SAN BRUNO, Calif. – Air Force attacker Jack Richards captured his second KAP7 West Coast Conference Men’s Water Polo Player of the Week award in 2026, while Loyola Marymount goalkeeper Pablo De Souza collected his first Newcomer of the Week honor.

KAP7 WEST COAST CONFERENCE PLAYER OF THE WEEK – JACK RICHARDS, SR., A – AIR FORCE
Jack Richards earned his second Player of the Week award of the season after tallying 26 points on 13 goals and 13 assists across four games played. He posted a team-leading four goals and an assist for five points against No. 18 Navy, eight points on three goals and five assists in a win over Biola, six points on two goals and four assists against No. 14 UC Santa Barbara, and a team-high seven points on four goals and three assists in a win over Wagner. Richards scored 21 points (nine goals, 12 assists) overall playing in three of four games at the Rare Air Challenge.

Also Nominated: Bence Barics, Loyola Marymount; Noah Bigara, Saint Mary's; Hunter Danko, Pepperdine; Sam Keightley, San José State

KAP7 WEST COAST CONFERENCE NEWCOMER OF THE WEEK – PABLO DE SOUZA, SR., G – LOYOLA MARYMOUNT
Pablo De Souza turned in a stellar week between the pipes, making 32 saves with 2 steals and standing tall in the cage against three top-ranked opponents. His signature performance came in the Battle of the Kings, where he came up with nine saves, several of them at point-blank range and one on a penalty shot, to preserve a one-goal lead in the final minutes and secure LMU's upset of No. 7 UC San Diego. He followed that with a 16-save effort against No. 8 UC Irvine, repeatedly rescuing a Lions defense that was outshot 36-28, and turned in another gutsy showing with seven saves in a wild, back-and-forth double-overtime battle with No. 18 Navy. This is the first KAP7 West Coast Conference Newcomer of the Week honor for De Souza, who joined LMU this season after previously starring at Concordia.
 
Also nominated: Noah Bigara, Saint Mary's; Hunter Danko, Pepperdine; Thomas Kiesling, UC Davis; Kai Lewis, San José State

2026 KAP7 West Coast Conference Men’s Water Polo Players of the Week 
September 1: Tom Leggett, Air Force
September 8: Jack Richards, Air Force
September 15: Tom Leggett, Air Force
September 22: Erik Ionescu, Pepperdine
September 29: Jack Richards, Air Force

2026 KAP7 West Coast Conference Men’s Water Polo Newcomers of the Week 
September 1: Lucas Wulfhorst, UC Davis
September 8: Lucas Wulfhorst, UC Davis
September 15: Wyatt Sturgeon, Air Force
September 22: Hunter Danko, Pepperdine
September 29: Pablo De Souza, Loyola Marymount