2025 Division II All-Americans announced, Concordia takes home top individual awards
Concordia continued rewriting its record books with the NCAA Division II All-America release Thursday by the Association of Collegiate Water Polo Coaches (ACWPC).
Pablo de Souza was named Player of the Year, Justin Johnson took home Coach of the Year, and Konstantinos Koulouris earned Assistant Coach of the Year.
The Golden Eagles, who won their first-ever Western Water Polo Association title and made quite the impression during their inaugural appearance at the National Collegiate Water Polo Championship, headlined the Division II All-America Teams composed solely of Western Water Polo Association (WWPA) student-athletes.
The All-America First Team closely mirrored the All-WWPA First Team released on Nov. 19: Marko Zivojinovic (Salem), Alexandros Kotskar (Gannon), Gavin McKenzie (Biola), Hugo Wouters (Concordia), Dimitrios Koritsas (Concordia), Armand Le Goff (McKendree), de Souza (Concordia), and Forrest Gray (Fresno Pacific), who was an All-WWPA Second Team selection.
The Honorable Mention team consisted of Danko Kesic (Salem), Adam LaVoy (Biola), Kai Young (Concordia), and Chase Hammes (Fresno Pacific).
The POY award capped an incredible junior campaign for de Souza, who also earned WWPA Player of the Year, WWPA Championship Most Outstanding Player, and spots on the All-WWPA First Team and All-WWPA Defensive Team. The Brazilian set the single-season school record for saves (349) and led the conference in save percentage (.524) and goals against average (10.58). He turned heads with 16 saves in the NCAA Opening Round game against No. 1 USC.
Johnson was awarded the Coach of the Year honor for the first time. In addition to earning WWPA Coach of the Year, the third-year head coach guided CUI to its most wins in program history with a 21-13 overall record. Johnson, a former national champion during his undergrad years at UCLA, notably caught his alma mater's biggest rival off-guard on the Golden Eagles' opening offensive possession against the Trojans.
Koulouris is no stranger to pool decks within the WWPA, having been the 2024 WWPA Co-Player of the Year and a Division II First Team selection himself.
Salem's Marko Zivojinovic was named an ACWPC First Team All-American for the fourth consecutive season after leading the WWPA in points (163) and assists (65).
Zivojinovic and Gannon's Alexandros Kotskar are the only repeat First Team honorees. Kotskar, a senior, previously was named to the top team in 2023.
ACWPC Division II All-America (PDF)
Player of the Year: Pablo de Souza, Concordia
Coach of the Year: Justin Johnson, Concordia
Assistant Coach of the Year: Konstantinos Koulouris, Concordia
First Team
Gavin McKenzie, Biola
Hugo Wouters, Concordia
Dimitrios Koritsas, Concordia
Forrest Gray, Fresno Pacific
Alexandros Kotskar, Gannon
Armand Le Goff, McKendree
Marko Zivojinovic, Salem
Pablo de Souza, Concordia
Honorable Mention
Danko Kesic, Salem
Adam LaVoy, Biola
Kai Young, Concordia
Chase Hammes, Fresno Pacific