2024 All-WWPA squad features 29 standouts
The 2024 Western Water Polo Association (WWPA) all-conference team has been announced ahead of the WWPA Men's Championship, Nov. 22-24, 2024, at William Woollett, Jr. Aquatics Center in Irvine, Calif.
29 student-athletes received postseason conference honors following voting by the conference's six head coaches.
Salem senior Nikola Krstonosic earned his second WWPA Player of the Year award after winning 2024 Co-Player of the Year accolades along with Concordia graduate student Konstantios Koulouris. Krstonosic and Koulouris guided each of their respective squads to perfect 4-0 conference records and quarterfinal byes for the WWPA postseason tournament.
Krstonosic, a three-time Division II All-American and the '23 WWPA P.O.Y., led the conference in nearly every offensive category for the second year in a row: goals (99), assists (70), points (169), goals per game (5.2), assists-per-game (3.7) and points-per-game (8.9). He became the Tigers' all-time scoring leader and reached the 400-career goal mark.
Koulouris transferred from Long Beach State and made an immediate impact continuing his studies at CUI. He finished in the WWPA top-3 in assists (49) and points (108), and his 59 goals were sixth-most. The Thessaloniki, Greece native also earned WWPA All-Defensive honors, placing in the conference's top-10 in field blocks (12) and steals (31).
Koulouris was joined on the First Team by teammates Harry Bentham and goalkeeper Griffin Beth. Bentham, who earned his second straight WWPA First Team and All-Defensive nods, placed in the WWPA top-5 in goals (62) and field blocks (13). His 85 total points were eighth most.
Beth's 192 saves were third-most in the WWPA and he earned WWPA Defensive Player of the Week honors three times.
Marko Zivojinovic earned his second-straight First Team nod. The Serbian placed right behind fellow Tiger and countryman Krstonosic in all offensive categories: goals (92), assists (62) and points (154). Zivojinovic also earned All-Defensive Team honors.
Biola had two players named to the First Team, including three-time all-conference awardee Mitchell Carpenter. Carpenter led the conference with 252 saves and his save percentage (.455) and goals-against average (13.42) were highest of any player with 20 appearances or more.
Carpenter's teammate, John Grasso, earned First Team honors for the first time in his collegiate career. Grasso, a two-time All-Defensive Team standout, led the conference with 56 steals while his 55 goals were eighth-most.
Fresno Pacific's Pietro Cattano earned the Sunbirds' first First Team nod in the WWPA's all-Division II era. The senior from Houston placed in the WWPA top eight in points (89), goals (58) and assists (31).
Salem freshman Danko Kesic earned WWPA Freshman of the Year following his debut season in West Virginia. Kesic's 76 goals were third-most in the conference and his 105 points were fourth-most. Kesic is the most decorated player in today's announcement after receiving four different accolades: Freshman of the Year, All-WWPA Second Team, All-WWPA Freshman Team and All-WWPA Defensive Team.
Concordia and Salem led the conference with six total selections, while Fresno Pacific and Gannon each came in with five apiece.
2024 WWPA Men's All-Conference Team (PDF)
Co-Player of the Year: Nikola Krstonosic, Sr., Salem
Co-Player of the Year: Konstantinos Koulouris, Gr., Concordia
Freshman of the Year: Danko Kesic, Fr., Salem
First Team
Konstantinos Koulouris, Concordia
Nikola Krstonosic, Salem
Marko Zivojinovic, Salem
John Grasso, Biola
Pietro Cattano, Fresno Pacific
Harry Bentham, Concordia
Mitchell Carpenter, Biola
Griffin Beth, Concordia
Second Team
Nolan Rapp, Biola
Petar Markovic, Gannon
Yannick Robertson, McKendree
Nikiforos Liantziris, Gannon
Jacob Stuart, Concordia
Danko Kesic, Salem
Chase Hammes, Fresno Pacific
Honorable Mention
Ivan Zivojinovic, Salem
James Ramey, McKendree
Alexandros Kotskar, Gannon
Forrest Gray, Fresno Pacific
Sam Diamond, Concordia
Gavin McKenzie, Biola
Alvaro Marco, Gannon
All-Defensive
Konstantinos Koulouris, Concordia
Marko Zivojinovic, Salem
John Grasso, Biola
Harry Bentham, Concordia
Nikiforos Liantziris, Gannon
Antonio Sabic, Salem
Nolan Rapp, Biola
Mitchell Carpenter, Biola
Griffin Beth, Concordia
All-Freshman
Lucas Rodriguez, Concordia
Christiano Sandino, Fresno Pacific
Nikiforos Liantziris, Gannon
Josh Gibson, McKendree
Danko Kesic, Salem
Tristan Fox, Fresno Pacific
Ivan Petkovski, Salem
Bator Mohacsi, Gannon