May 25, 2017

DAVIS, Calif. - Daniel Leyson, the Child And Meisel Families Director of Men's Water Polo at UC Davis, secured eight prospective student-athletes - seven from California plus an eighth from Utah - to form his 2017 recruiting class.

Alphabetically, the new class comprises Jonah Addington (Hanford), Ian Ambidge (Danville), Patrick Burke (Bakersfield), Sam Given (Salinas), Michael Plastino (Granite Bay), Riley Smith (Fairfield), Spencer Towill (Pacific Palisades) and Matthew Whipple (Park City, Utah). All eight are high school seniors who have signed National Letters of Intent and/or submitted their Statements of Intent to Register, and are expected to enroll for the university's 2017 fall quarter. "We are really excited about our 2017 class," said Leyson. "We have a wide range of players, some of whom can help us right away and others who need more time to develop. We believe that we have several players who flew under the radar a little bit and could be really surprising in a few years. Of course, everything will depend on the amount of work they are willing to put in. We can't wait to get these guys up here and get to work." JONAH ADDINGTON
Goalkeeper • 6-6 • 215 • Hanford, Calif./Hanford West HS
Four-year letterwinner, competing in water polo, swimming and basketball... Three-time All-West Yosemite League performer, including WYL Most Valuable Player as a senior... Posted saves totals of 320, 342 and school-record 403 from sophomore through senior years, respectively... Added two Fresno Bee All-Valley selections plus a Defensive Player of the Year nod in 2016... Helped propel Huskies to 25-5 record and both WYL and Central Section championships... Also an all-league and all-section performer in 200 and 400 free relays, contributing to school records in each event... Played club ball for CCAL and Royal 559, earning USAWP All-Academic and participating in ODP program for four years... Ranked fifth in class with 4.1 grade-point average... National Honor Society and CSF lifetime member. LEYSON ON ADDINGTON: "Jonah is the biggest goalie we've had since I've been at UC Davis. He was totally dominant on his high school and club teams. He is a physical presence in the goal who can block a lot of balls with his reach alone, but also has excellent technique. He sees the game well and leads from the goal. He is an excellent passer who can lead the counterattack and will compete for playing time this year. We are excited about his possibilities." IAN AMBIDGE
2M Defense • 6-4 • 190 • Danville, Calif./San Ramon Valley HS
Captured North Coast Section honorable mention and second-team All-East Bay Athletic League distinction as a senior... Scored 29 goals with 27 assists and 40 steals in final season... Helped Wolves to three league championships and three NCS semifinal appearances... Played club ball for Contra Costa United for three years... Academically, a CSF member, Bay Area All-Star Scholarship nominee, and Renaissance Academic Award four-year recipient... Son of Rich Ambidge, a three-time All-American at California in the late 1980s. LEYSON ON AMBIDGE: "Ian fills a need for us at the center defender position. He is big, strong, can shoot the ball, and knows the game. Ian is a player that will continue to improve substantially in college. His best years are ahead of him. We are looking forward to watching him develop." PATRICK BURKE
2M Offense• 6-5 • 235 • Bakersfield, Calif./Garces Memorial HS
Broke century mark in scoring in each of final three seasons (stats are not available from his freshman year)... Netted goals totals of 103, 118 and 106 from sophomore through senior year, respectively... Captured third consecutive first-team All-East Yosemite League nod in 2016, adding All-Central Section first-team distinction... Three-year team captain... Helped team to 25-3 record, perfect EYL slate and CIF-CS championship as a junior... Selected as team's Offensive Player of the Year that season... Eight-year Junior Olympics competitor for Bakersfield WPC, including three at U18 division... Three-time ODP participant: two with Central California Zone Cadet, one with Youth... Helped Central squads to third- and fourth-place showing at nationals in 2015 and 2016... Voted ASB President as a senior, class president as a junior... Member of Fellowship of Christian Athletes and Young Republican Club... Compiled GPAs of 4.14, 4.21, 4.27 and 4.40 throughout academic career, earning USAWP All-Academic accolades. LEYSON ON BURKE: "Patrick helps fill a need for us at the center position. At 6-5 and 235 pounds, he is an imposing presence in the middle. He also moves really well for a player his size. He could contribute right away. We expect big things from Patrick." SAM GIVEN
