Cugnoni, Wagner Named 1st Team All-WSC for MPolo

The 2023 All-Western State Conference men's water polo awards have been released with Pirates Owen Cugnoni and Scott Wagner headlining the first team award winners for Ventura. Meanwhile, Michael Soho and Sebastian Cornejo were named second team All-WSC by the conference coaches and Thomas Vels and Matthew Ogonowski earned honorable mention honors.

Cugnoni, an Oxnard High School product, was the Pirates leading scorer with 99 goals on the season. The utility player also drew 30 exclusions in 22 games played, which tied for the team lead. 

Wagner, a sophomore from Westlake High School, was second on the team with 40 goals and 27 assists from his defender position. He also pulled in 26 steals in 22 contests and drew 30 exclusions on VC opponents.

Rio Mesa High School grad Soho, a freshman, scored 34 goals with 20 assists and 16 steals while Cornejo, a sophomore and former Rio Mesa Spartan, had 19 goals and team-bests with 29 assists and 37 steals. 

Vels, a sophomore from Westlake High School, recorded 14 goals, 11 assists and 21 steals and Ogonowski, a sophomore out of Buena High School, had six goals, 17 assists and five steals.

The Pirates had a comeback year of sorts with an 11-14 record overall, placing fourth in the Western State Conference Tournament, after a winless 2022 campaign.