If all goes well in the upcoming months, former University of Redlands standout Ryan Hall (Bellevue, WA) can check off one more thing from his list of athletic accomplishments: going pro.

As if his water polo career wasn’t decorated enough.

After red-shirting at the University of California, Berkeley, Hall transferred to Redlands and made an immediate impact for the maroon and gray. He garnered First Team All-Conference and First Team All-American honors in his first season of action.

Hall continued this successful trend throughout his Bulldog career, standing as the only Redlands men’s water polo player in the history of the program to win four First Team All-Conference honors and four First Team All-American accolades.

Following his senior season at Redlands, Hall told his parents that he wasn’t done with water polo. By utilizing various coaching contacts that he had made throughout the years, he put the word out that he wanted to play professionally. The coaches pledged their support and passed on Hall’s resume.

Then, the father of fellow First Team All-American Andrew Becskehazy talked to a close friend at Budapesti Vasutas Sports Club (BVSC), an established professional water polo club in Budapest, Hungary. He learned that BVSC coveted a young player of Hall’s size and position. BVSC subsequently asked Hall to train and try out for the team.

“Andrew’s dad, Paul, played for the U.S. National Team and had contacts in Hungary,” Hall said. “He gave my information to a coach over there; it was sort of through word of mouth.”

Hungarian water polo differs from the American professional sport leagues in that athletes are not drafted but are instead given a chance to try out with the team.

“At the end of the five or six weeks before the season starts, if I’m a good fit [for the team], I’ll sign a contract,” Hall said. “I would officially be on the team after that.”

On July 30, he will depart for Hungary, where water polo is second only to soccer in sports of national importance. Training begins in August.

Water polo in Hungary is similar in competitiveness and popularity to baseball in the United States. Hungary has won the gold medal at the Olympic Games in water polo in 1932, 1936, 1952, 1956, 1964, 1976, 2000, and most recently at the 2004 games in Athens, Greece. The majority of BVSC is comprised of native Hungarians.

“Hungary is the upper echelon of countries playing water polo,” Hall said. “When [the opportunity in] Hungary came along, I knew it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”

But Hall will encounter a few barriers along the way as he is the sole American that will try out for a place on BVSC’s squad.

“From what I understand, most of the guys speak a little bit of English,” Hall said. “They know the basics like ‘pass’ and ‘shoot.’ Our coach is also a professor at a university in Budapest, so he speaks English well. Hungarian is a hard language to learn, so it’ll be interesting.”

Hall’s size impressed the coaches, which is one of the reasons why they are letting him try out for the team without seeing him play in person. But size, he says, isn’t the be-all and end-all. He’ll still have to compete against some of the best water polo athletes in the world.

“I definitely have a height advantage,” he said. “Size helps, but it definitely isn’t the deciding factor. The guys that I’ll be competing with are so talented and skilled, but it definitely helps me stand out a little bit.”

Before the big departure date, Hall is enjoying his summer at his home in Washington, which is something that he has not done since high school. His past few summers have been in the scorching heat in Redlands, but now he is making up for lost time by catching up with his family and old friends.

He’s not currently working, but his schedule certainly keeps him busy.

“I’m swimming a lot,” Hall said. “I try to swim 5,000 to 6,000 yards every day on top of running on my own. I’ve been eating a ton, too, trying to add size. My strength will come when I’m over there, but for now, I’m focused on endurance and stamina training.”

Hall’s parents, Jay and Carol, continue to be Ryan’s No. 1 fans as he takes his game to the other side of the globe

“We are confident he will make a great impression and, being his parents, be a big star,” Jay said. “At least whatever the outcome, it will be a great experience.”

On September 15, BVSC will start its season, and Hall hopes to make it on the team after weeks of grueling tests. But if he falls short of that goal, he says that he’ll remain optimistic.

“I’m going over there to learn as much as I can,” he said. “If I don’t make it, I can come out with a great experience. I’ll get to travel, and I’ll get to do something different for once.”