2025
Did not play … Bruins captured program’s 14th NCAA title and No. 125 for UCLA Athletics, beating top-seeded USC in 11-10 thriller (Dec. 7).
HIGH SCHOOL
Was a two-year letterwinner in water polo as a center/defender at Newport Harbor High School (junior and senior seasons) … also a two-year letterwinner in swimming at NHHS, winning multiple Trinity League swimming medals … was a CIF Champion in water polo in 2024, earning First-Team All-League and Second-Team All-CIF honors his senior season … also earned a varsity letter in water polo at Mater Dei High School where he earned the Best Defender award in 2022 … played club water polo with North Irvine Water Polo Club and was a member of their Elite 18U Boys Team: The Beast Boys (along with current Bruin and incoming freshman, Jackson Harlan) … won back-to-back Junior Olympics titles in 2024 and 2025 with two different teams.
PERSONAL
Full name: Santino L. Rossi … born in Sacramento, Calif. … parents are Lisa Rossi and Mark Rossi … has one older brother, Maximo Rossi (22), and one older sister, Genoa Rossi (21) … both of his siblings, Maximo (graduated) and Genoa (current senior) played water polo at UCLA … chose UCLA because “It offers the highest level of both athletic and academic competition.” … lists winning back-to-back Junior Olympic gold medals with two different teams as something people may not know about him … lists NBA star Stephen Curry as the athlete he admires most … enjoys surfing, skiing, and watching football games, in his spare time … majoring in pre-political science.
Did not play … Bruins captured program’s 14th NCAA title and No. 125 for UCLA Athletics, beating top-seeded USC in 11-10 thriller (Dec. 7).
HIGH SCHOOL
Was a two-year letterwinner in water polo as a center/defender at Newport Harbor High School (junior and senior seasons) … also a two-year letterwinner in swimming at NHHS, winning multiple Trinity League swimming medals … was a CIF Champion in water polo in 2024, earning First-Team All-League and Second-Team All-CIF honors his senior season … also earned a varsity letter in water polo at Mater Dei High School where he earned the Best Defender award in 2022 … played club water polo with North Irvine Water Polo Club and was a member of their Elite 18U Boys Team: The Beast Boys (along with current Bruin and incoming freshman, Jackson Harlan) … won back-to-back Junior Olympics titles in 2024 and 2025 with two different teams.
PERSONAL
Full name: Santino L. Rossi … born in Sacramento, Calif. … parents are Lisa Rossi and Mark Rossi … has one older brother, Maximo Rossi (22), and one older sister, Genoa Rossi (21) … both of his siblings, Maximo (graduated) and Genoa (current senior) played water polo at UCLA … chose UCLA because “It offers the highest level of both athletic and academic competition.” … lists winning back-to-back Junior Olympic gold medals with two different teams as something people may not know about him … lists NBA star Stephen Curry as the athlete he admires most … enjoys surfing, skiing, and watching football games, in his spare time … majoring in pre-political science.