This past weekend, the Fordham Men’s water polo team made program history and Fordham athletic history at the NCAA men’s water polo championship.
The team traveled to sunny California to play in the final tournament of their season at Stanford University. Their opening win in the quarterfinals and appearance in the tournament’s semifinals marked historic finishes in Fordham’s athletic history.
The Rams punched their ticket to the NCAA Championship by securing their fourth consecutive Mid-Atlantic Water Polo Conference (MAWPC) Championship title on Nov. 24 with their 18-11 win against the United States Naval Academy.
Jacopo Parrella, Gabelli School of Business at Rose Hill (GSBRH) ’25, was awarded the Most Valuable Player of the MAWPC championship and joined teammates Thomas Lercari, Fordham College at Rose Hill (FCRH) ’25; Barnabas Eppel, GSBRH ’27; and Luca Silvestri, GSBRH ’25; on the All-Championship First Team, with honorable mention James Oriskovich, Gabelli Graduate School of Business ’25.
The Rams punched their ticket to the NCAA Championship by securing their fourth consecutive Mid-Atlantic Water Polo Conference (MAWPC) Championship title on Nov. 24 with their 18-11 win against the United States Naval Academy.
Fordham arrived at the NCAA tournament on Dec. 6 as one of the only non-California schools besides Salem University and Princeton University. For Parrella, he said there was something incredibly exciting about being able to represent the East Coast in California.
“It was an honor. The atmosphere and the environment was definitely something that as an East (Coast) team we never experienced,” Parrella said. “But, at the same time we were super excited and super proud to represent our coast and our school.”
The NCAA tournament began for the Rams with their first game Friday night against California State University-Long Beach. The sharp-shooting talent of the Fordham squad highlighted by Andras Toth’s, GSBRH ’28, game-high four goals; Luca Provenziani, FCRH ’28; George Papanikolaou, GSBRH ’25; and Silvestri all with hat tricks, and one goal each from Lucas Nieto Jasny, FCRH ’25; Balazs Berenyi, GSBRH ’26; and Parrella, led the team to the programs first-ever NCAA victory.
“The atmosphere and the environment was definitely something that as an East (Coast) team we never experienced,” Jacopo Parrella, GSBRH ’25
The exciting win against the Sharks sent the Rams into the semi-finals against the University of Southern California (USC).
The appearance was the farthest any Fordham athletic team had ever gone in an NCAA tournament, an achievement the team was proud to bring home to the Fordham athletic history books.
“It was just incredible to achieve something like that and get into the semifinal,” Parrella said.
Unfortunately, the Rams’ incredible season came to a close with their loss in overtime to USC in the semi-finals of the NCAA water polo championship. Their season ended with a 32-1 record; the loss on Saturday was their first of the season. Despite the game’s outcome, the teams’ play this season has been nothing short of impressive. Parrella reflected on all the team has to be proud of and all the historic moments they have worked for this year.
The appearance was the farthest any Fordham athletic team had ever gone in an NCAA tournament, an achievement the team was proud to bring home to the Fordham athletic history books.
“I was happy no matter what at the end,” Parrella said. “I was happy even before the game, because of everything that we have accomplished.”
The team’s historic season has cemented them as one of the top water polo powerhouses in the nation. Every game, they have put on an impressive display of pure talent and all the hard work the team has put into placing themselves in that status that is so often dominated by California programs.
With the end of the season, the Rams say goodbye to their senior class, Lercari, Nieto Jasny, FCRH ’25, as well as Papanikolaou, Parrella, Silvestri, Gabriel Melilloi, Paul Armingol and Mark Katsev, all GSBRH ’25. This group of seniors provided the team with both welded experience and incredible talent. The bond the seniors have struck throughout their time together has made them a family.
“It was more than just a group of players, it was a group of friends, a group of brothers. Most of us are internationals. So, since the first day here at Fordham, we helped each other with school, with English and with everything possible,” Parrella said. “I was so proud to be part of that and I know that they are too. And then again, I’m happy because at the end, win or lose, what is going to keep is that friendship.”
The team’s historic season has cemented them as one of the top water polo powerhouses in the nation.
The support from the Fordham community helped carry the team through their historic season. Several watch parties were held at the Rose Hill campus to support the Rams and watch both games of the NCAA tournament.
University President Tania Tetlow took to Instagram, posting a story on her personal account to support the team. After their loss in the final four, she sent a university wide email congratulating the Rams on such an outstanding season.
“This weekend, Fordham showed California what The Bronx can do,” Tetlow wrote in an email. “They made us so proud.”
The Rams are grateful to have the support of the greater Fordham community.
“A big thanks to all our supporters. We want them to know that they are part of our family and that they were part of our team since the first day,” Parrella said.
As the Rams place this season in the history books, all those who have followed them this year can only patiently wait to see what the future holds for Fordham water polo.
