ORADEA, Romania – Pepperdine water polo freshman Csanád Bella wrapped up competition at the European U18 Championships this past weekend, finishing in sixth place while representing Hungary.

The Budapest native was a bright spot for the Hungary side that went 4-2 overall in the tournament including a 3-0 mark in group play before falling in the quarterfinals.

Bella netted eight goals total in the tournament including a pair of hat tricks which propelled Hungary to a pair of wins.

His three-goal efforts came in the tournament opener against the Netherlands in a 15-11 win and against Greece in a 19-13 victory.

He went on to add a late game-tying goal in the final group play contest, a 12-11 triumph over Italy. The quarterfinals then saw a narrow 14-13 loss to Serbia to put Hungary out of contention for a medal. 

Returning in the consolation bracket, Bella added his eighth goal of the tournament in an 18-14 win over Croatia. In the fifth-place game, Hungary fell 10-7 to close out the tournament in sixth place.

Bella and the Waves open the season this weekend at the Triton Invite hosted by UC San Diego with a pair of fixtures against No. 20 Navy and Pomona-Pitzer on Saturday to begin the season.

ABOUT PEPPERDINE WATER POLO

Pepperdine water polo has seen success spanning decades under Terry Schroeder who gave the reins to Merrill Moses following the 2023 season. Highlighted by its national championship in 1997 with Moses as the starting goalie, the Waves have reached the NCAA Tournament on 13 occasions and recently won the inaugural WCC Regular Season Championship in 2023. Overall, the program has seen 60 athletes garner All-American honors while boasting a winning record in 36 of 50 seasons.

TICKETS

For more information and to purchase tickets to upcoming home events, visit here.

FOLLOW

To stay up-to-date on the latest Pepperdine water polo news, follow the Waves on social media @PepperdineMWP.

MOSCOW, Idaho– Idaho Director of Track and Field and Cross Country Tracy Hellman and his staff have announced 37 new signees to join the team for the 2025-26 season. 

BY THE NUMBERS

The class consists of 13 transfers from all levels of college track and field, 33 student-athletes who graduated high school in the Pacific Northwest. Five of the collegiant transfers have qualified for their respective national meets and seven of the new freshmen are reigning state champions.

The new group of Vandals are led by 11 long and middle distance runners, nine jumpers and multi-athletes, nine sprinters, and eight throwers. 

HEAR FROM COACH

“One of the goals I had when I was hired was to build a well-rounded track and field program that has goals to win the Big Sky Track and Field Championships.  This announcement is a good first step towards that goal.  I also want to express my gratitude to the Track and Field Staff and administration in their help in landing these outstanding student athletes.  Great people, great students, and great athletes is the common trait of this class.  We also are committed to getting back to bringing in the best of the PNW, and this class confirms that.  The future of Vandal track and field and cross country is exciting!  Go Vandals!”

MEET THE CLASS

DISTANCE

Kristian Børve headlines the Vandals’ distance additions, coming to Moscow as the Norwegian U20 national champion in the 5K. This summer, Børve placed sixth in the event at the European U20 Championships and finished ninth in the 1500 at this month’s Norwegian Championships. He also represented Norway at the 2024 U20 World Championships in the 3000 and 5000-meter disciplines. 

Three high schoolers from Oregon and Washington add to the depth of Idaho’s distance room. Hannah Ward joins the Black and Gold from Cheney, WA, where she closed out a strong prep career for the Cheney Blackhawks at the 2025 WIAA State Meet with a second-place finish (10:37.78) in the 3200, and fifth (4:58.52) in the 1600. Both were personal bests. 

Conor Thompson and Jaysen Rodriquez arrive at the U of I from the Beaver State. Thompson closed his high school career with a second at the OSAA State Cross Country meet last fall and the 3K at the state track meet in May. Rodriquez scored a fourth-place finish in the 800 in a personal best 1:54.18 at the WIAA state meet last spring.

The Vandals are also adding the reigning NWAC 1500 and steeplechase champion. Mary Nakamura spent the past two seasons at Spokane Community College, where she was a part of back-to-back outdoor conference title teams. 