2M Offense/Defense • 6-5 • 187 • Salinas, Calif./Palma HS
Perennial All-Monterey Bay League honoree in both water polo and swimming... Set school career records with 253 goals and 217 steals... Posted goals totals of 80 and 96 during final two seasons, respectively... Earned team MVP both years... Made All-MBL first team in 2013, 2015 and 2016, plus second team in 2014... Previously played utility, notching steals totals of 78 and 58 during first two years... Earned Monterey County Freshman/Sophomore of the Year in those respective seasons... Hit six Central Coast Section qualifying times in swimming as a senior, picking up his fourth straight team MVP award... Played seven years of club ball for Legacy WPC in Carmel... Four-year honor roll student. LEYSON ON GIVEN: "Sam is a player that was under the radar because he comes from Salinas. However, he is big and fast, and can play multiple positions. He may need some time to develop after coming out of a small program, but because he is a hard worker and is coachable, we think that he can really develop into a major contributor." MICHAEL PLASTINO
Driver • 6-3 • 180 • Granite Bay, Calif./Granite Bay HS
Helped water polo team to three Sierra Foothill League titles and 2016 Sac-Joaquin Section crown... Grizzlies went 29-2 in his senior year... Captured 10th-team California-Hawaii All-America honors, plus first team All-SFL and All-SJS distinction as a senior... Also a first-team all-league pick as a junior... Played club ball for Granite Bay WPC... Holds 4.25 GPA, earning USAWP All-Academic and school's Academic Merit Award... Member of Boys Team Charity Service Club for all four years. LEYSON ON PLASTINO: "Michael was a very valuable player on his Granite Bay High School team that won the section title for the first time ever. He is tall and lanky, and at 20.8 for the 50 freestyle, very fast. He is an excellent perimeter defender who reads the game well. We expect him to help us in all facets of the game." RILEY SMITH
2M Offense • 6-3 • 250 • Fairfield, Calif./Rodriguez HS
Lettered three years in both water polo and swimming after starting athletic career in baseball... Two-time Monticello Empire League MVP and All-Sac-Joaquin Section first-team honoree... Scored 45 goals as a sophomore, set school record with 108 as a junior, then reset the benchmark at 132 in 2016... Also captured first-team All-MEL accolades in 2014... Helped swim team to three league championships as member of record-setting 200 free relay... Named RHS Male Athlete of the Year... Competed in two Junior Olympics for Bay Area Sunset Aquatics. LEYSON ON SMITH: "Riley is a really big and strong center. He comes from a small high school and club program, so he will also need time to develop. But you can't coach size and he has it. We are looking forward to having Riley as a member of our team and watching him develop into a really powerful center." SPENCER TOWILL
2MO/2MD/Utility • 6-4 • 207 • Pacific Palisades, Calif./Harvard-Westlake School
Member of Wolverine squad that combined for a 104-5 record (including 29-0 in 2014) and won back-to-back Southern Section Div. I titles in his career... Played center, two-meter defense and utility... Earned team's Most Improved award as a junior... Played for L.A. Premier WPC, which posted second- and third-place finishes in Junior Olympics Platinum division. LEYSON ON TOWILL: "Spencer is a big, strong center defender who has participated in countless high level and high intensity games. He will bring that experience level to our program. We also believe that Spencer has a lot of room to grow at the next level." MATTHEW WHIPPLE
Attacker • 6-2 • 190 • Park City, Utah/Park City HS
Three-time All-State honoree in water polo... Played lacrosse and basketball as a freshman before turning to aquatics... Key stats: 54 goals and 46 steals as a sophomore, 68 goals and 53 steals as a junior, 64 goals and school-record 87 steals as a senior... Three-year team captain... Also starred as a freestyler for swim team, finishing sixth and third in state 500 during final two seasons, plus another fifth-place state showing in 200 free... Played club ball for Utah Premiere and Coronado Aquatics (California)... Two-year ODP selection for Mountain Zone... Lone player from Mountain Zone to earn invite for USAWP's U18 national team tryout... Served as senior class treasurer and freshman class president. LEYSON ON WHIPPLE: "Matthew comes to our program from Park City, Utah. He has been a mainstay on ODP teams from the Mountain Zone for many years. He is still growing physically, and is already 6-2. He is the best player to come out of Utah in quite some time, maybe ever. We think that he will become a major contributor."