Men's Water Polo enjoyed an historic 43^rd season in 2021 and earned a huge haul of awards and honors for their efforts.  The Cougars were 28-8 on the season and claimed the program's 29^th conference title since the program's founding in 1979. Cuesta's continued excellence was recognized when the post-season awards were doled out.  Cuesta tied a program record with eleven players named to the all-Western State Conference (WSC) teams, including a quintet of poloists later named to the All-State squads.  Additionally, Coach John Marsh was honored as the 2021 Western State Conference Coach of the Year for his seventh time.  Cuesta Water Polo qualified for the post-season for the 42^nd consecutive season and advanced to the 2021 CCCAA Regional Semi-Final.  Their loss in the semis denied the Cougars their first trip to the State Tournament since 2007. Cuesta ended the season with 28 wins and posted a 77.8 winning percentage; both marks rank 4^th all time at Cuesta and are the best team marks since 1990.  

         2021 Western State Conference Player of the Year Jacob Sill (Clovis East HS) anchored the Cougars' offense this season and was a candidate for State Player of the Year.  Sill also collected accolades as a member of the 2021 CCCAA All State First Team, as well as All America honors. He was an all-WSC Second Teamer in 2019 but was the focus of the Cougars' offense this season.  The Sophomore Center led the Cougars with 56 goals and was third on the team with both 29 assists and 20 fouls drawn.  He concludes his career as the 32nd player to eclipse the century mark for goals.  Sill netted 109 goals during his career as a Cougar. 

Sophomore Joshua Halopoff (Porterville HS) earned all-America honors this year and was named to both the 2021 CCCAA All State First Team and all-Western State Conference First Team.  Halopoff was key to the Cougars' power play. He led the Cougars and was 6^th in the State with 50 exclusions drawn and his 122 fouls drawn over his career rank 6^th all time at Cuesta (since 1994).  Halopoff also added 37 goals on offense and tied for the team lead with eight field blocks on defense. 

Goalie Colton Boyd (Porterville HS- pict) is the 11^th Cuesta Goaltender to earn all-America honors over the past 43 years.  He was also named to 2021 CCCAA All State First Team, as well as the all-Western State Conference First Team.  Boyd was 19-6 in between the pipes this season and led the Cougars with 163 saves, while posting a 45.2 save percentage.  He recorded a career-high 11 saves in Cuesta's loss to Golden West in the 2021 CCCAA Regional Semi-Finals.

Freshman Dean Moody (Oxnard) was the most decorated member of the Cougars' 2021 freshman class.  He earned all-America honors and was also named to both the CCCAA All State Second Team and the all-Western State Conference First Team.  Moody tied for second on the team with 55 goals scored on offense and led the Cougars with 46 steals on defense.

Sophomore Layne Porter (Santa Maria: Righetti HS) earned selection to both CCCAA All State Second Team and the all-Western State Conference First Team for the second time.  Porter is one of the greatest playmakers in program history.  He led the Cougars with 43 assists and ranks 2^nd all time at Cuesta with 102 dished out over the past three seasons. Porter also scored 24 goals of his own this season.     

The Cougars placed Returning Freshman Johnny Northcutt (Visalia) and Freshmen Ronan Bailey (Fresno) on the 2021 All-Western State Conference Second Team.  Northcutt tied for second on the team with 55 goals scored and was third on the team with 33 fouls drawn. He also tied Jacob Sill with a team-high six goals in the playoffs. Bailey was also a key part of the Cougars' offense.  He netted 39 goals and was second on the team 38 fouls drawn for the season. 

Returning Freshmen Danilo Vujovic (Nis, SRB), Eron Ray (Arroyo Grande HS) and Nick Taylor (Porterville) joined Freshman Garrett Paxton (Roseville) as 2021 All-WSC Honorable Mention selections.

Coach John Marsh was recognized as the 2021 Western State Conference Coach of the Year for the seventh time.  Marsh led Cuesta to the program's 29^h conference title and 42^nd straight playoff berth.  The Cougars finished the season 28-8 overall and reached the 2021 CCCAA Regional Semi-Final, where they fell to eventual CCCAA State Champion Golden West.  The loss to the Rustlers, who's only CCCAA loss of the year was to Cuesta, knocked the Cougars out of the CCCAA State Final Four.  The Cougars also dropped the CCCAA Regional's 3^rd place game to Grossmont and finish the tournament in 4^th place. 

All American                                      Jacob Sill

All American                                      Joshua Halopoff

All American                                      Colton Boyd

2021 All State

First Team                                         Jacob Sill

First Team                                         Joshua Halopoff

First Team                                         Colton Boyd

Second Team                                   Dean Moody

Second Team                                   Layne Porter

2021   All-WSC Honors

Player of the Year                            Jacob Sill

First Team                                     Joshua Halopoff

First Team                                     Colton Boyd

First Team                                     Dean Moody

First Team                                     Layne Porter

Second Team                               Johnny Northcutt

Second Team                               Ronan Bailey

Honorable Mention                       Danilo Vujovic

Honorable Mention                        Nick Taylor

Honorable Mention                        Eron Ray

Honorable Mention                        Garrett Paxton