Sports
Season Opens Friday with Triton Invitational
LA JOLLA, Calif. — The UC San Diego Men’s Water Polo team, ranked 12th nationally, opens its 2025 season by hosting the annual Triton Invitational Friday through Sunday at Canyonview Aquatic Center in La Jolla.
The Tritons will play a total of six games, two each day over the three-day tourney. Several marquee matchups involve the host including top-ranked and reigning national champion UCLA, No. 2 USC, and No. 7 Pepperdine.
Other schools in the 13-team field include George Washington, La Verne, No. 6 Long Beach State, No. 20 Navy, Occidental, Pomona-Pitzer, No. 10 San Jose State, No. 14 UC Davis, and No. 15 UC Santa Barbara.
All six of the Tritons’ games can be followed live via FOSH live stats while Sunday’s tilt against Pepperdine will be broadcast live on ESPN+ as well.
UC San Diego is coming off a 2024 season that saw it go 17-12 overall and 3-2 in Big West action. As the second seed at the conference championship, the Tritons came within a single win of taking the Big West title and an automatic berth in the NCAA’s National Collegiate Championship.
Landon Akerstrom, Bennett Axline, and Lucas Romaguera garnered ACWPC All-America Honorable Mention accolades. Akerstrom and Romaguera also earned All-Big West First Team recognition. Eamon Hennessey was selected to the conference’s second team, while Axline, Logan Estes, and Felipe Ferreira were All-Big West Honorable Mention. All players mentioned except Estes are returning to play this season, though Estes will serve as an assistant coach with the squad.
INSIDE THE GAMES
Game 1 – Triton Invitational
• #12 UC San Diego (0-0) vs. La Verne (0-0)
• Friday, August 29, 9:30 am
• Canyonview Aquatic Center – 3302 Voigt Dr., La Jolla, Calif. 92093 (map)
• Tournament website
• Tickets
• FOSH Live Stats
• Gameday program
Game 2 – Triton Invitational
• #12 UC San Diego (0-0) vs. #2 USC (0-0)
• Friday, August 29, 1:30 pm
• Canyonview Aquatic Center – 3302 Voigt Dr., La Jolla, Calif. 92093 (map)
• Tournament website
• Tickets
• FOSH Live Stats
• Gameday program
Game 3 – Triton Invitational
• #12 UC San Diego (0-0) vs. Occidental (0-0)
• Saturday, August 30, 8 am
• Canyonview Aquatic Center – 3302 Voigt Dr., La Jolla, Calif. 92093 (map)
• Tournament website
• Tickets
• FOSH Live Stats
• Gameday program
Game 4 – Triton Invitational
• #12 UC San Diego (0-0) vs. #1 UCLA (0-0)
• Saturday, August 30, 5:30 pm
• Canyonview Aquatic Center – 3302 Voigt Dr., La Jolla, Calif. 92093 (map)
• Tournament website
• Tickets
• FOSH Live Stats
• Gameday program
Game 5 – Triton Invitational
• #12 UC San Diego (0-0) vs. George Washington (0-0)
• Sunday, August 31, 12 pm
• Canyonview Aquatic Center – 3302 Voigt Dr., La Jolla, Calif. 92093 (map)
• Tournament website
• Tickets
• FOSH Live Stats
• Gameday program
Game 6 – Triton Invitational
• #12 UC San Diego (0-0) vs. #7 Pepperdine (0-0)
• Sunday, August 31, 4 pm
• Canyonview Aquatic Center – 3302 Voigt Dr., La Jolla, Calif. 92093 (map)
• Tournament website
• Tickets
• Live on ESPN+
• FOSH Live Stats