Four members of the 2025-26 distance team have been previously announced, with all four arriving to the Palouse from Idaho’s Treasure Valley.   

All but one of Idaho’s distance additions will hit the ground running this fall as members of the Vandals’ cross country team. 

JUMPS AND MULTIS

Idaho’s nine-athlete jumps and multi’s class includes four reigning state high school champions, an NAIA All-American, and a member of a Division II national championship relay team. 

Sydnie Zywina joins the Vandals as a graduate student, following four highly successful years at Lewis-Clark State College in Lewiston. The Orofino, Idaho native placed in the top two in the triple jump at the Cascade Conference meet in each of her four years, winning the title in 2024 and 2025. Zywina was named a NAIA All-American triple jumper at the 2025 national indoor meet, and was a national qualifier in the triple jump during both the indoor and outdoor season in each of the past three seasons.

Adams State transfer Jada Miller was a member of the Bears’ Division II national championship-winning team in 2024 and was a critical part of their national champion DMR team. She arrives in Moscow with personal bests of 19 feet, nine inches in the long jump, a triple jump mark of 39 feet, five inches, and a 24.46 in the 200. 

Two Pacific Northwest state high school javelin champions are joining the Vandals, in the form of Adisyn Andrews and Gabe Love. Andrews, a native of Walla Walla, WA, won the state title with a personal-best 135 foot, eight inch throw. She was also a part of the Blue Devils’ state 4×100 relay team that claimed a spot on the podium. On top of being a back-to-back state champion in the javelin, Love finished in the top five in the 100 and the 200 at Hayward Field. The Prineville, Oregon native’s 2025 state championship-winning throw of 188 feet, eight inches would have placed sixth at the 2025 Big Sky Outdoor Championships. 

Kimberlee Priebe makes the move 85 miles south to join the Black and Gold from Coeur d’Alene, where she won the 2025 IHSAA 6A High Jump title and back-to-back district championships. 

A trio of commits from the Evergreen State, Jackson Williams, Jarae Long, and Bradley Giesen, and previously announced 11-time Idaho state champion Lexi Huettig, round out the 2025-26 class of Vandal jumpers and multi-athletes. 

SPRINTS

Logos High School’s Naomi Taylor is the current 100, 200, and 400-meter state champion at Idaho’s 2A level. The Moscow native set her personal best in all three events at the state meet this past spring, a 12.61 in the 100, 25.36 in the 200, and a 58.13 in the 400. Taylor is also a veteran of the Knights’ relay teams, winning three straight state titles in the 4×400. 

Keenan Kuntz and Ashley Hollenback-Willems, two of the six Washington State transfers to join the Vandals, were both members of the Cougars’ 4×100 relay teams that qualified for last season’s National Championship in Eugene. 

Hillsboro, Oregon’s Ryan LeClair took home first in both the 200 and the 400 at last spring’s OSAA State Championship. The former Spartan holds a personal best of 21.64 in the 200 and 48.13 in the 400. 

Five additional freshman sprinters will join the Vandals in 2025: MaKenna Ritter, Veronica Russell, Logan Peterson, Matteo Ganje, and previously announced Omar Chaaban. 

THROWS

Eight new throwers join Coach Julie Taylor this season. 

Five transfers from Pullman: Mason Andulajevic, Evan Berg, Blake Sturgis, Baylee Wroble, and Lindi Kessinger bring NCAA meet experience to the Black and Gold. Berg, a sophomore from Spokane, was a qualifier for the 2025 West Regional in the javelin. Sturgis took a unique path to Moscow, with stops at DIII Dubuque (Iowa), where he was a member of both the basketball and track teams, before spending the past two seasons at WSU. The Spokane native also qualified for the NCAA First Round a season ago, finishing 15th in the javelin.

Another former collegiant dual-sport athlete, Evan Hartt, arrives in Moscow from DII Minot State. In his one season with the Beavers, Hartt made waves in competition and in the classroom, by grabbing the discus school record and being named a USTFCCA All-Academic honoree. 

