Photo by: Evan Roehrig/Saint Mary's Athletics
MWP | Gaels Hit the Pool for Inaugural Program Practice
8/13/2026 10:18:00 AM | Men's Water Polo
MORAGA, Calif. - The Gaels took another step toward their historic first season on Wednesday afternoon, as they held the program's first official practice. With the full roster now together in Moraga, the practice served as the first opportunity for the Gaels to officially take to the pool as a team and begin preparing for their inaugural season. With student-athletes coming together from across the world, the opening weeks will provide an opportunity to build chemistry in the pool and lay down the foundation for the program's inaugural season ahead. As the Gaels continue to train and come together as a team, excitement continues to build with the countdown toward the program's first-ever competition this fall.
BAY AREA ROOTS
Leading the Gaels' men's water polo program in their inaugural season is head coach James Lathrop, a coach whose ties to the West region run deep. A UC Berkeley graduate who earned his teaching credential at Saint Mary's, Lathrop brings firsthand knowledge of what it means to compete at the highest level of collegiate water polo. His background as a Cal team captain, Junior National Team (20u) coach with USA Water Polo, and member of the Stanford Cardinal coaching staff provides a foundation the Gaels program can build upon for years to come.
Also joining the Gaels men's water polo program is assistant coach Jamie Steingraf, who brings a strong resume as both an athlete and coach to Moraga. As a four-year student-athlete for San Jose State, Steingraf helped guide the Spartans to their first WCC title in 2023 and the WCC championship game his senior season in 2024. Most recently, Steingraf spent time with the Lamorinda Water Polo Club, where he served as the goalkeepers coach for the club and an assistant coach for the under-18 boys A team. A Danville native, Steingraf brings in the pedigree and experience needed to navigate the Gaels in the ever-difficult West Coast Conference.
Along with 14 freshmen from 6 different countries, Lathrop and the program bring in 8 transfers from across the collegiate level to bolster the experience of this exciting Gaels squad. Several players on the Gaels' squad bring a wealth of international experience. Canadian National Team player Leo Hachem has been a standout for his country at many competitions, including the 2025 World Aquatics Championships. Goalkeeper Federico Castrucci competed for the Italian National Team for the 18u World Championships in 2024, and Harry Irwin represented New Zealand at the 2025 World Aquatics 20u World Championships. Mason Black adds a wealth of experience playing in his native Australia as the team's lone graduate student.
"We are extremely proud of the roster that has come together for the inaugural season of Saint Mary's water polo," said Lathrop. "This group is eager to build a culture at Saint Mary's that will put our program on a path to succeed now and into the future. We are excited to challenge ourselves against a deep group of teams in the WCC with the goals of connecting as a team and improving throughout the season."
MEET THE WCC
Saint Mary's Men's Water Polo makes its competitive debut this fall, joining a West Coast Conference field that extends well beyond the Gaels' traditional rivals. Alongside Saint Mary's familiar WCC opponents in Pepperdine, Pacific, LMU, and Santa Clara, the program will face three Western region programs that serve as affiliate members of the conference for the sport that bring their own rich histories.
San Jose State arrives as the conference's established standard-bearer. After transitioning from the Mountain West, the Spartans have won the WCC title twice (2023, 2025) and reached the NCAA quarterfinals in each of those seasons. The Spartans have wasted little time reestablishing themselves among the nation's elite, and take on the Gaels twice in San Jose on October 3rd and November 8th.
With Cal Baptist departing from the WCC, UC Davis will join Saint Mary's as one of two new WCC Men's Water Polo conference members. Predominantly residing in the Big West, the Aggies have developed into a legitimate contender in a sport long dominated by the West Coast. Qualifying for the NCAA tournament in 6 of the last 10 seasons, including a semifinal appearance in 2021, the Aggies have become a mainstay in collegiate water polo and take on the Gaels November 1st in Davis.
Rounding out the WCC affiliate members are the Air Force Falcons. Led by ninth-year head coach Ryan Brown, the Falcons return one of the nation's most prolific offensive players in senior utility Tom Leggett. Helping his team to a 17-15 team record in 2025, Leggett led the country in both goals (148) and total points (196), while leading the nation in scoring the previous season as well. Leggett and the Falcons will take on the Gaels on October 16th in Moraga for Military Appreciation Day.
Pacific has emerged as one of the conference's dominant forces in recent memory, claiming back-to-back WCC regular season titles and posting an 11-1 combined conference record over that span. Head coach James Graham remains the only active WCC coach leading both a men's and women's program, and recently took the men's program to the National Championship game in 2019. The Tigers will take on the Gaels on October 17th in Moraga.
Pepperdine is led by Head coach Merrill Moses, a three-time Olympian and MVP of the program's 1997 national championship squad. Coach Moses joined the Waves' coaching staff in 2012 and was elevated to head coach in 2024. The Waves have reached back-to-back WCC semifinals and will take on the Gaels November 6th in Moraga.
LMU is working to recapture the dominance that defined the program in the 2000s, when the Lions made eight NCAA semifinal appearances in ten seasons. The program turned to former standout David Carrasco ahead of the 2025 season — the program's all-time assists leader (150), who served on staff in 2023 and 2024 before taking the reins. The Lions will take on the Gaels on October 9th in Moraga for the Gaels' WCC Home Opener.
Santa Clara head coach Keith Wilbur enters his 24th season at the helm — the longest tenure of any men's water polo coach in the WCC. A member of the U.S. National Team in 1997, Wilbur has built the Broncos into a consistent contender since joining the program in 2002. Santa Clara is anchored by Italian international Riccardo de Simon, a utility player who posted 71 goals while ranking fourth in field blocks (17) and first in sprint win percentage (.927). The Broncos will take on the Gaels on October 30th in Santa Clara.