• Gameday program
UC SAN DIEGO TO HOST 2026 NCAA NATIONAL COLLEGIATE CHAMPIONSHIP
In October of 2024 the NCAA announced that UC San Diego will serve as host of the 2026 National Collegiate Championship at Canyonview Aquatic Center. The Tritons last hosted in 2014 as a Division II team. The 2026 event will be the first time they will host as a Division I squad. The NCAA received more than 1,200 bids from member schools, conferences, cities, and sports commissions across 47 states and Washington, D.C., all competing to host predetermined rounds for 87 of the NCAA’s 90 championships. The respective NCAA sports committees selected the sites, with final approval from the divisional competition oversight and championships committees. continue reading
| TRITON ROSTER BREAKDOWN | ||
| Returners (21) | Newcomers (6) | Lost (8) |
| Landon Akerstrom, Jr., Attacker | Kyson Becker, Fr., Attacker | Rhys Bugelli, Utility |
| Razvan Alistar, RS-Fr., Utility | Jackson Boettner, Fr., Attacker | Logan Estes, Goalie |
| Liam Amburgey, RS-Fr., Attacker | Dusan Djordjevic, Fr., Utility | Parker George, Goalie |
| Bennett Axline, Sr., Utility | Caleb Harrison, Fr., Utility | Augi Macchi, Utility |
| Jaime Bhattacharyya, RS-So., Utility | Winston Loh, Sr., Goalie | Trevor Moore, Utility |
| Finn Bugelli, Jr., Utility | Davidka Skov, Fr., Utility | Collin Tournat, Attacker |
| Ante Buzov, Sr., Utility | Nikita Valajev, Goalie | |
| Felipe Ferreira, Grad, Attacker | Matthew Wastila, Attacker | |
| Brendon Fezzey, Sr., Utility | ||
| Christian Hammonds, So., Attacker | ||
| Cole Harman, RS-Fr., Attacker | ||
| Alex Hegeman, RS-Fr., Goalie | ||
| Eamon Hennessey, Sr., Utility | ||
| Grant Kurtz, So., Attacker | ||
| Mark Laurlund, Jr., Utility | ||
| Reef Lippa, RS-Jr., Attacker | ||
| Mason Presley, Jr., Attacker | ||
| Luca Rago, Sr., Utility | ||
| Nolan Roberts, Jr., Attacker | ||
| Lucas Romaguera, Sr., Attacker | ||
| Lachlan Rossi, So., Utility |
| 2024 BIG WEST STANDINGS (Final) |
||
| Team | Big West | Overall |
|---|---|---|
| UC Irvine | 5-0 | 18-9 |
| UC San Diego | 3-2 | 17-12 |
| UC Davis | 3-2 | 10-14 |
| UC Santa Barbara | 2-3 | 15-12 |
| Long Beach State | 2-3 | 20-10 |
| Cal State Fullerton | 0-5 | 11-18 |
BIG WEST MEN’S WATER POLO
In 2023, the Big West sponsored men’s water polo again following a 32-year hiatus. The conference previously offered the sport from 1984-91. Joining the Tritons in the conference are Cal State Fullerton, Long Beach State, UC Davis, UC Irvine, and UC Santa Barbara. With six teams, the conference qualifies for an automatic berth in the NCAA’s National Collegiate Championship. UC San Diego hosted the first Big West Championship in 2023, which was won by UC Irvine. Original members of the Big West included Fresno State, Long Beach State, Pacific, Pepperdine, UC Irvine, and UC Santa Barbara. Two Big West programs boast national championships while competing in the conference, with UC Santa Barbara claiming the Division I men’s water polo title in 1979 while UC Irvine took home the top prize in 1982 and 1989.
