STANFORD, Calif. – Stanford's Dunlevie Director of Men's Water Polo, John Vargas, announced the signing of seven newcomers for the 2018 season.
The seven California standouts include Nik Caryotakis (Portola Valley, Calif.), George Hagestad (Del Mar, Calif.), Spencer Hanson (San Anselmo, Calif.), Wyatt Hanson (San Anselmo, Calif.), AJ Rossman (San Clemente, Calif.), Jackson Seybold (Newport Beach, Calif.) and Quinn Woodhead (San Anselmo, Calif.).
A graduate of Menlo-Atherton High School, Caryotakis was the Peninsula Athletic League Scholar-Athlete of the Year. He was a two-time First Team Peninsula Athletic League selection and two-time All CIF Central Coast Section pick. Caryotakis finished his senior season with a team-best 96 goals. He was named MVP of Menlo-Atherton's water polo team and the school's overall Athlete of the Year in 2018. He guided the Bears to top-two finishes in the Peninsula Athletic League all four years, winning the league title as a freshman. Caryotakis was also a two-year captain of the Menlo-Atherton swimming team, where he was a two-time First Team All-Peninsula Athletic League selection and swam on the 200 freestyle relay team that broke the school record.
Hagestad, a graduate of The Bishop's School, was a two-year captain as a goalie for the Knights. He led the program to the 2016 Western League championship. Hagestad also guided The Bishop's School to a runner-up finish in the CIF San Diego Section as a freshman. He is a two-time First Team All CIF San Diego Section selection (2016 and 2017). Hagestad also played for the San Diego Shores Water Polo Club the past four years. He is a two-time USA Water Polo Academic All-American and a two-time San Diego Union-Tribune All-Academic selection.
Spencer and Wyatt Hanson are twin brothers, joining the Cardinal program from Sir Francis Drake High School in San Anselmo. They join fellow signee Quinn Woodhead and his older brother Dylan Woodhead as Sir Francis Drake alums with the Stanford program. Spencer and Wyatt helped lead the top-ranked Pirates to a 26-5 record as seniors. Sir Francis Drake captured the CIF NorCal Division I Championship (first in school history), along with North Coast Section and Marin County Athletic League titles in 2017. In the 8-6 title game victory over Sacred Heart Prep, Wyatt scored three goals and Spencer added two scores for the Pirates. Both Spencer and Wyatt captured All-America honors. Both were also two-time First Team CIF North Coast Section selections and two-time First Team Marin County Athletic League picks.
Rossman is a graduate of Santa Margarita Catholic High School, where he was an All-American swimmer in the 100 backstroke and 50 freestyle. He is the school record holder in the 100 backstroke, leading the Eagles to the CIF Division II championship his junior season and a runner-up finish his senior campaign. He placed third in the 100 back and 11th in the 50 free at the Division I CIF Championships as a senior. Rossman played for the Orange County Water Polo club team the past three years, leading the club in scoring the past two seasons. He also competed for the USA Water Polo Cadet National Team, participating in the Darko Cukic Memorial Tournament in Serbia in 2015.
Seybold, a graduate of Mater Dei, was named the CIF Southern Section Division I Player of the Year as a senior. He was also voted the Orange County Register Boys Water Polo Player of the Year in 2018. Seybold led the Monarchs with 109 goals his senior season in guiding Mater Dei to the CIF-Southern Section Division I title, the Trinity League championship and the inaugural CIF State SoCal Division I regional crown. Seybold was a standout on the defensive end as well, with 52 steals and 20 field blocks in 2018. Seybold was also voted the MVP of the Trinity League his senior season. He also has extensive experience in the USA Water Polo program.
Quinn Woodhead joins his brother, Dylan Woodhead, on the Stanford men's water polo team. A graduate of Sir Francis Drake High School, Quinn has been a member of both the United States Cadet and Youth National Team. During his time with Team USA, he helped the U.S. capture a gold medal at the Pan American Games in Peru in 2017 and a silver medal in the 2016 Pan American Games in Canada in 2016. A three-time USA Water Polo Academic All-American (2016-18), Woodhead has participated in the USA Water Polo National League for three seasons. At Sir Francis Drake High School, Woodhead led the Pirates to three Marin County Athletic League titles. In 2017, Sir Francis Drake captured the CIF NorCal Division I championships (first in school history) and the North coast Section Division I Championship. He was a two-time Marin County Athletic League Player of the Year (2016 and 2017). Woodhead also led the Sir Francis Drake basketball and swimming teams to a pair or Marin County Athletic League titles. Woodhead is a two-time California-Hawaii All-America selection in water polo and a two-time National Interscholastic Swim Coaches Association All-American pick.
The seven signees join a Stanford program that completed the 2017 season 19-5 overall and ranked No. 4 in the final poll. The Cardinal opens the 2018 campaign Sept. 1 against Santa Clara and San Jose State in Santa Clara.