Former UCLA Water Polo National Champion Patrick Woepse Passes Away

Former UCLA men's water polo player Patrick Daniel Woepse passed away on Thursday night, Oct. 10, at the age of 31. He died at a hospital surrounded by friends and family members in Newport Beach, Calif., after a 13-month battle with a rare form of aggressive stage 4 lung cancer (NUT carcinoma).

Woepse, who married UCLA women's water polo standout and 2020 Olympic MVP, Maddie Musselman Woepse, was a five-year member of the Bruins' team from 2012-16. He played for UCLA head coach Adam Wright and was an integral part of the 2014 and 2015 NCAA Championship teams that went on to set the UCLA, MPSF, and NCAA record for most consecutive victories at 57 (spanned 2014-16 seasons).

"During my tenure at UCLA, I have been so fortunate to have had players that have made an impact on our program and our culture, but none more greater than the impact made by Patrick Woepse," said Wright. "He has made a great impact on my life and he made such a deep impact on all of his teammate's lives that it can't be measured. He changed the course of our program, one that was trying to right its course. He was the most selfless kid and I can honestly say that he had the greatest impact on changing our culture, and that is a very rare thing."

An undersized center, Woepse, who was listed at 6-foot-1 and 195 pounds, redshirted his first season on campus in 2012. He only played in five matches of the 2013 campaign, but increased that number to 13 matches in 2014, shooting at an impressive 61.1 percent (11 of 18 shots). The 2014 season culminated with Wright's first NCAA title as a head coach.

Woepse and the Bruins would repeat as NCAA Champions in 2015, going 30-0 overall, defeating USC, 10-7, in the finals at home. He would earn MPSF All-Academic honors his last two years and also garnered ACWPC All-Academic accolades in 2015 and 2016 as well. He played in 20 matches in 2015 and another 19 with four starts in 2016. For his career, he scored 35 goals, drew 89 exclusions, and registered 18 steals.

In 2016, Woepse was a recipient of the Bruin Leadership Award and was one of two student-athletes honored with the 2016 Pac-12 Leadership Award. Woepse was a member of the Pac-12 Student-Athlete Leadership Team (SALT) and served as president of the Bruin Athletic Council during the 2015-16 school year.

In 2015, Woepse, along with Bruin teammate Danny McClintick, was injured in a car accident during the off-season and was unable to play for Team USA at the World University Games (July 2-14) in Gwangju, South Korea, but traveled with the team and served as Team USA's video coordinator.

In 2023, Wright and Woepse's teammates established The Patrick Woepse Foundation. It was created to recognize the legacy and contribution of Woepse to the UCLA Men's Water Polo program. As part of the foundation, UCLA created an annual award to recognize a senior who demonstrates commitment, work ethic, selflessness, and the highest level of integrity within the program. To further solidify Woepse's values and experience at UCLA, the foundation also serves to strengthen the relationship between the team and the alumni who care deeply about the success of the athletes - both in and out of the water. The foundation will fund raise money for the award recipient, who in return will become an active member of the foundation. The Patrick Woepse Foundation Board Members include his teammates, Anthony Daboub, Daniel Lenhart, Danny McClintick, Paul Reynolds, and Ryder Roberts. You can support the foundation via Venmo to @PW_Foundation or send a check payable to: The Patrick Woespse Foundation, LLC at 914 W 17th Street, Costa Mesa, CA 92627.

Woepse grew up as the youngest of four children (brothers Gregory and Michael and sister Elizabeth). He attended Mater Dei High School and played on the varsity water polo team for his head coach, Chris Segesman. He earned All-Trinity League honors his junior and senior seasons (2010-11) for the Monarchs and also earned third team All-CIF plaudits in 2011 as Mater Dei won three straight CIF Championships (2009-11).

He comes from a long line of Bruins as his mother, Sharon, attended UCLA; his sister, Elizabeth, competed for the Bruin women in the pole vault from 2005-08; his brother, Gregory, won a Pac-10 pole vaulting championship in 2011 for the Bruins; his brother, Michael, was also a standout on the UCLA men's track and field team and was an NCAA runner-up in the pole vault in 2012. Additionally, his father, Gregory, was a world class pole vaulter (18-7) and went to San Jose State.

Woepse is survived by his wife, Maddie; his brothers, Gregory and Michael; his sister, Elizabeth; and his parents, Gregory and Sharon.

"Patrick will forever be remembered as a fighter and an inspiration to so many people," said Maddie Musselman Woespse. "He spoke of UCLA every day and credited his work ethic and drive to the UCLA Water Polo program and every person he crossed paths with on campus. The reason Patrick and I met each other was through our UCLA connections and we will forever be UCLA Bruin fans! He is cheering all of us on from heaven and shining his light on us daily. Cancer didn't win, Patrick Woepse won. May he live on in us forever."

A gofundme page has been set up to support Maddie and Patrick Woepse during this difficult time. You can find it by clicking here.

There will be a Celebration of Life on a date that is to be determined. This story will be updated with the details once they are finalized.

Here are some good stories about his fight leading up to the Paris Olympic Games:
Maddie Musselman's husband has a rare form of cancer at 30. Now, he's at the Olympics cheering her on in water polo
Olympic water polo player Maddie Musselman inspired by husband's stand against cancer
US water polo star prepares for Paris Olympics as husband battles lung cancer

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Former UCLA Water Polo National Champion Patrick Woepse Passes Away

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Former UCLA Water Polo National Champion Patrick Woepse Passes Away

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