| ACWPC NATIONAL POLL (TBA) | 2025 CWPA NATIONAL POLL (Preseason) | 2025 BIG WEST COACHES’ PRESEASON POLL |
| – | 1. UCLA | 1. Long Beach State, 29 (5) |
| – | 2. Stanford | 2. UC San Diego, 20 (1) |
| – | t-3. Fordham | 3. UC Irvine, 18 |
| – | t-3. USC | 4. UC Davis, 13 |
| – | 5. Pacific | 5.UC Santa Barbara, 9 |
| – | 6. Princeton | 6. Cal State Fullerton, 6 |
| – | 7. California | |
| – | t-8.Long Beach State | 2025 BIG WEST COACHES’ PRESEASON TEAM |
| – | t-8. Pepperdine | Gabi Acosta, Long Beach State |
| – | t-8. UC Irvine | Landon Akerstrom, UC San Diego |
| – | 11. UC San Diego | Felipe Ferreira, UC San Diego |
| – | 12. UC Davis | Caleb Francisco, Long Beach State |
| – | 13. San Jose State | Thomas Kiesling, UC Davis |
| – | 14. UC Santa Barbara | Luka Krstic, UC Irvine |
| – | 15. Harvard | Jack Stevens, UC Irvine |
| – | 16. California Baptist | Brock Zamanian, UC Santa Barbara |
| – | 17. Santa Clara | |
| – | 18. Brown | |
| – | 19. Loyola Marymount | |
| – | 20. Navy | |
| UCSD: TBD | UCSD: 12 |
THEY CALL HIM USHA
UC San Diego is led by fourth-year head coach Matt “Usha” Ustaszewski, who took over in 2022 when Denny Harper retired after 42 years at the helm. Ustaszewski earned his first victory as head coach on Sept. 3, 2022, as the Tritons defeated La Verne, 22-8, in the team’s season opener during the Triton Invitational. In 2021, Ustaszewski completed his ninth season as associate head coach and 12th season overall on the UC San Diego men’s water polo staff. Usha is no stranger to the La Jolla campus. He was a co-captain of the fifth-ranked Triton water polo team as a senior in 2003 under the tutelage of Harper. He graduated in 2004, completing his bachelor’s degree in history (Europe emphasis) with a 3.5 grade-point average. For Usha’s complete bio, click here.
| Season | Wins | Losses | Pct. | Conference/Finish | Wins | Losses | Pct. | Highest NCAA Rank |
| 2024 | 17 | 12 | .586 | Big West/2nd of 6 | 3 | 2 | .600 | 11 (ACWPC), 10 (CWPA) |
| 2023 | 17 | 13 | .567 | Big West/3rd of 6 | 3 | 2 | .600 | 9 (ACWPC), 9 (CWPA) |
| 2022 | 14 | 13 | .519 | WWPA/3rd of 8 | 6 | 2 | .750 | 10 (CWPA) |
| Totals | 48 | 38 | .558 | – | – | – | .- | – |
WHY THE TRITONS
The Triton is described as the offspring of Poseidon and Amphitrite, a demigod of the sea with a lower part of the body like that of a fish. It is known as a mighty and fierce sea warrior. Given UC San Diego’s close proximity to the Pacific Ocean and its connections with the world-famous Scripps Institution of Oceanography, the Triton became UC San Diego’s mascot in 1964.
FOR THE YOUNGER FANS
Have some young Triton fans in your family? If they are in eighth grade or under, check out the Junior Triton Club! Membership includes a free t-shirt, admission to over 100 UC San Diego home athletic events, and much more!
About UC San Diego Athletics
After two decades as one of the most successful programs in NCAA Division II, the UC San Diego intercollegiate athletics program began a new era in 2020 as a member of The Big West in NCAA Division I. The 23-sport Tritons earned 30 team and nearly 150 individual national championships during its time in Divisions II and III and helped guide 1,400 scholar-athletes to All-America honors. A total of 84 Tritons have earned Academic All-America honors, while 38 have earned prestigious NCAA Post Graduate Scholarships. UC San Diego scholar-athletes exemplify the academic ideals of one of the world’s preeminent institutions, graduating at an average rate of 91 percent, one of the highest rates among institutions at all divisions.
After transferring to South Carolina prior to the 2025 season, defensive back Myles Norwood will enter the transfer portal in hopes of finishing his last year of eligibility elsewhere next fall. Norwood began his career at Iowa State, transferred to Ball State, and then to South Carolina. He will be looking for his fourth home this offseason.
