Four Beach Players Named ACWPC All-Americans

LONG BEACH, Calif. – The Association of Collegiate Water Polo Coaches (ACWPC) announced the 2024 Men's Water Polo All-America Teams, and four Long Beach State players were recognized for their outstanding seasons for the Beach.

After earning Big West Player and Freshman of the Year after a fantastic season, freshman Gabi Acosta was named to the All-American Second Team. The center led the team and conference in goal scored with 64. Acosta was a key player for the 2024 Big West Champions since his first game of the year. After missing the Triton Invite due to international competition with team Spain, Acosta scored a hat trick against Biola and four goals against Brown in his first appearance for the Beach.

During the season, Acosta had a career-high of five goals against UC Santa Barbara on the last game of conference play and scored four goals in five opportunities. The freshman also earned 34 ejections and added 28 steals in the year and was also recognized as an All-Big West First Team and All-Freshman Team. Earlier in the year, the center was selected to the Cutino Award Watch List which recognizes the best player of the year.

Acosta becomes the 25th Long Beach State player to be selected as a Second Team All-American.

Joining Acosta were seniors Evan Cain and Aaron Wilson as well as freshman Corbin Stanley all earning All-American Honorable Mention. This was Cain's second year in a row earning the recognition. The senior had also been named to the All-Big West First Team after another helping the Beach win their first Big West title. Cain added 49 goals and 18 assists, as well as 27 steals and ten field blocks in his last season for the Beach.

Senior Aaron Wilson also earned recognition from the ACWPC. Wilson was named the Most Valuable Player of the Big West Championships and earned All-Big West First Team. The senior goalkeeper split time in the cage with fellow senior Liam Ward and added 173 saves in his only season at the Beach. Wilson started in 15 games with the Beach winning 12 of them, he led the team with 33 steals and added 15 assists.

Corbin Stanley had an outstanding first season for the Beach and earned All-American Honorable mention. Stanley was also named to the All-Freshman conference team and recognized by the league with honorable mention. The freshman center was second on the team in goals with 51 scored and led the team in earned ejections with 41. Stanley is currently representing Team USA at the World Aquatics World Cup Division 1 in Bucharest, Romania.

The Beach now had 86 players recognized as All-Americans in program history.

Calendar

Players Mentioned

Gabi Acosta

Evan Cain

Corbin Stanley

Liam Ward

Aaron Wilson

Long Beach State University Athletics