Denny Harper, the former UC San Diego water polo coach, was inducted into the USA Water Polo Hall of Fame, marking a significant recognition of his 42-year coaching career. During his tenure, Harper led the Tritons to 942 combined wins, overseeing both the men’s (697-496-4 record) and women’s teams, and earning multiple coaching accolades for his excellence. Under his leadership, the Tritons showcased consistent championship performance, including a historic NCAA Final Four appearance as the first Division III team in 1995. The ceremony highlighted Harper among four other distinguished individuals in water polo, celebrating his legacy in the sport.

By the Numbers

• 42 years coaching UC San Diego water polo
• 942 total victories (men’s and women’s teams combined)
• 17-time ACWPC National Coach of the Year
• 19-time WWPA Coach of the Year
• 15 NCAA Championship appearances for the Tritons

State of Play

• UC San Diego transitioned to NCAA Division I in 2020, enhancing its competitive landscape.
• The Tritons have maintained a strong academic record, graduating at an average rate of 91% among scholar-athletes.

What’s Next

As a Hall of Fame inductee, Harper’s influence may continue to inspire current and future coaches and players in water polo, potentially increasing interest and participation in the sport at various levels. His legacy contributes to UC San Diego’s reputation, potentially attracting talent and resources to strengthen the program further.

Bottom Line

Denny Harper’s induction into the USA Water Polo Hall of Fame cements his impact on the sport, representing decades of dedication and achievement that not only shaped his teams but also the broader landscape of water polo. This recognition serves as a powerful reminder of the lasting contributions made by educators and coaches in fostering athletic excellence.

Track & Field | 6/14/2025 11:38:00 PM

EUGENE, Ore. – The 2025 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships at the University of Oregon’s Hayward Field ended on Saturday with junior North Carolina A&T Spirit Morgan proving she is one of the 10 best high jumpers in the nation.

The second day of competition at the NCAA nationals included the women going after event national championships, which included two Aggies. Morgan competed in the high jump, and junior teammate Olivia Dowd competed in the triple jump.

On Saturday, Morgan finished in a ninth-place tie with Southern Utah’s Aja Hughes at 6 feet, ½ inches. For her efforts, Morgan will earn second-team All-American honors. It tops off a fantastic season for the University of Cincinnati transfer. Before coming to A&T, Morgan qualified for the NCAA Division I East Preliminary Round twice at Cincinnati.

She came to A&T and won the 2025 Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) indoor title in the high jump by jumping 5 feet, 10 inches. She jumped into the top five nationally during the outdoor season when she jumped 6 feet at A&T’s Aggie Invitational at Marcus T. Johnson Track on April 19. A month later, she won the CAA outdoor high jump title with a personal record of 6 feet, ¾ inches.

On Saturday, Georgia’s Elena Kulichenko won the national title in the high jump, clearing the bar at 6 feet, 5 inches. Morgan joins men’s 400-meter hurdler Xzaviah Taylor as the only two Aggies to earn second-team All-American honors after NCAA nationals.

Meanwhile, Dowd, the first A&T women’s track and field athlete to qualify for outdoor nationals in the women’s triple jump, placed 23rd on Saturday with her best leap measured at 40 feet, 10 ½ inches. After a foul on her first jump, Dowd went out to 39 feet, 7 ¾ inches before her final jump.

Two weeks ago, she jumped a personal-record 43 feet, 4 ½ inches at East Prelims to qualify for nationals. Dowd also won the CAA outdoor triple jump title in May at Marcus T. Johnson Track. The Aggies completed a season where the men won the CAA indoor and outdoor track and field championships. The men’s and the women’s programs combined to qualify 24 student-athletes for the East Prelims before qualifying 11 for NCAA nationals.

The women also had some first. They qualified for two student-athletes for throw events at the East Prelims for the first time in program history. They had a thrower – Julieth Nwosu – qualify for two throwing events at regionals for the first time in program history.

EUGENE, Ore. — Buoyed by top performances in the hammer throw, high jump and 400 meters, the Georgia women’s track and field squad distanced itself from the opposition and cruised to its first outdoor national championship in team history.

Georgia lapped the field with 73 points ahead of runners-up USC (47) and third place Texas A&M (43). Fourth-year Bulldogs coach Caryl Smith Gilbert also won national titles at USC in 2018 and 2021.

Samirah Moody won the 100-meter dash and Madison Whyte and Dajaz DeFrand went 2-3 in the 200 to lead USC.

USC placed first in the 4×100 relay with a time of 42.22 seconds.

In the 100, Moody took first with a time of 11.14 seconds while teammates DeFrand and Brianna Selby finished seventh and eighth, respectively. In the 200, Whyte, a sophomore who also anchored the 4×400 team, clocked in at 22.23 while DeFrand, a junior, finished at 22.39.

Olympic gold medalist Aaliyah Butler and Dejanea Oakley of Georgia took the first two spots in the 400 meters with Butler posting a 49.26 and Oakley a 49.65. Butler’s time was the fifth best all-time for a collegian and Oakley was eighth.

The Bulldogs expanded their lead when Elena Kulichenko won the high jump for the second straight year after tying for the title last year. The Odessa, Russia, native won with a jump of 6 feet, 5 inches.

