REDLANDS, Calif. – Ryan Hall, Head Men's Water Polo Coach at the University of Redlands announced his 2023-24 recruiting class Friday, which includes four transfers and five first years.
"I'm extremely excited to welcome this group of incoming student-athletes to the University of Redlands," Hall explained. "We have a talented mix of incoming first-year students and experienced transfers. I am confident this group will contribute right away and help to build off last season's success."
Let's take a look at this year's incoming class and what Coach Hall had to say about their addition to the program.
Dean Moody (Camarillo, CA)
Cuesta College | Utility | 6'1" | 195 lbs.
Awards: Junior College Western Conference Player of the Year (2022-23) | All-1st Team All-State (2022-23) | 2x 1st Team All-American | Older brother, Drake Moody was a member of the University of Redlands 2022 USA Division III Collegiate National Championship team.
"Dean is an exciting player to watch. Whenever he's out there you get the feeling he is going to make a big play. Dean is fast up and down the pool, creating advantages on the counterattack. He is great at attacking the goal without the ball, and a deadly scorer with the ball in his hands. I expect Dean to be a tough cover for anyone he matches up with, and a headache for opposing coaches to game-plan around."
Nicolas Fedotov (Miami Beach, FL)
Long Beach City College | Attacker | 6'0" | 170 lbs.
Awards: 2x South Coast Conference Champion | 1st Team selection during his time at Long Beach City College | USA Gold Medal Winner at the Maccabi games in Israel | Deans list selection (2022-23)
"Nicky is a great kid that works his tail off in the classroom (Deans list at LBCC) as much as he does in the pool. He has a ton of high-level experience with one of the premier masters teams in the country, Riptide Polo out of Huntington Beach. He's also gained valuable international experience as a member of the USA team that won gold at the 2022 Maccabiah games in Israel. You can put Nicky anywhere in the pool and he'll perform at a high level. He is a worker, with great quickness and speed and is a welcome ball distributor that loves to create for his teammates just as much as he does for himself. He will fit in great with our current style of play."
Aidan Murphy (Placentia, CA)
Mt. SAC | Defender | 6'7" | 230 lbs.
Awards: While at El Dorado HS earned 1st Team All-League and Defensive Player of the Year recognition | At Mt. SAC was a 2x All South Coast Conference selection and was team captain both years he played | His older brother, Liam Murphy was a member of the 2022 USA Division III National Championship team.
"Aidan is a physical presence, and his size and strength is going to bolster our defense and add depth at the center defender position. We're going to rely a lot on Aidan to isolate and control the other teams center, allowing us to get up into opposing teams and establish our press. He's a heady player, you never see him get rattled which is a big part of playing center defender, a position where you expect to get kicked out every game. Aidan is a defensive minded player, but he's also a confident perimeter shooter, and capable of posting up and scoring in front of the goal. Aidan has played two years of college polo at Mt. SAC Junior College, but I believe the ceiling is still high, and I expect him to continue to develop during his time here."
Roberto Barrera (Guanajuato, Mexico)
Westcliff University | Goalkeeper | 6'1" | 180 lbs.
Awards: In 53 games with the Warriors Barrera accumulated 506 saves | NAIA Defensive Player of the Year (2022-23) | Member of the Mexican National team since 2019 | 2022 participant at the Central American and Caribbean Swimming Federation Championship in Barbados (2nd place), and the Central American and Caribbean Games in 2023 (3rd place).
"You can tell right away from talking with Roberto that he is a leader and a great teammate. He is everything you want a goalie to be, communicates well, and is a high IQ player that sees the pool extremely well. Don't be surprised if you see Roberto coaching his own college team one day, he's extremely knowledgeable and his passion for the sport is obvious when he starts to talk polo. Roberto is an active, rostered player on the Mexican National team, and his recent international experience has helped prepare him to be an immediate difference maker on our team and in the SCIAC."
