Irvine, Calif. – (October 26, 2023) - For the second straight year, USA Water Polo and The Olympic Club are excited to collaborate with the Association of Collegiate Water Polo Coaches (ACWPC) on the Cutino Award Watch List. The Peter J. Cutino Award, named in honor of the late Hall of Fame coach, recognizes the best player in men's and women's college water polo. Among those listed is Fordham's George Papanikolaou (Athens, Greece).
 
This watch list was created in 2022 in an effort to help promote the college game, awareness of the honor, and the excellent play of athletes around the country. 
 
In no particular order, 20 athletes, as submitted by varsity college coaches around the country, are recognized for their outstanding play. The top 20 athletes are represented below and are listed in alphabetical order. While it's possible the 2024 Cutino Award winner will come from the list of athletes below, this list of honorees is completely independent from the nomination and voting process of the Cutino Award as that honor will acknowledge the full impact of the 2023 season.

Athletes are listed in alphabetical order:
 
Caden Capobianco | United States Naval Academy | Senior | Goalkeeper
Max Casabella | University of California, Berkeley | Junior | Attacker
Massimo Di Martire | University of Southern California | Graduate | Attacker
Viktor Jovanovic | George Washington University | Senior | Center
Nikola Krstonosic | Salem University | Junior | Utility
Jack Larsen | University of California, Los Angeles | R-Senior | Attacker
Robert Lopez Duart | Long Beach State University | Freshman | Attacker
Max Miller | University of Southern California | Senior | 2M Defender
Jackson Painter | Stanford University | Senior | Attacker
George Papanikolaou | Fordham University | Junior | Attacker
Nikolaos Papanikolaou | University of California, Berkeley | Senior | Center
Roko Pozaric | Princeton University | Junior | Attacker
Rafael Real Vergara | University of California, Los Angeles | Senior | Attacker
James Rozolis-Hill | Harvard University | Sophomore | Utility
Ilias Stothart | Brown University | Sophomore | Center
Laszlo Strasser | Wagner College | Sophomore | Attacker
Bence Szabo | San Jose State University | Junior | Center
Caleb Teraoka | California Baptist University | Senior | Attacker
Adrian Weinberg | University of California, Berkeley | Senior | Goalkeeper
Aaron Wilson | University of California, Davis | R-Senior | Goalkeeper
 
With Papanikolaou's inclusion, it marks the second consecutive year that Fordham has had a player on the initial watch list, joining Nir Gros last year.
 
A 2022 ACWPC Honorable Mention All-America selection, Papanikolaou has already crossed the 100-point mark in 2023 for the third consecutive season with 50 goals and 60 assists for 110 points.  He ranks second on the Rams in goals, while being the team leader in assists and points.  He also has 32 steals which is tied for second on the squad to go with eight field blocks. Since 1980, Papanikolaou just recently passed Rick Sweeney (1984-87) for second on the Rams' career assists (186) and points (366), behind only Jake Miller-Tolt (220 assists & 571 points).
 
Papanikolaou and the rest of the nationally ranked Fordham water polo team will next be in action on Saturday, October 28^th, when the Rams host George Washington at 11:00 AM and Mt. St. Mary's at 6:00 PM at the Col. Francis B. Messmore Aquatic Center.