Michelle Smith, a freshman, finished third in the 400 meter hurdles at 55.20 to clinch the team title. Skylynn Townsend took sixth in the triple jump at 44-4¼.

Georgia ended the night by finishing first in the 4×400-meter relay with Butler taking the lead in the final leg with a winning time of 3:23.62. The Trojans posted a third-place finish in the 4×400 relay with a time of 3:26.01. UCLA’s team finished seventh at 3:31.14.

The Bulldogs entered Saturday competition in the lead with 26 points after Stephanie Ratcliffe won the hammer throw on Thursday with a nation-leading distance of 234 feet, 2 inches.

Washington and USC shared the lead earlier Saturday night after Washington’s Sophie O’Sullivan won the 1,500 meters and Moody took the 100, but Georgia got 18 points from Butler and Oakley and never looked back.

Georgia also got points in the javelin with a second-place finish from freshman Manuela Rotundo and a fourth-place finish from Lianna Davidson. Senior Keslie Murrell-Ross finished sixth in the shot put.

Lincoln, Nebraska— While college baseball crowns its champion locally here in Nebraska, across the country, Husker track and field athletes made their mark at the NCAA Outdoor Championships in Eugene, Oregon, with a wave of All-America performances by both men and women.

Men’s Highlights:

In the high jump, senior Tyus Wilson capped off his Husker career in style, clearing 2.20 meters (7 feet, 2 1/2 inches) to finish sixth nationally and earn First Team All-America honors.

Freshman Desire Tonye-Nyemeck also impressed in his NCAA Championship debut, clearing 2.15 meters (7-0 1/2) to land on the Second Team All-America list. The performance hints at a bright future for the young athlete.

Veteran thrower Maxwell Otterdahl showed his versatility by earning All-America Honorable Mention recognition in both shot put and discus. He threw 18.55 meters (60-10 1/2) in shot put and followed it with a 57.07-meter (187-3) effort in discus.

In the javelin, Nebraska placed three athletes in the top 15 nationally.

Keyshawn Strachan, a junior, launched a 76.44-meter (250-9) throw to place fifth overall, securing First Team All-America honors.

Arthur Petersen, a senior from Denmark, claimed seventh place with a throw of 75.50 meters (247-8), also earning First Team All-America status.

Dash Simon, a junior from Walla Walla, Washington, landed in 14th place with a 69.17-meter (226-11) mark, good for Second Team All-America honors.

Women’s Highlights:

The Husker women also shined, particularly in the javelin.

Senior Maddie Harris closed out her collegiate career with a standout performance, finishing fifth in the nation with a 58.36-meter (191-6) throw to earn First Team All-America honors.

Fellow senior Eniko Sara landed on the Second Team All-America list after recording a 52.18-meter (171-2) effort.

In the shot put, sophomore Kellyn Kortemeyer made her NCAA debut memorable, earning All-America Honorable Mention after a 16.58-meter (54-4 3/4) throw.

Senior Kalynn Meyer also claimed Honorable Mention recognition with a 17th-place finish in the same event.

Nebraska’s blend of veteran leadership and rising talent left its mark on the national stage, capping off a successful track and field season.

Dear friends of HaBaWaBa, 

Bruno Cufino, President of Waterpolo Development.

as president of Waterpolo Development I’m glad to start the 2025 edition of world’s biggest waterpolo event for kids. Also this year, HaBaWaBa International Festival and HaBaWaBa International Festival PLUS are bringing little players from all 5 continents to Bella Italia & EFA Village in Lignano Sabbiadoro: we have 147 teams participating, 15 nations are represented. The uniqueness of HaBaWaBa lies precisely in its global nature, here kids can meet, play and make friends with other children who fell in love with waterpolo, coming from different countries. Once again, kids are going to learn that sport is a universal language that breaks down all kinds of barriers.  

I also would like to extend a special greeting to the girls who will participate in the U13 female tournament: Waterpolo Development has worked hard to strengthen this competition and is pleased to have more than doubled the number of participating teams compared to the last edition. Waterpolo needs girls and women in order to grow, IOC has also understand this: at the next Olympic Games in Los Angeles 2028, for the first time the number of women teams will be the same as the number of men teams (12). My hope is that some of our HaBaWaBa girls will be able to participate in the Olympics sooner or later: it has already happened in Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024, where as many as 21 players who had been to HaBaWaBa as children took part. 

We call them HaBaWaBa Stars: thanks to the “game of the ball in the water” they have made their bond with waterpolo indissoluble, their love for the sport has enabled them to enthusiastically walk the long road to becoming world-class athletes. And even if there will be no Olympics in their future, I am sure they are going to experience special moments here at HaBaWaBa: it has already happened to tens of thousands of kids!

Before the show starts, I would like you to thank our sponsors – Turbo, Compact Goals, Ossidabile and All Risk Consulenze Assicurative – and the little players’ families, clubs and coaches who brought them here: without them, HaBaWaBa could not be the magical event that it is.

And now, have fun: HaBaWaBa is finally starting!

Bruno Cufino – President of Waterpolo Development

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