Princeton University Athletics
Men’s Water Polo Opens 2024 Ranked No. 5 in CWPA Preseason Poll
August 23, 2024 | Men's Water Polo
PRINCETON, N.J.- The men's water polo team will start the 2024 season ranked No. 5 in the CWPA Preseason Poll. The Tigers return eight of their top goal scores who led the way to the team's third straight Northeast Water Polo Conference Championship in 2023.
Roko Pozaric became the first Princeton Tiger to be named a Cutino Finalist and First-Team All-American in 2023 after a banner campaign that featured 76 goals, fourth most in program history. The two-time Northeast Water Polo Conference Player of the Year recorded a personal-best 47 assists along with 41 steals, 28 drawn ejections and a 111-9 sprint record. He scored a goal in all but one contest with 22 multi-goal performances.
The Tigers boast a roster loaded with veteran talent including one of the largest senior classes in program history.
One of those seniors is Vladan Mitrovic who was honored with third team All-America accolades in 2023. He set a new personal high with 54 tallies, contributing 22 helpers, 15 steals and 16 blocks. He had 17 multi-goal performances including a hat trick vs. No. 6 UC Irvine and two goals vs. No. 1 UCLA in the NCAA Tournament.
Another returner includes goalie Kristóf Kovács who nabbed Honorable Mention All-America laurels after going 14-4 with a .594 save percentage and 203 stops in 18 games. He had 21 saves in the NWPC Championship in a victory over No. 11 Harvard and has 11 10+ save performances.
Dustin Litvak is set to begin his sixth season as head coach of the program after a program record 28 wins last season.
Princeton will compete in the Navy Invitational to kick off the 2024 campaign on Sept. 6-7.
