University of California, Los Angeles, Athletics
Ryder Dodd Named Peter J. Cutino Award Finalist
January 27, 2026 | Men's Water Polo
SAN FRANCISCO -- The Olympic Club has announced the men's finalists for the Peter J. Cutino Award, an iconic honor in NCAA water polo to recognize the best men's and women's players each year. UCLA's Ryder Dodd has been named a finalist, following the Bruins' second straight NCAA Championship over the USC Trojans.
Dodd led UCLA to a second consecutive national championship and was named ACWPC Player of the Year and a First Team All-American for the second time in two years. Dodd, who also repeated as MPSF Player of the Year, led the league in scoring with 98 goals and 132 total points (34 assists) in 2025. He led the Bruins and finished second in the conference in sprints won with 39 on the season and third on the team and ninth in the MPSF in steals (32). Dodd also registered nine field blocks, three saves, and was fourth on the squad in drawn exclusions (32).
Dodd was named a finalist alongside USC's Robert López-Duart and Mihailo Vukazic. The women's finalists will be announced following the conclusion of the women's season.
The Cutino Awards will take place on the evening of Saturday, June 6 at The Olympic Club in San Francisco. The ceremony will be live-streamed free of charge courtesy of USA Water Polo on Overnght.com. The broadcast will feature interviews with finalists, athletes, coaches plus the Cutino Award ceremony in its entirety.
Established in 1999 by The Olympic Club, the Cutino Award is given annually to the top men's and women's NCAA Division I water polo players as voted on by coaches from across the country. The namesake of the award is a legend in United States water polo history, with eight NCAA titles as head coach at Cal. The Olympic Club has a long and distinguished competitive water polo history, a tradition that continues today in the pool with some of the best age-group teams in the world.
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Founded in 1860, The Olympic Club enjoys the distinction of being among the oldest athletic clubs in America. Since its birth, The Olympic Club has fostered amateur athletics in San Francisco. The Winged "O" currently fields teams in 19 sports. Additionally, The Olympic Club has hosted five U.S. Opens, and looks forward to hosting the 2028 PGA Championship and 2032 Ryder Cup at its world-class Lakeside Clubhouse golf courses.
