Stanford Signs Six

STANFORD, Calif. – Stanford men's water polo head coach John Vargas announced the signing of six California scholastic standouts.
 
The 2017 class of signees includes Tyler Abramson (Orinda, Calif.), Spencer Nelson (Escondido, Calif.), Parker Killion (Irvine, Calif.), Josh Orrick (Orange, Calif.), Zack LaGrange (La Jolla, Calif.) and Sawyer Rhodes (Santa Barbara, Calif.).
 
"I am excited to welcome this highly-motivated class to Stanford, said Stanford's Dunlevie Family Director of Men's Water Polo, John Vargas. "This class has demonstrated that it thrives in and out of the classroom. This class's grade-point average is well over a 4.0 and has excelled as a champion in many high school and club events."
 
Abramson, who attends Miramonte High School, guided the Matadors to the CIF North Coast Section Division I Championship as a senior in 2016. He scored four goals, including two in the final quarter of regulation, to help Miramonte to a 12-10 victory over Campolindo in the championship match. A CIF North Coast Section All-Star, Abramson led the Matadors to a 20-6 record his senior season. He scored 111 goals in 26 games, mostly playing only half of the match during his senior season. Abramson is a two-time First Team All-North Coast Section selection by the Bay Area News Group.
 
"Tyler is a talented left-handed utility player," Vargas said. "His size, strength and speed will allow him to do it all - set, defend, post up or bring balance to our offensive attack. He has had excellent coaching, so his transition to the college game will be seamless. His style of play and work ethic will fit in well with our team."  
 
Nelson, the San Diego Union-Tribune Player of the Year as a junior in 2015, guided the Dons to multiple San Diego Section championships. A two-year team captain, Nelson led Cathedral Catholic High School to the CIF San Diego Section Open Division title 2014 and 2015 and a championship game appearance in 2016. Nelson is also a member of the USA Water Polo Youth National Team. He plays for the Del Mar Water Polo club team, where he was honored as a Junior Olympic All-American. He transferred to Cathedral Catholic after his freshman season. Nelson is a two-time First Team All-Section selection. An honors student, he is also a four-year member of the USA Water Polo Academic All-American squad. Nelson was invited to the USA Water Polo Senior National Team Training Camp in 2016. He was named the San Diego High School Sports Association Student-Athlete of the Year earlier this year.
 
"I'm really impressed with Spencer's work ethic and grit," Vargas said. "He is a motivated student-athlete who works hard in and out of the classroom. He has an excellent coach who has taught him well. I believe he is a perfect fit for Stanford and our team."
 
Killion, who attends Lutheran High School of Orange County, was a four-year varsity starter for the Lancers. A First Team All-CIF Southern Section and First Team All-Trinity League selection as a senior in 2016, Killion also earned Second Team All Southern California honors in his final season. He is a three-time Lutheran High School of Orange County Defensive Player of the Year (2013-15) and is the school's all-time leader in steals with 209 in his career. Killion, who also swam for four seasons at Lutheran High School of Orange County, is a three-time All-Trinity League pick overall, also earning second-team honors in 2014 and 2015. He is a two-time All-CIF Southern Section pick, also earning second-team laurels in 2014. Killion played club water polo for the Northwood Water Polo Club, where he was a Second Team All-America selection, leading Northwood to the Under 16 Junior Olympic Platinum Division championship in 2015. Killion was named the Trinity League Scholar-Athlete of the Year in June.
 
"Parker's intelligent play will make him a perfect fit for our team," Vargas said. "He is disciplined in his approach, with his focus mainly on defense. He is a well-rounded student-athlete who has committed himself to athletics, academic excellence and community service."
 
One of Killion's teammates at Lutheran High School of Orange County will follow him to The Farm. Orrick is a two-time USA Water Polo Junior Olympic All-American. He served three years with the U.S. National Team as a member of the Cadet team, representing the United States in Serbia in 2014. The All-CIF selection scored 53 goals for the Lancers last season, helping guide them to the CIF Southern Section title. Orrick was named the Lutheran High School of Orange County Offensive Player of the Year as a senior in 2016. He spent his first two seasons at Jesuit High School near Sacramento, leading the Pirates to the 2014 Northern Section title as the Finals MVP.  He is a three-time First Team All-CIF selection and two time High School All-American. Orrick also played with Killion for the Northwood Water Polo Club, where he was an All-American, leading Northwood to the Under 16 Junior Olympic Platinum Division championship in 2015. Orrick is graduating Magna Cum Laude this spring.   
 
"Josh will give us great depth at the center position," said Vargas. "I also believe he will be able to help us at the center defender position because of his size, strength and versatility."
 
LaGrange, a 2016 graduate of The Bishop's School in La Jolla, is a two-time First Team All-CIF selection, and two-time High School All-American. He is also a two-year member of the San Diego Union Tribune All-Academic Team. LaGrange scored 93 goals his senior season and posted 163 scores over his final two years. He led the Knights to CIF state final appearances three times from 2012-14. He played in the USA Water Polo Cadet National Team selection camp in 2014. LaGrange played his last two seasons with Club Natacio Rubi in Barcelona, Spain. He also played for the San Diego Shores Water Polo Club for eight years (2008-16) earning a pair of Junior Olympic championships. He was named the Under 16 Junior Olympic MVP and a First Team All-American in 2014. LaGrange is also a three-year USA Water Polo Academic All-American (2013-15).
 
"Zack will thrive at the college level where his physical strength and abilities will be a perfect fit for our team," said Vargas. "He has led his club team to gold medals in every major club championship. He was selected MVP of the 2014 Junior Olympics. He is athletic, strong and has an outstanding work ethic. There is no question that he will make a positive and immediate impact to our team."
 
Rhodes, who attends Santa Barbara High School, was a two-year captain for the Dons. The left-handed player is Santa Barbara's all-time leading scorer with 370 career goals, also holding school records in steals and ejections drawn. He guided Santa Barbara to the Channel League title, scoring 147 goals in 26 games as the Channel League MVP in 2016. Rhodes was a two-time All-American, also earning Channel League Most Valuable Player honors and Santa Barbara High School Athlete of the Year laurels each of the last two years. The All-CIF player was also a member of the USA Water Polo Youth National Team for three years from 2014-16. Rhodes was also a standout swimmer for Santa Barbara, where he was a two-time All-CIF and All-Channel League honoree. Rhodes' mother, Kara, won a national championship as a member of the UCLA women's volleyball team in 1984.
 
"We are very fortunate to have the two best left-handed players in this year's class in Sawyer and Tyler," Vargas said. "Very few players have the length (which makes him an excellent defensive player) and ability (dynamic on offense) that Sawyer has demonstrated this past year. He has a very bright future in water polo." 
 
Vargas, who has won 303 career games at Stanford, will begin his 16 th year as the head coach of the Cardinal in 2017.