," Coach Kevin Rosa said. "This is a great, well-rounded class; we have every position covered."
Felberg was named a Junior Olympics (JO) Honorable Mention All-American in 2017 and gained All-Central Coast Section (CCS) honors twice. He earned first-team, All-Blossom Valley Athletic League distinctions in all four high school seasons, including a league MVP campaign as a senior, two Goalie of the Year honors and a Freshman of the Year distinction. He's also played at a high level in the San Jose Water Polo Federation the last few years.
"He has a great build for a goalie, he's tall with exceptional length and is very quick to the ball and explosive," Rosa said. "After losing two goalies from last year's roster, we will rely on Tristan to step up right away and play well for us."
Out of Alberta, Canada, de Wit was named the 2018 MVP of the Calgary Torpedoes 16-and-under team after leading the squad in scoring. For his accomplishments with the Torpedoes, he was named to the Western Conference All-Star Team in the Canadian National Championship League (NCL).
Recently, de Wit won bronze in the Canadian Senior Men's Nationals and the Western Conference Final to qualify for nationals. He was also selected to the 19-and-under NCL Western Conference All-Star Team. He gives CBU a lefty who will compete for playing time right away on the 4/5 side.
"Thomas is very aggressive, and has great speed to go along with his aggressiveness," Rosa said. "He is constantly attacking up the right lane. He is going to put a lot of pressure on other teams. He is also very long and moves well, this allows him to be a disruptive force on the defensive end of the pool."
Griffin prepped at Damien High and earned All-Baseline League honors his final three seasons. As part of the Olympic Development Program (ODP), Griffin was a National Team Selection Camp selection in 2016 and 2018, and received the Nick Johnson Inspiration Award in 2017, which recognizes athletes on a yearly basis that fully embody the vision and values of the Olympic Development Program.
"Griffin is a center that we will expect great things from," Rosa said. "He has a great variety of shots that he uses from the center position. He has some strong power moves where he makes his presence known. Then he will come back with a quick finesse move using his quickness, and surprises the other team. His versatility at the center position will be tough for other teams to handle."
Flemington is a two-meter defender who reaped two All-CIF awards at Redlands East Valley High. He also helped the Wildcats win three Citrus Belt League championships. In JOs, he helped Renegades Water Polo Club take fifth place.
"Those two programs [REV and Renegades WPC] have been competing at the top level of the sport the last four years. He adds some great depth to our center defender spot," Rosa said. "He is extremely strong and has a great shot. We expect him to be able to shut down other teams' centers and then be a threat from the perimeter with his shot."
Gates gives the Lancers another JO All-American Honorable Mention in the recruiting class. The attacker was also named first team All-South Coast League during his sophomore, junior and senior seasons at Tesoro High. He served as captain of the Titans and lead them in scoring in 2017 and 2018, and has a unique ability to the 1/2 or 4/5 sides of the pool.
"Woody is an incredibly crafty and versatile player. He has always had to adapt to what his team needs him to do: he's attacked on the 1/2 side, the 4/5 side of the pool and he has even played center when he needed to," Rosa said. "He is a tremendous athlete that excels in whatever position he is called upon to play. We lost two 1/2 side attackers from last season, so we will need Woody to step up on that side of the pool and make a positive impact."
Itow gained All-CCS honors and was twice named to the Western Catholic Athletic League's first team at Valley Christian High. He also helped his JO team take top-10 finishes two years in a row. Rosa praised Itow's speed, and he is expected to use it for both the water polo and swim teams. He follows a line of accomplished water polo player/swimmers at CBU, like Brent Teraoka and Tanner Shore.
"We have had great success with dual-sport athletes, and we expect the same from Trent," Rosa said. "He is a player that attacks down the left lane of the pool and uses his speed to create scoring opportunities for himself and his teammates. Trent is another player that we are looking to play some 1/2 side minutes and earn some of those minutes that we graduated from last year."
Sanchez was a four year letter-winner at Santa Margarita High, and was named second team All-Trinity League during his sophomore and senior seasons. He also received the Nick Johnson Inspiration Award, with Griffin, in 2017 and has competed in the ODP since 2017.
"He's been playing against top competition for his whole career," Rosa said. "He is extremely smart, he always seems to put himself in a position to either set a teammate up, or to get a good shot off for himself. We graduated a lefty, so there is a big opportunity for him to come in and fill an area of need for us."
Last season, the Lancers posted their best season in the NCAA era, going 22-12 on the campaign, with a school-record eight wins against top-20 teams and the highest ranking in program history at No. 11.
