San José State Spartans Advance to NCAA Men’s Water Polo Championship
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A thrilling season for the San José State Spartans culminates in a first-round matchup against Fordham in the 2025 National Collegiate Men’s Water Polo Championship, marking a significant return to national prominence for the program. The Spartans (14-7, 5-1 WCC) will face the Rams (25-3, 12-0 MAWPC) on Friday, December 5, at 2 p.m. PT from Avery Aquatic Center in Stanford, California, with the game available for live streaming on NCAA.com.
A Return to the National Stage
This appearance in the NCAA Tournament represents only the second for San José State in the last three seasons, a remarkable turnaround for a program that hadn’t competed in the championship since 1973. The Spartans’ resurgence underscores a commitment to excellence and a renewed focus on competitive water polo.
Close Contest Anticipated with Fordham
San José State is familiar with their first-round opponent, having faced Fordham earlier in the season. That contest, part of the Julian Fraser Memorial, saw the Spartans narrowly fall to the Rams 10-9. Both teams finished the season highly ranked, with SJSU at No. 6 nationally and Fordham at No. 5, suggesting a closely contested rematch is likely.
Dominant Run to the WCC Championship
The Spartans earned their tournament berth by claiming the 2025 WCC Championship, their second conference title in just three seasons. Their path to victory included decisive wins over Air Force (14-10), a nail-biting overtime victory against No. 10 Pepperdine (13-12), and a commanding performance against No. 15 Cal Baptist (15-9) in the championship match.
Gyapjas Leads Spartan Dominance
Brendon Gyapjas was rightfully recognized as the WCC Tournament Most Outstanding Player, delivering a stellar performance with 41 saves and a .569 save percentage throughout the tournament. Gyapjas’s exceptional goalkeeping was a cornerstone of the Spartans’ success. He was joined on the WCC All-Tournament Team by teammates Samu Biros and Mateja Bosić. Bosić led the tournament in scoring with 12 goals, closely followed by Biros with 10.
Individual Accolades Highlight Stellar Season
Beyond the team’s championship run, several Spartans received individual honors. Gyapjas was named WCC Player of the Year and earned All-WCC First Team honors, becoming the first Spartan in program history to receive the prestigious player of the year award. Sam Keightley and Biros were named to the All-WCC Second Team, with Keightley also earning a spot on the All-WCC Freshman Team. Bosić received an All-WCC Honorable Mention, acknowledging his consistent contributions throughout the season. The Spartans also secured a share of the WCC Co-Regular Season Championship with a 5-1 conference record.
Looking Ahead: Championship Bracket
The winner of the San José State versus Fordham matchup will advance to face the winner of the contest between the No. 1 seed USC and the No. 8 seed Concordia University Irvine on Saturday at 2 p.m. . The Spartans will undoubtedly approach each game with the same determination and skill that propelled them to a conference championship and a return to the national stage.
