LOS ANGELES — Ryder Dodd fueled the argument that he is the best U.S. men’s water polo prospect since Tony Azevedo by reaching a “dream” accomplishment Tuesday with his brother Chase.
Ryder, 18, and Chase, 21, became first-time Olympians as the U.S. federation announced its 13-player men’s roster for the Paris Games.
Ryder, who turned 18 on Jan. 19, follows the footsteps of the legendary Azevedo, U.S. captain Ben Hallock and Thomas Dunstan (Mater Dei) as players from the past seven Olympics cycles who have made the U.S. team as recent high school graduates.
But with a birthday in January, Ryder will be younger at the Paris Games than those players were when they made their Olympic debuts.
“I have Tony beat,” the recent JSerra graduate said with a chuckle. “It’s a dream come true (to be an Olympian). Growing up with my brother, always watching the Olympic Games and thinking one day hopefully we’re there, maybe even together.”
“The bond that we have is incredible,” Ryder said of Chase, who attended at Huntington Beach. “It’s why I’m going to college with him next year (at UCLA).”
Ryder and Chase became the first set of brothers to make a U.S. men’s Olympic team since Peter and Jeff Campbell (University High, UC Irvine) in 1988.
The Dodd’s selection helped highlight a roster announcement that featured 10 returners from a squad that reached the quarterfinals in 2020.
“They have a really big heart, huge engine in them,” two-time Olympian Hannes Daube (Orange Lutheran/USC) said of the brothers. “They really lift the team up.”
Ryder, a swift attacker from Long Beach, projects as a reserve behind Johnny Hooper (Harvard-Westlake) while Chase is a utility player off the bench.
U.S. coach Dejan Udovicic, headed to his third Olympics with Team USA, praised Ryder but cautioned that Azevedo, a five-time Olympian and silver medalist in 2008, resides in a class of his own.
“I want to be very clear, Tony is Tony,” Udovicic said. “(Ryder) is one of the most talented guys in the world, not just counting his age. Counting (players born from) 2004-2008. … He can go for five Olympic Games for sure.”
Chase predicted his brother’s rise early during their playing days at Huntington Beach.
“I’m so proud of him it’s insane,” Chase said of Ryder, The Register’s male athlete of the year for 2023-24 and O.C. boys water polo player of the year. “He’s going to be one of the best players in the world.”
“Me and Ryder have a very competitive relationship,” Chase added. “Having that competitive relationship just helps us get to these types of levels. … It makes us want to be the best we can be.”
Men’s water polo: Chase Dodd, left, and his brother Ryder Dodd on becoming Olympians and the challenges ahead at #ParisOlympics, Team USA opens v Italy on July 28 @USAWP pic.twitter.com/PevlKgoNbD
— Dan Albano (@ocvarsityguy) June 19, 2024
The U.S. roster also included three-time Olympian Luca Cupido (Newport Harbor), who said Paris could be his final Olympics.
“Probably most likely the last hurrah,” Cupido said of the Paris Games. “I’m taking this thinking it could be the last one and if it’s not, great, but I’m going to enjoy it like it was the last one.”
Other selections were first-time Olympic goalie Adrian Weinberg and returners Marko Vavic, Alex Obert, Dylan Woodhead, Alex Bowen, Max Irving and goalie Drew Holland.
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