(Walnut, CA) With a great crop of freshmen and eight veteran sophomores, the Mt. SAC Men's Water Polo Team will be sprinting into a new season for 2019.

After welcoming past players in their annual alumni game (Friday Sept. 6) and an initial home game hosting Cal Tech (Tuesday Sept. 10), the Mounties take off for their eastern trip beginning Friday September 13.

The team will squeeze in five games in three days against upper division universities. Included is: Washington & Jefferson University, Mercyhurst University, University of Toronto, Gannon University and Penn State Behrend. Most of the games will be played indoors, which is unique to the eastern schools. The team will be taking part in the Mercyhurst Invite over the weekend.

"We are really looking forward to seeing what the guys can do back there," Ruh said. "We are all very excited to start playing."

Just five days after finishing the eastern swing, the Mounties will take part in their 46th Annual Mt. SAC Men's Water Polo Tournament. Ten teams have entered this years' two-day event held at the Marie T. Mills Aquatic Center.

The returners are:

Goalie Andres Madrigal Mercado - Mercado was a backup last season and "...he has been working hard and showing great leadership, work ethic and improvement," Ruh said.

Jarrett Barker - 2018 Mt. SAC leading scorer, 1st Team All South Coast Conference (SCC), All American Honorable Mention

Noah Slack - 2018 Mt. SAC assist leader, All SCC Honorable Mention.

Noah Brokaw - 2018 Mt. SAC 3rd leading goal scorer, All SCC Second Team

Others returning - Justin Swafford, Mason Baez (RS '18 season, transfer from Gannon University), Andrew Weldon, Jobrian Alvarez,

"We have 15 new freshmen this year that should turn some heads," Ruh added.

Goalie Raphael Mutuc (Diamond Bar), Brandon Shew (La Serna), Nick Fabrega and Kyle Green (Walnut), Justin Wakefield and Dillon Mannion (Los Osos), Brandon Knapp and Tate Cauley (Chino Hills), Matthew Hinson (Claremont), Ian Tauer and Griffen Coulter (Damien), Stephen Caudras  and Adrian Franco (Don Lugo), Tobias Andruskiewicz (Alta Loma) and Goalie Joseph Mikhail (Rancho Cucamonga).

"All are potential starters and should see considerable amount of game time and can make an immediate impact on the teams' success this year," Ruh said.

Follow Mt. SAC Men's Water Polo on twitter @mtsacaquatics

Follow Mt. SAC Athletics on twitter @MtSAC_athletics or Facebook @Mountie.Athletics

For additional information, please contact the Mt. SAC Sports Information Office at 909.274.4630.