The Cuesta Men's Water Polo team finished the 2025 campaign with the program's 46th consecutive playoff berth; the program has never missed the post-season since its founding in 1979. However, the Cougars fell short of a sixth straight Western State Conference title, after dropping the conference final to Los Angeles Valley, although Cuesta earned a measure of revenge after taking down the same Monarchs in the first round of the playoffs. Cuesta lost in the next round to the eventual State Champion Golden West and completed the season with a 19-16 overall record.
All the Cougars' success in the tank earned them plenty of post-season accolades. Eight Cuesta players earned all-WSC honors, including All American Goalie Ezra Smeltzer (Paso Robles HS, Pict-L) and all-State selections Johnny Starr (Bakersfield: Garces HS, Pict Top R) and Dustin Drobeck (San Diego: La Jolla HS, Pict Bot R).
Freshman Goaltender Ezra Smeltzer was the Cougars' lone 3C2A All American this year and joins a long list of elite Cuesta netminders. He is the 12th Cuesta netminder to earn all-American over the past 47 seasons. Smeltzer posted a 17-13 record in the nets, while pulling down a team-high 219 saves.
Returning All American Johnny Starr repeated on the all-State list and was joined by fellow Sophomore Dustin Drobeck on the 2025 3C2A All-State Second Team and the all-WSC First Team.
Two- Time All-State selection Johnny Starr seamlessly glued the Cougars' attack together, while integrating each of his teammates into the action. Starr was second on the team with 84 goals scored, which ranks 18th all time, while his 62 assists represent the third best mark by a Cougar. He was also third on the team with both 28 fouls drawn and 37 steals. Starr's legacy with the Cougars is secure. His totals of 139 career goals and 88 career assists rank 16th and 6th all time for the Cougars, respectively.
Sophomore Center Dustin Drobeck blossomed in his second season in San Luis Obispo by becoming only the ninth Cuesta Poloist to achieve the century mark in scoring. Drobeck led the Cougars with 101 goals as a sophomore, which was 90 more than his 2024 total. The focal point of the Cougars' attack, Drobeck finished strong by contributing seven tallies to Cuesta's 17 total playoff goals.
2025 Cuesta College Athlete of the Year Grant Huston (Gig Harbor HS, WA) joined Smeltzer, Starr and Drobeck on the 2025 All-Western State Conference First Team. Huston was easily the fastest man in the tank and led the Cougars counterattack, but the southpaw also helped balance the Cougars' frontcourt offense. He was second on the team with 55 assists and joined Starr as a member of the Cougars' All-Time Top 10 Assisters. On defense, he also led the squad with a team-high 49 steals.
Freshmen Thor Samuel (Pasadena: Muir) and Ryan Scott (Clovis HS) were both tabbed for the 2025 All-WSC Second Team. Samuel blossomed at the right time, with the Cougars hovering at .500 at mid-season. Samuel posted, a then, season-high against four goals at Pomona and went on a tear by netting 38 of his 54 goals in the next 16 games. Samuel was also third on the team with 30 assists and earned a team-high 39 fouls drawn. Scott stepped into a starting role during his sophomore campaign and posted 26 goals and dished out 30 assists on offense.
Freshmen Luke Paley (Clovis: Buchanan HS) and Grayson Cunningham (Lemoore HS) were both accorded all-WSC Honorable Mention. Paley started 30 games, while scoring 30 goals and dishing out 27 assists, while Cunningham is another Cuesta player that improved all season. Cunningham had only two goals at mid-season, but, after a four-goal game against St Mary's, he came off the bench to add instant offense 19 goals over the last 20 regular season games.
2025 All American
All American Ezra Smeltzer
2025 All State
First Team Ezra Smeltzer
Second Team Johnny Starr
Second Team Dustin Drobeck
2025 All-Western State Conference Honors
First Team Ezra Smeltzer
First Team Johnny Starr
First Team Dustin Drobeck
First Team Grant Huston
Second Team Thor Samuel
Second Team Ryan Scott
Honorable Mention Luke Paley
Honorable Mention Grayson Cunningham