A total of seven recruits are coming to help CBU build on its success from a season ago. Nicholas Flemington, Tristan Felberg, Angel Sanchez, Thomas de Witt, Joseph Griffin, Trent Itow and Woody Gates make up the 2019 class.
"We are extremely excited about our 2019 recruiting class," Coach Kevin Rosa said. "This is a great, well-rounded class; we have every position covered."
Felberg was named a Junior Olympics (JO) Honorable Mention All-American in 2017 and gained All-Central Coast Section (CCS) honors twice. He earned first-team, All-Blossom Valley Athletic League distinctions in all four high school seasons, including a league MVP campaign as a senior, two Goalie of the Year honors and a Freshman of the Year distinction. He's also played at a high level in the San Jose Water Polo Federation the last few years.
"He has a great build for a goalie, he's tall with exceptional length and is very quick to the ball and explosive," Rosa said. "After losing two goalies from last year's roster, we will rely on Tristan to step up right away and play well for us."
Out of Alberta, Canada, de Wit was named the 2018 MVP of the Calgary Torpedoes 16-and-under team after leading the squad in scoring. For his accomplishments with the Torpedoes, he was named to the Western Conference All-Star Team in the Canadian National Championship League (NCL).
Recently, de Wit won bronze in the Canadian Senior Men's Nationals and the Western Conference Final to qualify for nationals. He was also selected to the 19-and-under NCL Western Conference All-Star Team. He gives CBU a lefty who will compete for playing time right away on the 4/5 side.
"Thomas is very aggressive, and has great speed to go along with his aggressiveness," Rosa said. "He is constantly attacking up the right lane. He is going to put a lot of pressure on other teams. He is also very long and moves well, this allows him to be a disruptive force on the defensive end of the pool."
Griffin prepped at Damien High and earned All-Baseline League honors his final three seasons. As part of the Olympic Development Program (ODP), Griffin was a National Team Selection Camp selection in 2016 and 2018, and received the Nick Johnson Inspiration Award in 2017, which recognizes athletes on a yearly basis that fully embody the vision and values of the Olympic Development Program.
"Griffin is a center that we will expect great things from," Rosa said. "He has a great variety of shots that he uses from the center position. He has some strong power moves where he makes his presence known. Then he will come back with a quick finesse move using his quickness, and surprises the other team. His versatility at the center position will be tough for other teams to handle."
Flemington is a two-meter defender who reaped two All-CIF awards at Redlands East Valley High. He also helped the Wildcats win three Citrus Belt League championships. In JOs, he helped Renegades Water Polo Club take fifth place.
"Those two programs [REV and Renegades WPC] have been competing at the top level of the sport the last four years. He adds some great depth to our center defender spot," Rosa said. "He is extremely strong and has a great shot. We expect him to be able to shut down other teams' centers and then be a threat from the perimeter with his shot."
Gates gives the Lancers another JO All-American Honorable Mention in the recruiting class. The attacker was also named first team All-South Coast League during his sophomore, junior and senior seasons at Tesoro High. He served as captain of the Titans and lead them in scoring in 2017 and 2018, and has a unique ability to the 1/2 or 4/5 sides of the pool.
"Woody is an incredibly crafty and versatile player. He has always had to adapt to what his team needs him to do: he's attacked on the 1/2 side, the 4/5 side of the pool and he has even played center when he needed to," Rosa said. "He is a tremendous athlete that excels in whatever position he is called upon to play. We lost two 1/2 side attackers from last season, so we will need Woody to step up on that side of the pool and make a positive impact."
Itow gained All-CCS honors and was twice named to the Western Catholic Athletic League's first team at Valley Christian High. He also helped his JO team take top-10 finishes two years in a row. Rosa praised Itow's speed, and he is expected to use it for both the water polo and swim teams. He follows a line of accomplished water polo player/swimmers at CBU, like Brent Teraoka and Tanner Shore.
"We have had great success with dual-sport athletes, and we expect the same from Trent," Rosa said. "He is a player that attacks down the left lane of the pool and uses his speed to create scoring opportunities for himself and his teammates. Trent is another player that we are looking to play some 1/2 side minutes and earn some of those minutes that we graduated from last year."
Sanchez was a four year letter-winner at Santa Margarita High, and was named second team All-Trinity League during his sophomore and senior seasons. He also received the Nick Johnson Inspiration Award, with Griffin, in 2017 and has competed in the ODP since 2017.
"He's been playing against top competition for his whole career," Rosa said. "He is extremely smart, he always seems to put himself in a position to either set a teammate up, or to get a good shot off for himself. We graduated a lefty, so there is a big opportunity for him to come in and fill an area of need for us."
Players Mentioned
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