Men’s Water Polo: U.S. vs. Italy at Newport Harbor

The USA Water Polo Men’s Senior National Team, complete with 12 Southern California natives, returns to action later this month in an exhibition match against the Italian Men’s National Team at Newport Harbor High.

Team USA will meet Italy, the 2012 Olympic Silver Medalists and 2011 FINA World Champions on Dec. 28 at 2 p.m.

This will mark the first competition for the United States since finishing in fourth place at the 2014 FINA World Cup. Tickets for the match are on sale now and can be purchased by clicking here. Tickets will be $20 for USA Water Polo members and $25 for non-USA Water Polo members.

Four-time Olympian Tony Azevedo joins team captain John Mann, a former Corona del Mar High standout, and three-time Olympian Jesse Smith as veterans leading a 17-man roster that will begin training in Orange County on Dec.20 in the lead-up to competition.

Much of the rest of the roster features some of the top talent in the collegiate game today, including many that call Orange County home. In addition to Mann, Josh Samuels, Bret Bonanni (Huntington Beach), Nolan McConnell (Laguna Beach), Luca Cupido (Newport Harbor), Anthony Daboub (Newport Beach), and McQuin Baron (Tustin) all played their high school water polo in Orange County.

“This training and competition opportunity with Italy, one of the best teams in the world, will be great for our team. I am excited to have our team together as we continue to work on our goal of Olympic qualification. I’m also looking forward to our fans coming out to cheer on Team USA in an exhibition match at a great venue for high level water polo, Newport Harbor High School,” said Dejan Udovicic, USA Water Polo Men’s National Team Head Coach.

— From staff reports

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Men’s National Team Roster - Exhibition Match Vs. Italy

Tony Azevedo (Long Beach, CA/Stanford/NYAC)

Jesse Smith (Coronado, CA/Pepperdine/NYAC)

John Mann (Newport Beach, CA/California/NYAC)

Janson Wigo (Ft. Lauderdale, FL/Stanford/NYAC)

Josh Samuels (Villa Park, CA/UCLA/NYAC)

Alex Bowen (Santee, CA/Stanford/Stanford)

Bret Bonanni (Huntington Beach, CA/Stanford/Stanford)

Alex Obert (Loomis, CA/Pacific/Sac Polo)

Conner Cleary (Goleta, CA/Stanford/Stanford)

Nolan McConnell (Laguna Beach, CA/Long Beach St./SET)

Jackson Kimbell (Long Beach, CA/Stanford/Newport WPC)

Luca Cupido (Newport Beach, CA/California/Newport Beach WPC)

Anthony Daboub (Newport Beach, CA/UCLA/Bruin)

Nikola Vavic (Palos Verdes, CA/USC/Trojan)

McQuin Baron (North Tustin, CA/USC/Regency)

Drew Holland (Orinda, CA/Stanford/Lamorinda)

Ben Hallock (Studio City, CA/Harvard Westlake (HS)/Bruin)