Brady Bumgardner (Laguna Beach, CA)
Laguna Beach High School | Utility | 6'2" | 220 lbs.
Awards: 4x USA Water Polo Academic All-American Outstanding Award | 4x Sunset Conference All-Academic Team Award Winner | Helped lead his team to a 2022 semifinal finish in the Division I CIF playoffs | Varsity swimmer all four years in high school.
"Brady is an outstanding young man. He's one of those guys that you know is going to make the most out of his time in college. He excels academically and graduated above a 4.0. I expect him to continue to be a standout in the classroom as well as the pool here at the U of R. Brady has the potential to help us as a traditional center and as a utility/post-up player where he can use his size and strength to create advantages in front of the goal. When he's not training for polo, Brady serves as a Laguna Beach lifeguard and enjoys spending his free time surfing and being outside. I am confident Brady will be a great addition to the team and to the Bulldog family."
Adam Lambert (Chesterfield, MO)
Parkway West High School | 2-Meter | 6'4" | 220 lbs.
Awards: Missouri Water Polo Player of the Year (2022-23) | 3x All-State Team Selection | 2x All-State Swimmer | Team captain for both his high school Water Polo and Swim Teams | Member of the National Honor Society | University of Redlands Hunsaker Scholarship finalist | Eagle Scout.
"Adam is an exciting prospect with a very high ceiling. He's a big, strong young man, but his size doesn't slow him down - he's one of the faster players we'll have on the roster this season. I don't know that you can find a more well rounded individual. Adam was recently awarded the Missouri player of the year, he is an all-state swimmer, Eagle Scout, member of the National Honor Society, and he played in the marching and symphonic band. Adam was also a finalist for the Hunsaker Scholarship, the highest academic achievement award the University has to offer. I expect big things from Adam these next four years, and we're excited to have him join the Bulldog family."
Ryan Brennen (Carmel, CA)
Carmel High School | Attacker | 6'3" | 200 lbs.
Awards: 2x 1st Team All-PCAL League | Led his team in scoring as a Junior and Senior.
"Ryan is a big, strong left-handed player that has a knack for scoring the ball from all over the pool. He adds depth to our right side, and I fully expect Ryan to develop into a very capable player in the conference. Away from the pool, Ryan volunteers his free time helping coach flag football to community youths and serving as a camp counselor with the Carmel community church. Ryan is a very outgoing young man that I have no doubt will make his mark on the university and water polo program."
Troy Barker (Granite Bay, CA)
Granite Bay High School | Goalkeeper | 6'2" | 180 lbs.
Awards: 1st Team All-Sierra Foothill League | Junior Olympics Nick Johnson Inspirational Award Winner (2022)
"You only have to spend a few minutes talking to Troy before you pick up on his positive energy. He's just a great guy to be around. Troy only started playing water polo as a freshman in high school, but by the time he was a junior he was team captain and held that position until he graduated from the team. Troy is very humble, not wanting to be in the spotlight but rather his teammates get the credit. He's the kind of student-athlete that makes your job a lot easier as a coach – he's responsible, punctual, a great student, and a great future leader."
Tanner Stagner (Aliso Niguel, CA)
Aliso Niguel High School | Attacker | 6'2" | 170 lbs.
Awards: 1st Team All-League (2022-23) | Helped to lead his team to a league championship in 2022 | CIF Division I Southern Section Honorable Mention | Four-year varsity water polo and swimmer | CIF Semi-Finalist in swimming (2022-23).
"Tanner is all speed and quickness up and down the pool. He has the potential to be a great counterattack player for us in the future. Tanner is another individual who exemplifies the term, 'student-athlete' with his performance in the classroom. Not only is he a great student, but he's also an active member in his community, volunteering as a food packer for Kids Around the World. When he's not in the pool, he loves to surf, off-road, camp, snowboard, mountain bike…pretty much anything involving the outdoors Tanner is into it. A great kid and a welcome addition to the Bulldog family."