Men's Water Polo Earns All State and Conference Awards

Posted: Feb 25, 2020

Men's Water Polo enjoyed an historic 41st season and earned a huge haul of awards and honors for their efforts. The Cougars were 26-9 on the season and claimed the program's 28th conference title, snapping a record five-year title drought, while also extending a streak of consecutive playoff berths into its fifth decade. Cuesta's continued excellence was recognized when the post-season awards were doled out. Cuesta had ten players named to the all-Western State Conference (WSC) teams, including a quintet of poloists named to the All-State squads. Additionally, Coach John Marsh was honored as both the 2019 Western State Conference and CCCAA State Coach of the Year.

2019 Western State Conference Player of the Year Jack Felsted (Visalia-pict) anchored the Cougars' offense this season and was a candidate for State Player of the Year. Felsted absorbed a tremendous punishment, because teams had to use multiple defenders in an attempt to contain him. He missed eight games due to injury, yet still led the Cougars with 78 goals on the season. Felsted was also named to the 2019 CCCAA All State First Team and earned All America honors.

Freshman Aleksa Sisakovic (Belgrade, SRB) joined Felsted on the 2019 CCCAA All State First Team and was also accorded All America honors. He stepped directly into the Cougars' starting line-up after playing his final year of high school at Southridge High in Beaverton, Oregon and was one of two players on the Cougars' roster from outside California. Sisakovic's skill set was a perfect complement to the Cougars' inside power game. He was second on the team with both 68 goals and 32 fouls drawn, while tying for the team lead with 38 steals.

Sophomore Gabriel Browning (Los Alamitos HS) earned All-America honors for the second time. Browning was also a member of the 2019 CCCAA All State Second Team and the All Western State Conference First Team. After being the Cougars' offensive focus last season, Browning unselfishly became a playmaker this season. He ended the season with 26 goals and was among the team leaders in steals, fouls drawn. His goal off the sprint to begin the 7th period in the Cougars' sudden death playoff win over Cerritos, vaulted the Cougars into the regional semi-final and was one of the season's most memorable and amazing individual plays.

Two-time All Western State Conference First Team and All-CCCAA State Second Team Goalie Mason Smith (Bakersfield) added All America honors this season. Smith led a contingent of three goalies on the Cougars' squad that became an undeniable strength of the team, however in the big games it all came down to Smith. Smith was only 9-4 in the goal for the 26-win Cougars, but was in the nets for the biggest games of the season. He led Cuesta with 138 saves and joins an elite group of Cuesta Goaltenders as only the eighth two-time All State selection in 41 seasons.

Freshman Layne Porter (Santa Maria: Righetti HS) was selected to the 2019 CCCAA All State Second Team and the All Western State Conference First Team. All five of Cuesta all-WSC First Team selections were accorded all-State honors and Porter made sure all of them shined. He owns an amazing feel for the game and is always in the position to help his teammates succeed. Porter only scored 19 goals on the season, but his 56 assists were the 5th highest total, only ten off the record, in Cuesta history and 9th in the State. He also tied Sisakovic for the team lead with 38 steals.

The Cougars placed Sophomore Zachary Tucker (Paso Robles HS) and Freshmen Jacob Sill (Clovis) on the 2019 All-Western State Conference Second Team. Tucker, a 2018 All-WSC Honorable mention pick, came to Cuesta as a pure shooter, but developed into a tenacious and physical defender as well as a strong interior player. He was 3rd on the team with 51 goals and ends his Cuesta career with 101 tallies- joining Felsted as the 30th and 31st members of the Century Club. Sill scored 47 goals and was among the team leaders with 18 assists, 31 steals and 18 fouls drawn.

Freshmen Noah Esenwein (Morro Bay HS) and Eric Klang (Bakersfield) joined 2018 All-WSC Second Teamer Steven Chapman (Porterville HS) as 2019 All-WSC Honorable Mention selections.

Coach John Marsh was recognized as the 2019 Western State Conference Coach of the Year and was also named the 2019 CCCAA State Coach of the Year. A six-time Western State Conference Coach of the year, Marsh led Cuesta to the program's 28th conference title and 41st straight playoff berth. The Cougars finished the season 26-9 overall and reached the 2019 CCCAA Regional Semi-Final, after winning a sudden death-overtime game against Cerritos on Gabriel Browning's goal. The Cougars fell in the semis to eventual CCCAA State Runner-up Long Beach, but not before pushing the Vikings to two overtimes and missing a potential game-winning shot by mere inches. The Cougars still ended the season on a high-note, by beating conference rival LA Valley in the Regional's 3rd place game.

All American Jack Felsted

All American Aleksa Sisakovic

All American Gabriel Browning

All American Mason Smith

2019 All State

First Team Jack Felsted

First Team Aleksa Sisakovic

Second Team Gabriel Browning

Second Team Mason Smith

Second Team Layne Porter

2019 All-WSC Honors

Player of the Year Jack Felsted