Stay tuned for more coverage of Saint Mary's inaugural water polo season this fall. For more information on the 2026 Men's Water Polo Inaugural Season, click HERE to see the full schedule.
#GaelsRise
BAY AREA ROOTS
Leading the Gaels' men's water polo program in their inaugural season is head coach James Lathrop, a coach whose ties to the West region run deep. A UC Berkeley graduate who earned his teaching credential at Saint Mary's, Lathrop brings firsthand knowledge of what it means to compete at the highest level of collegiate water polo. His background as a Cal team captain, Junior National Team (20u) coach with USA Water Polo, and member of the Stanford Cardinal coaching staff provides a foundation the Gaels program can build upon for years to come.
Also joining the Gaels men's water polo program is assistant coach Jamie Steingraf, who brings a strong resume as both an athlete and coach to Moraga. As a four-year student-athlete for San Jose State, Steingraf helped guide the Spartans to their first WCC title in 2023 and the WCC championship game his senior season in 2024. Most recently, Steingraf spent time with the Lamorinda Water Polo Club, where he served as the goalkeepers coach for the club and an assistant coach for the under-18 boys A team. A Danville native, Steingraf brings in the pedigree and experience needed to navigate the Gaels in the ever-difficult West Coast Conference.
Along with 14 freshmen from 6 different countries, Lathrop and the program bring in 8 transfers from across the collegiate level to bolster the experience of this exciting Gaels squad. Several players on the Gaels' squad bring a wealth of international experience. Canadian National Team player Leo Hachem has been a standout for his country at many competitions, including the 2025 World Aquatics Championships. Goalkeeper Federico Castrucci competed for the Italian National Team for the 18u World Championships in 2024, and Harry Irwin represented New Zealand at the 2025 World Aquatics 20u World Championships. Mason Black adds a wealth of experience playing in his native Australia as the team's lone graduate student.
"We are extremely proud of the roster that has come together for the inaugural season of Saint Mary's water polo," said Lathrop. "This group is eager to build a culture at Saint Mary's that will put our program on a path to succeed now and into the future. We are excited to challenge ourselves against a deep group of teams in the WCC with the goals of connecting as a team and improving throughout the season."
MEET THE WCC
Saint Mary's Men's Water Polo makes its competitive debut this fall, joining a West Coast Conference field that extends well beyond the Gaels' traditional rivals. Alongside Saint Mary's familiar WCC opponents in Pepperdine, Pacific, LMU, and Santa Clara, the program will face three Western region programs that serve as affiliate members of the conference for the sport that bring their own rich histories.
San Jose State arrives as the conference's established standard-bearer. After transitioning from the Mountain West, the Spartans have won the WCC title twice (2023, 2025) and reached the NCAA quarterfinals in each of those seasons. The Spartans have wasted little time reestablishing themselves among the nation's elite, and take on the Gaels twice in San Jose on October 3rd and November 8th.
With Cal Baptist departing from the WCC, UC Davis will join Saint Mary's as one of two new WCC Men's Water Polo conference members. Predominantly residing in the Big West, the Aggies have developed into a legitimate contender in a sport long dominated by the West Coast. Qualifying for the NCAA tournament in 6 of the last 10 seasons, including a semifinal appearance in 2021, the Aggies have become a mainstay in collegiate water polo and take on the Gaels November 1st in Davis.
Rounding out the WCC affiliate members are the Air Force Falcons. Led by ninth-year head coach Ryan Brown, the Falcons return one of the nation's most prolific offensive players in senior utility Tom Leggett. Helping his team to a 17-15 team record in 2025, Leggett led the country in both goals (148) and total points (196), while leading the nation in scoring the previous season as well. Leggett and the Falcons will take on the Gaels on October 16th in Moraga for Military Appreciation Day.
Pacific has emerged as one of the conference's dominant forces in recent memory, claiming back-to-back WCC regular season titles and posting an 11-1 combined conference record over that span. Head coach James Graham remains the only active WCC coach leading both a men's and women's program, and recently took the men's program to the National Championship game in 2019. The Tigers will take on the Gaels on October 17th in Moraga.
Pepperdine is led by Head coach Merrill Moses, a three-time Olympian and MVP of the program's 1997 national championship squad. Coach Moses joined the Waves' coaching staff in 2012 and was elevated to head coach in 2024. The Waves have reached back-to-back WCC semifinals and will take on the Gaels November 6th in Moraga.
LMU is working to recapture the dominance that defined the program in the 2000s, when the Lions made eight NCAA semifinal appearances in ten seasons. The program turned to former standout David Carrasco ahead of the 2025 season — the program's all-time assists leader (150), who served on staff in 2023 and 2024 before taking the reins. The Lions will take on the Gaels on October 9th in Moraga for the Gaels' WCC Home Opener.
Santa Clara head coach Keith Wilbur enters his 24th season at the helm — the longest tenure of any men's water polo coach in the WCC. A member of the U.S. National Team in 1997, Wilbur has built the Broncos into a consistent contender since joining the program in 2002. Santa Clara is anchored by Italian international Riccardo de Simon, a utility player who posted 71 goals while ranking fourth in field blocks (17) and first in sprint win percentage (.927). The Broncos will take on the Gaels on October 30th in Santa Clara.
Stay tuned for more coverage of Saint Mary's inaugural water polo season this fall. For more information on the 2026 Men's Water Polo Inaugural Season, click HERE to see the full schedule.
#GaelsRise
Players Mentioned
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