Three Men's Water Polo Players Earn Mid-Atlantic Conference Honors
11/20/2024 12:00:00 PM | Men's Water Polo
LEWISBURG, Pa. -- Bucknell Water Polo had three players recognized on the 2024 All-Mid-Atlantic Water Polo Conference Team, marking the most selections since 2018. Senior center and co-captain Matt Ryckman from Caracas, Venezuela, earned a spot on the First Team, junior attacker Aleksa Stefanovic from Belgrade, Serbia, was named to the Second Team, and sophomore goalkeeper David Dumitru from Bucharest, Romania, earned Honorable Mention.
Ryckman had an impressive season, finishing as the fifth-highest scorer on the team with 32 goals. He played a crucial role in the Bison's success, including a game-tying goal against Mount St. Mary's that ultimately led to an overtime victory. Ryckman also scored four goals in the final game of the season against Wagner, helping the Bison secure a win in overtime. Throughout his career, he has contributed to four MAWPC Tournament appearances for Bucknell.
Stefanovic was the team's top scorer, registering 84 goals. He scored nine goals against Navy and has been a key offensive force for Bucknell over the past three years. In his sophomore year, Stefanovic earned Honorable Mention All-American honors from the Association of Collegiate Water Polo Coaches (ACWPC) after leading Bucknell in goals with 54. He played in all 26 games this season and was a First Team All-MAWPC honoree in 2022.
Dumitru had a standout season as the Bison's goalkeeper, recording 207 saves and 180 steals to anchor the defense. He recorded 17 saves against Salem and scored a goal for the Bison during the George Washington game earlier in the season. His defensive prowess earned him his first all-conference recognition, underscoring his importance to the team's success this year.
Bucknell is the No. 5 seed in this week's MAWPC Tournament at Navy, and the Bison will face No. 4 Wagner in the first round on Friday at 4:30 p.m.Â
