Bronx, N.Y. – (July 1, 2014) – Fordham water polo coach
Bill Harris announced his recruiting class on Tuesday with the addition of eight student-athletes for the 2014 season.
The recruiting class includes
Jacob Alexander (New Canaan, Conn./New Canaan),
Bryce Charles (San Diego, Calif./Westview),
Matthew Farrell (Irvine, Calif./Northwood),
Alex Jahns (Greenwich, Conn./Greenwich),
Grant Keesling (Chesterfield, Mo./Parkway West),
Cameron Shewchuck (Glenview, Ill./Loyola Academy),
Ethan Vandeventer (Los Angeles, Calif./Flintridge Prep), and
Alon Yoeli (Carmel, Calif./Carmel).
"I look forward to working with the class of 2018. All of these talented athletes are from strong programs and bring additional size and speed to our program. Their addition will make training sessions more intense and competitive. The team will have more depth this season as the freshmen adapt to the college game," said Harris.
Charles, a 6-4 goalkeeper, was a four-year varsity water polo player for Westview High School in San Diego. A team co-captain, he was the Palomar League Player of the Year as a senior, setting the school's all-time single season saves record with 333, as well as the career saves record with 900, which ranks ninth all-time in the San Diego Section of the CIF. He was also at two-time All-Palomar League selection (First Team – senior year; Second Team – junior year) as well as the team's defensive player of the year. A 2013 USA Water Polo Academic All-American, Charles competed for the San Diego Shores for club water polo under coach Tim Reed. In 2013, he helped the 18U team to a top 20 overall finish at the Junior Olympics, while in 2012 he led the 16U team to a silver medal at the CalCup State finals.
Keesling, a 6-3 driver, was a four-year varsity water polo player at Parkway West High School in Ballwin, Missouri, helping them to state championships in 2012 and 2014 and third place finishes in 2011 and 2013. A team captain as a senior, he was a two-time All-State (3
rd Team – senior; Honorable Mention – junior) and All-Conference selection (1
st team – senior; 2
nd team – junior). In the 2014 state championship game, he was selected as the Prepcast Player of the Game. He also competed for the varsity swimming team, earning All-State honors twice and was a school record holder in the medley relay. Keesling also competed for Mad Dog Water Polo at the club level, qualifying for the Junior Olympics from 2011-14 and was the Midwest Champion in 2013 competition.
Away from the pool, Keesling is a member of the National, Math, and Science Honor Societies, serving as president of the Math Honor Society. He also received the MSHSAA Sportmanship Award and finished in the top 10% of his class.
Shewchuck, a 6-0 driver/2M defender, was a multi-sport athlete at Loyola Academy in Wilmette, Illinois, playing water polo, swimming, cross country, and baseball during his high school career. He was named the 2014 Illinois Player of the Year for water polo and was a First Team All-State and All-MCAC selection, helping his team to the state championship title. A 2013 NISCA Fourth Team All-American, he also earned Third Team All-State honors as a junior. Shewchuck also played club water polo for the Glenbrook Gators.
Vandeventer, a 5-11 driver, was a four-year water polo player and swimmer at Flintridge Prep in La Canada, California. A four-time All-Prep League performer, he received First Team honors three times and was a two-year captain of the water polo squad. He was selected to the All-Area Boys Team twice by both the
La Canada Sun (1
st Team – 2013; 2
nd Team – 2012) and the
Pasadena Star News (1
st Team, 2012 & 2013), and was a CIF Division V First Team selection in 2012 and 2013. In swimming, Vandeventer helped Flintridge Prep to Prep League Championship in 2013 and 2014 and set school records in the 200 and 400 freestyle relays. A member of the honor roll, he also played club water polo for Rose Bowl Water Polo from 2008-14 and received the Jody Campbell Sportsmanship Award at the
Speedo Cup.
Yoeli, a 5-8 driver, was a varsity water polo player at Carmel High School in California. He served as team captain and was an All-League and Senior All-Star selection. He received the Monterey Bay League's Best Shooter Award, and was a two-time Most Valuable Offensive Player in 2010 and 2011. A four-year member of the honor roll, Yoeli also played with the current U20 Italian Champions, Circolo Canotierri Napoli, in Italy for ten months.
Alexander, a 5-10 2M defender, is a transfer from Worcester Polytechnic Institute and a graduate of New Canaan High School. He was a member of the varsity swim team at New Caanan, while playing club water polo for the Greenwich Aquatics, where he was the team's defensive MVP. In the classroom, Alexander was an AP Scholar with distinction and received the New Canaan High School Outstanding Achievement in Engineering Award.
Farrell, a 6-4 2M defender, was a four-year varsity water polo player at Northwood High School in Irvine, California. He was a Second Team All-CIF selection after leading Northwood in steals. He was selected as the Athlete of the Week by the
O.C. Register, and was a member of the Northwood Honor Roll.
Jahns, a 6-5 goalkeeper, was a two-year member of the varsity water polo team at Greenwich High School in Connecticut. He received the Most Improved Player Award as a junior. Before Greenwich, he attended Dobbs Ferry High School for two years and played club water polo at the Chelsea Piers, receiving the 2013 Junior Olympics Coaching Award.
