Courtesy: USC Athletics
The men’s Watch List for collegiate water polo’s highest honor — the Peter J. Cutino Award — is out, and USC’s Max Miller and Massimo Di Martire have landed a place on the list. The Cutino Award, named in honor of the late Hall of Fame coach, recognizes the best player in men’s and women’s college water polo.
Di Martire and Miller are at the top of USC’s season score sheet with 26 and 27 goals, respectively, while leading the team with eight multiple-goal games apiece. Second-year grad student Di Martire has scored in 14 games for USC, clocking multi-goal appearances in key matchups against MPSF opponents. One of the team’s senior captains, Miller is looking to lead the Trojans to the NCAA Tournament for a 19th straight season. He leads USC in exclusions earned with 41 to date.
In its second year, the Cutino Award Watch List is a collaboration between USA Water Polo, The Olympic Club and the Association of Collegiate Water Polo Coaches (ACWPC). Twenty male athletes, as submitted by varsity college coaches around the country, are recognized for their excellent play. The Watch List is completely independent from the nomination and voting process for the Cutino Award, as that honor will acknowledge the full impact of the 2023 season. A women’s Cutino Award Watch List will be released in Spring 2024.