Kathryn Burnette is a reigning two-time Idaho 2A state champion in the shot put, holding the record in the classification and the second spot in the all-time record books. The former Potlatch Logger was a three-time state qualifier in the discus, finishing as high as fifth in 2024. 

Umpqua Community College transfer MaKenzie Carpenter rounds out the Vandals’ 2025 additions. 

UP NEXT

Idaho Cross Country begins their 2025 campaign on Friday, August 31, in Cheney, WA at the Clash of the Inland Northwest. 

FOLLOW THE VANDALS

To stay up to date with Idaho Cross Country, follow the team on Instagram(IdahoTrack), X(IdahoTFXC), and visit govandals.com. 

A trio of state coaches earned milestone victories while several tournaments were played over the weekend.

Spanish Fort coach Gretchen Boykin broke the 1,100 career win mark during the Juanita Boddie Tournament in the Friday victory over Madison Central (Miss.). Boykin has led the Toros to four Class 6A state championships and is the defending class champion.

Kahlil Watson hit a home run and Travis Bazzana went 1 for 3 with 2 walks, while Aaron Davenport and the bullpen (including Triston McKenzie and Carlos Hernandez) had a rough day.

New right-handed starter Khal Stephen looked very good in three scoreless innings with two strikeouts and allowing two hits. Zack Cozart was 2 for 4 with a double and Wuilfredo Antunez were 2 for 4 with a triple. Ralphy Velazquez sustained his 1.266 OPS with a single and two walks.

Catcher Bennett Thompson went 2 for 4 with a double and a walk and centerfielder Nick Mitchell went 2 for 3 with a homer and a walk, but Captains pitchers led by Rafe Schlesinger had a tough game… EXCEPT for Tyler Naquin who went two scoreless, hitless innings striking out three!

The Hillcats have some HITTERS on their team as Junekir Caceres went 1 for 3 with three walks, Riley Nelson went 1 for 4 with a double, and Luke Hill went 3 for 4 with a triple and a walk. Hill also stole two bases. Each of the six Lynchburg pitchers who played in this game gave up at least one run.

The Salukis finished 10-19 (3-15 MVC) in 2024, placing 11th in The Valley and missing the conference tournament.

Brittany Harry takes over as the new head coach for a team returning eight players from the 2024 season: five outside hitters, two middle blockers, and one defensive specialist. Among the returners is Cecilia Bulmahn, who ranked 10th in the Missouri Valley with 4.12 digs per set and was eighth in total digs (433). She had seven aces at UIC on Oct. 12, tied for second-highest in the MVC in a single match, and tied for first in a three-set match. The mark is also tied for eighth in school history. She also posted 34 digs vs Missouri State (9/19), tied for the fourth-most in school history. Returning in the middle are sophomore Eva Krakowski and senior Larissa Seger. Krakowski put together a strong true freshman season and was named the Missouri Valley Conference’s Freshman of the Week on Sept. 16 after a season-high 17 kills (41.2%) and eight blocks (T-8th in MVC in a five-set match in 2024) in a 3-2 win at UT Martin (9/10). She would post eight blocks for a second time (T-10th in MVC in a four-set match) against SIUE (9/20). Seger is back after putting up 92 blocks, leading the Salukis and ranking ninth in the Missouri Valley at 0.88 blocks per set. Senior outside hitter Annabelle Sulish returns as the team’s most productive offensive player in 2024. She played in all 29 matches and 113 sets, continuing her streak of appearing in every possible match during her college career. She led the Salukis in kills (343) and points (389.0), and added 291 digs, 25 aces and 37 blocks to her ledger. Her four aces against Idaho on Aug. 31 ranked ninth for the most in a four-set match in the MVC.

Southern will open its season on Friday, Aug. 29, when they Sam Houston State at the Bearkat Invitational. First serve is scheduled for 10 a.m. CT.

FOLLOW THE SALUKIS

Keep up with all the latest news and information on the Salukis by following the team on X (@SIU_Volleyball), Instagram (@SIU_Volleyball) and Facebook (SalukiVolleyball). Fans can also download the “Salukis” Mobile App on the App Store or Google Play Store.

