CSUF men's water polo targets second straight winning season
Cal State Fullerton (CSUF) men's water polo enters 2026 aiming for its second consecutive winning season after posting a 17-16 record in 2025—the program's first above-.500 finish since reinstatement in 2023. Despite losing top scorers and an injured All-Freshman standout, new transfers and rebuilt team chemistry could push the Titans toward their first Big West conference win.
The Titans ended last season with promise but fell to UC Davis in the Big West Tournament. They now face a pivotal year defined by roster turnover, senior leadership, and a conference slate featuring multiple nationally ranked opponents.
Key Takeaways
- CSUF men's water polo posted a 17-16 record in 2025, its first winning season since the program returned in 2023.
- The Titans lost four of their top five scorers and will be without injured sophomore Francesco Schiaffino, a Big West All-Freshman selection.
- Transfers Cade Zeilinger and Jason Honey plus freshman goalkeeper Zachary Shouka are expected to fill critical gaps.
- CSUF is 0-15 in Big West play across three seasons and has yet to win a conference game since reinstatement.
- The Titans open the 2026 season on Aug. 28 against Concordia University Irvine in the UCI tournament.
Why Does CSUF Men's Water Polo Matter This Season?
Since reinstatement, CSUF has rebuilt from the ground up. Last season's winning record marked a turning point for a program that head coach Kyle Witt said is finally reaching the culture he envisioned in year four.
"I think our culture is finally where I want it to be in year four; it's just taken a long time to get there," Witt told the Daily Titan. With young players and newcomers adjusting to Fullerton, that culture may determine whether the Titans sustain momentum.
One benchmark remains unmet: the Titans are winless in Big West conference play, sitting at 0-15 across three seasons. Witt said the team came close last year and believes 2026 could be the breakthrough.
Who Will Lead the Titans After Roster Turnover?
Graduation and departures stripped CSUF of four of its top five scorers from 2025. Schiaffino, who earned Big West All-Freshman honors, will sideline himself with an injury but plans to support the team from the bench.
Senior captains Carmelo Bangs, Ethan Cooney, and Ethan Merritt are tasked with steering the locker room through the transition. Witt praised their leadership, noting they "did a great job, fixing problems from the year before and also building on successes."
New additions are already making an impact. Zeilinger arrives after scoring nearly 100 goals as a freshman and 87 as a sophomore at Orange Coast College. Honey transferred from California Baptist University. Shouka, a freshman goalkeeper from Canyon High School, holds the most saves in CSUF program history and averaged 14 saves per game in high school.
Can CSUF Finally Win a Big West Conference Game?
The conference path is steep. CSUF faces Long Beach State, UC Santa Barbara, UC Davis, UC San Diego, and UC Irvine—all of which held top-20 rankings last season in one of the nation's deepest water polo conferences.
Shouka expressed confidence despite the challenge. "I can assure you, I can promise you with my name on the line, that first number is not gonna be a zero by the end of the season," he told the Daily Titan. "I know it. Francesco knows it. Coach Witt knows it, because this is our year."
Shouka also highlighted rapid team bonding with international newcomers from Canada and Hungary, suggesting the roster's unity could offset inexperience.
When Does CSUF Men's Water Polo Open the 2026 Season?
The Titans return to competition on Aug. 28 against Concordia University Irvine—the first of four games in the UCI tournament. The opening sprint is scheduled for 11:40 a.m. on Friday.
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