USA Water Polo announces 2026 Cutino Award Watch List

USA Water Polo and The Olympic Club, in collaboration with the Association of Collegiate Water Polo Coaches (ACWPC), have announced the 2026 Cutino Award Watch List. The list recognizes 20 men's collegiate water polo athletes for their outstanding play, as voted on by coaches from various universities including Stanford, UCLA, and Harvard.

Among the recognized athletes is Riccardo De Simon, a junior utility player from Santa Clara University. De Simon, a native of Italy, has recorded 158 career goals and 141 steals. He is the third player from Santa Clara to be named to the watch list in the last three seasons.

The Peter J. Cutino Award honors the best players in men's and women's college water polo. While the watch list highlights top performers, it remains independent from the final nomination and voting process for the award.