MALIBU, Calif. – Pepperdine water polo head coach Merrill Moses has announced a pair of staff changes ahead of the 2025 campaign. Terry Schroeder will transition into the role of senior advisor following 32 total seasons with the program including 31 as head coach. In addition, Mike Tragitt has been elevated to Associate Head Coach having been on staff for 12 seasons including the past nine as assistant coach.

The Waves posted a 143-77 overall record in the eight seasons with Tragitt as assistant coach including seven campaigns with a winning record. In his previous 11 seasons total on staff, the Waves have finished in top-13 in the final CWPA rankings in all 11 years. Tragitt was a four-year letterwinner with the Waves from 2010-2013 and joined the staff the following year before being named an assistant coach ahead of the 2017 season. Pepperdine has had a pair of 25-plus win seasons during his tenure including the 2019 campaign which saw the Waves win the Gold Coast Conference and reach the NCAA semifinals.

“I’m incredibly appreciative of the trust and support that Merrill and Terry have given me within this program since beginning my coaching career,” said Tragitt. “Pepperdine is an incredibly special place, and I am honored and proud to continue to work and impact the best players in the country.”

“I am very excited to announce the elevation of Coach Mike Tragitt to Associate Head Coach,” said head coach Merrill Moses. “He has been on our coaching staff for 12 years and has been an integral part of our team’s success in and out of the water throughout his coaching career. He understands and promotes the core values and goals that our program and University represent every day. He is a tremendous tactician and recruiter and is going to continue to help elevate our program to compete for Conference Championships and National Championships.”

Schroeder is a legendary figure in American water polo, widely regarded as one of the greatest players and coaches in the sport’s history. A two-time Olympic silver medalist as a player (1984, 1988) and team captain for the U.S. squad, Schroeder went on to become the head coach at Pepperdine from 1986-2005, where he led the Waves to the 1997 NCAA Championship. He then served as head coach of the U.S. Men’s Olympic Water Polo Team at the 2008 Beijing Games, where his squad captured the silver medal, and again at the 2012 London Games. Schroeder then returned to Malibu in 2013 to resume his role as head coach of the program and transitioned to Associate Head Coach following the 2023 campaign. In his 31 total seasons as head coach of the Waves, Schroeder amassed a 508-345 record while reaching the NCAA Tournament on nine occasions. 

“I am excited to announce Coach Terry Schroeder‘s new role as Senior Advisor for Pepperdine Water Polo,” said Moses.  Coach Schroeder is going into his 33rd season for Pepperdine Water Polo and he has guided this program to great successes throughout his coaching career with his experience and knowledge of the game. I would not have been the player that I became without Coach Schroeder’s coaching and belief in me and my skills. I also would not be the coach I am today without his guidance and mentorship. He is going to help advise our coaching staff with his tremendous experience and knowledge that he has gained throughout his years of coaching. With his new role he will also help continue to build our alumni relations and focus on helping our team with our fundraising goals so we can compete at the highest level.”

Pepperdine was recently selected at No. 7 in the CWPA Preseason Poll and No. 2 in the WCC Preseason Poll ahead of the 2025 campaign. The Waves open the season this weekend at the Triton Invite hosted by UC San Diego with matchups against No. 20 Navy and Pomona-Pitzer on Saturday to begin the season.

ABOUT PEPPERDINE WATER POLO

Pepperdine water polo has seen success spanning decades under Terry Schroeder who gave the reins to Merrill Moses following the 2023 season. Highlighted by its national championship in 1997 with Moses as the starting goalie, the Waves have reached the NCAA Tournament on 13 occasions and recently won the inaugural WCC Regular Season Championship in 2023. Overall, the program has seen 60 athletes garner All-American honors while boasting a winning record in 36 of 50 seasons.

TICKETS

For more information and to purchase tickets to upcoming home events, visit here.

FOLLOW

To stay up-to-date on the latest Pepperdine water polo news, follow the Waves on social media @PepperdineMWP.