Norwood was a collegiate track star turned defensive back in his college career. His journey began at Iowa Western Community College where he was a track and field participant for the Reivers. Following his freshman year in track he moved on to Iowa State to play for then head coach Matt Campbell (now Penn State). He spent two seasons with the cyclones appearing in just one game against West Virginia in 2022. In 2024, he transferred to New Mexico State in February, but never played for the Aggies before transferring to Ball State just three months later.
At Ball State, Norwood appeared in all 12 games for the Cardinals making seven starts. He was credited with with 38 tackles including 2.0 tackles for loss, one fumble recovery and a team-leading 10 pass breakups. After his breakout season with the Cardinals, Norwood commited to the Gamecocks for the 2025 season. He appeared in 10 games, with two starts, in his time in Columbia as he racked up 19 total tackles this past season.
Updated Transfer Portal Tracker
In addition to Norwood, 11 other Gamecocks have entered the portal so far with the offensive line room taking the biggest hit. That list includes OL Tree Babalade, OL Cason Henry, WR Brian Rowe Jr., QB Air Noland, OL Mac Walters, OL Nick Sharpe, OL Trovon Baugh, DL Zavian Hardy, LB Jaron Willis, LB Taeshawn Alston, and K Peyton Argent.
A few others have already declared their move to the 2026 NFL Draft. Wide receiver Jared Brown was the latest to make his intentions known. He joins defensive tackle Monkell Goodwine, defensive tackle Nick Barrett, and defensive end Bryan Thomas Jr. as those entering their names in the 2026 NFL Draft, with tight end Jordan Dingle expected to be the next name as his eligibility is out.
Join the community:
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By Jeff Bowe, TTU Athletics Media Relations
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee Tech (6-7, 1-1) men’s basketball plays its final game of 2025 against Tennessee State (7-5, 1-1) at Hooper Eblen Center at 7:30 p.m. CT on Tuesday, Dec. 30.
The Golden Eagles return to the hardwood after an extended break for the holidays to face the Tigers. TSU has won five of the last seven games but most recently fell, 91-82, to SEMO, opening OVC competition 1-1. Tech has won three of the last four games and opened conference play with an 85-74 victory over SEMO, then fell to UT Martin (L, 62-86).
TTU enters today’s game 4-2 at home this season with wins over SEMO, Bethel (101-69), Berea (86-64), and Va. Lynchburg (118-58), and losses to West Ga. (L, 59-61) and UT Martin (L, 62-86).
GAME INFORMATION
Matchup: Tennessee Tech (6-7, 1-1 OVC) vs. Tennessee State (7-5, 1-1 OVC)
Date & Time: Tuesday, Dec. 30 at 7:30 p.m. CT
Venue: Hooper Eblen Center
Watch: ESPN+ | Dylan Vazzano (PxP) and Frank Harrell (Analyst)
Radio: 106.1 The Eagle | Noah McKay (PxP) and Jacob Vinson (Analyst)
Promotion: Purple Haze – WEAR PURPLE!
INSIDE THE SERIES
Overall: TSU leads, 41-39
In Cookeville: Tech leads, 23-17
In Nashville: TSU leads, 18-22
Neutral sites: TSU leads 2-0
Current Streak: TTU won 1
Last Meeting: TTU won 77-74 in Cookeville (Feb. 22, 2025)
TECH NOTES
Dani Pounds leads Tech in scoring, averaging 12.5 points per game (19th in OVC), and Mekhi Cameron is second on the team with 12.2 points per game (20th in OVC). Pounds is fourth in the OVC in free-throw percentage, shooting 84.1 from the line. Pounds leads the Golden Eagles in rebounds with 4.8 per game (20th in OVC).
JaJuan Nicholls is second on the team in rebounds per game (4.7), which is 23rd in the conference.
