Vikings make history at CWPA DIII Championships; Addison leads team in goals and earns all-tournament recognition

The 2021 Augustana Vikings men's water polo team made history this year in several ways as they competed in the school's first-ever varsity water polo season. The team opened up the season with a win in their inaugural contest, defeating Penn State Behrend on the road by a score of 15-11. Augustana went on to defeat the Lions of Penn State Behrend in all three meetings this season, with all of four of the Vikings' wins coming against teams who have a had an established program of over 20 years. Two of those wins came at the CWPA DIII East Championships in October, where the Vikings earned the five seed and defeated both PSB and Connecticut College to earn fifth-place overall. They became the first-ever first-year program to finish ahead of two-plus schools at the CWPA DIII Championships.

Half of the Vikings' losses this season came by a total of six points or less, including four that were decided by three or fewer. Augustana played four teams ranked in the top ten nationally at the DIII level and also competed against two NCAA DII teams across three contests and one DI opponent as part of their competitive slate of games. 

Augie saw two players end the season with over 30 goals, led by Joseph Addison with 38. He posted a team-best shooting percentage of 47.5 percent and had 21 assists, also a team high. He played in all 16 games for the Vikings and was first on the team in shots with 80 and second in steals with 28. Joining Addison in the 30-goal club was Colin McDowell, who tallied 31 on 46.3 percent shooting. Five other Vikings found themselves with double-digit goals in 2021. James Sutton was next in line with 17, followed by Zander O'Dwyer with 16. Zion Thomas, Jacob Fisher and Lucas Osborn all had 15. Fisher posted a team-best 34 steals. Seven players tallied double figures in assists as 73 percent of Augie's goals scored were assisted on.

In goal, Henry Sothern snagged 80 saves on the year, followed by 42 from Harris Dibek and 11 from Maximus Mees. Sothern also added 16 assists and two steals.

The Vikings honored two members as part of the first-ever senior class on November 13 against McKendree. Dibek and Andrew Oliger were recognized at the Vikings first and only home game, and the first inside the newly built Anne Greve Lund Natatorium. Many of the members of the team are slated to return next season as the young Vikings squad saw 99.7 percent of their goals this season score by underclassmen and 77 percent by freshmen.

On an individual level, Addison was named to the CWPA DIII Championships all-tournament team after posting 10 goals and four assists in four games played.

For a complete view of the 2021 Augustana men's water polo cumulative stats, click here.