Rafael Real Vergara
Photo by: Ross Turteltaub
Real Vergara Named UCLA Student-Athlete of Week, presented by Ready
September 26, 2023 | Men's Water Polo
Senior attacker Rafael Real Vergara of the UCLA men's water polo team has been selected the UCLA Student-Athlete of the Week, presented by Ready, for Sept. 18-24.
Real Vergara helped lead UCLA to a 4-0 record and MPSF Invitational victory last week to remain undefeated on the year at 13-0. The No. 2 Bruins picked up three top four wins en route to the title, defeating No. 4 Pepperdine, No. 3 USC and No. 1 California. Real Vergara led the tournament field in scoring with 16 goals in just three games while shooting at a .667 clip (16-for-24). He scored five goals and added a steal in the win over Pepperdine and had a season-high seven goals to go with two assists (nine points) and a steal in the win at USC. He finished the tournament with four goals and three assists (seven points) in the upset win of California, snapping the Golden Bears' 15-game winning streak, and snapping a seven-game losing streak to Cal in the process.
This is Real Vergara's first UCLA student-athlete of the week award of the season and of his career.
Also nominated: Ally Cook, W. Soccer; Patrick Curulla, M. Cross Country; Mia Kane, W. Cross Country; Kain Medrano, Football; Iman Ndiaye, W. Volleyball; Luke Powell, M. Golf; Meghan Royal, W. Golf; Jack Sarkos, M. Soccer.
Previous winners: Sept. 17 – Jack Larsen, M. Water Polo; Sept. 12 – Sunshine Fontes, W. Soccer; Sept. 5 - Iman Ndiaye, W. Volleyball; Aug. 29 – Ally Cook, W. Soccer; Aug. 22 – Jayden Perry, W. Soccer.
Real Vergara helped lead UCLA to a 4-0 record and MPSF Invitational victory last week to remain undefeated on the year at 13-0. The No. 2 Bruins picked up three top four wins en route to the title, defeating No. 4 Pepperdine, No. 3 USC and No. 1 California. Real Vergara led the tournament field in scoring with 16 goals in just three games while shooting at a .667 clip (16-for-24). He scored five goals and added a steal in the win over Pepperdine and had a season-high seven goals to go with two assists (nine points) and a steal in the win at USC. He finished the tournament with four goals and three assists (seven points) in the upset win of California, snapping the Golden Bears' 15-game winning streak, and snapping a seven-game losing streak to Cal in the process.
This is Real Vergara's first UCLA student-athlete of the week award of the season and of his career.
Also nominated: Ally Cook, W. Soccer; Patrick Curulla, M. Cross Country; Mia Kane, W. Cross Country; Kain Medrano, Football; Iman Ndiaye, W. Volleyball; Luke Powell, M. Golf; Meghan Royal, W. Golf; Jack Sarkos, M. Soccer.
Previous winners: Sept. 17 – Jack Larsen, M. Water Polo; Sept. 12 – Sunshine Fontes, W. Soccer; Sept. 5 - Iman Ndiaye, W. Volleyball; Aug. 29 – Ally Cook, W. Soccer; Aug. 22 – Jayden Perry, W. Soccer.
Players Mentioned
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