Tennessee Tech’s 118 points against Va. Lynchburg (W, 118-58, 11/10/25) mark the third-most points scored in a single game by an OVC team this season.
Ty Owens is second in the OVC with 4.2 assists per game (54 total). Nicholls is tied for fifth in the conference in blocks per game (1.2) and fourth in the OVC in total blocks (16).
The Golden Eagles are second in the conference in points per game (79.7), as well as fourth in the conference in scoring margin (3.5). TTU holds the second-best shooting percentage in the OVC (47.0, 365-777), making three fewer shots than the conference leaders (Lindenwood, 47.4).
OPPONENT NOTES
Tennessee State (7-5, 1-1) leads the all-time series 41-39 as the teams split the last two matchups during the 2024-25 season.
The Tigers are coming off a hard-fought 91–82 loss to Southeast Missouri at the Gentry Center, while the Golden Eagles also enter the contest following a defeat.
The game marks the return to action for both programs after a 10-day break. Tennessee State will open the 2026 calendar year on the road at Little Rock on Saturday, Jan. 3.
Aaron Nkrumah leads the Tigers in scoring with 17.0 points per game, averaging 4.8 rebounds per contest and 2.6 assists per game. Travis Harper II is second on the team with 15.8 points per game, and Dante Harris is third on the squad per contest with 12.6 points on average.
PURCHASE TICKETS
Tickets for Tennessee Tech Men’s Basketball are on sale now – call (931) 372-3940, visit the Hooper Eblen Center ticket office, or order online at TTUsports.com.
FOLLOW THE GOLDEN EAGLES
Fans can be sure to follow the Golden Eagles men’s basketball team on X (@TTU_Basketball), Instagram (TTUMBB), and Facebook (TTU MBB) for all of the news, notes, and updates.
Helms, a transfer from Texas A&M, bested his previous Heptathlon score of 5394 which he earned at the Stan Scott Invite and Multis taking place on Jan. 30-Feb. 1, hosted by Texas Tech. He has had immense success in the Key City, posting three different splits at the Red Raider open in the 60m hurdles (8.30), 4x400m (3:16.21, 49.27 split) and pole vault (16-2/4.93m).
At the Mountain West Outdoor Track and Field Championships, Robertson has etched herself in the record books. At the NCAA Outdoor National Championships, she recorded the best finish by a Bronco since the 2022 campaign by finishing 53rd in a field of 254 total runners.
Robertson was the first Bronco woman to earn All-America honors in the 1,500 since 2019 (Emma Bates). Hanna Ackermann also posted a top finish while in Eugene. Ackermann recorded a time of 9:54.21 in the steeplechase. The time was the third-fastest time in Boise State history.
Helms registered a score of 7,696 in the decathlon. His mark ranks third in Boise State school history and improved his previous mark in the decathlon at the 2025 Mountain West Outdoor Track and Field Championships which were hosted by Fresno State in Clovis, California.
Dec. 28, 2025, 10:54 a.m. ET
The 2025 Palm Beach Post All-County teams are here!
The Palm Beach County High School Sports Awards is proud to announce the Player of the Year nominees for small school volleyball.
Player of the Year winners will be announced at the South Florida Fair in a live ceremony on Saturday, Jan. 24. Nominees will be able to register to attend for free, thanks to sponsors. For more information about the show, please reach out to deputy sports editor Eric J. Wallace (ejwallace@pbpost.com).
Dec. 28, 2025, 10:54 a.m. ET
The 2025 Palm Beach Post All-County teams are here!
The Palm Beach County High School Sports Awards is proud to announce the Player of the Year nominees for large school volleyball.
Player of the Year winners will be announced at the South Florida Fair in a live ceremony on Saturday, Jan. 24. Nominees will be able to register to attend for free, thanks to sponsors. For more information about the show, please reach out to deputy sports editor Eric J. Wallace (ejwallace@pbpost.com).
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