Air Force opens season by hosting Rare Air Challenge

This Week: Air Force opens the 2021 season by hosting the Rare Air Challenge, Sept. 3-5, at the Academy's Cadet Natatorium. The Falcons open the season against Claremont-Mudd-Scripps on Saturday, Sept. 4, at 10:15 am MT. Air Force will then play Mt. San Antonio College on Sept. 4 at 5:45 pm MT, McKendree University on Sept. 5 at noon MT and California Lutheran on Sept. 5 at 3:30 pm MT.

Series Records: The tournament will be the first meeting for the Falcons against both Mt. SAC and Mckendree. Air Force holds a 37-6 lead in the series against CMS. The last meeting between Air Force and CMS came in 2018 when the Falcons won 11-8 in Claremont. The Falcons hold a 10-0 lead in the series against CLU. The last meeting was in 2018 when the Falcons defeated CLU, 12-7, at CLU.

About the Schedule: Following the Rare Air Challenge, Air Force travels to Riverside, Calif., for the annual Inland Empire Tournament. The Falcons then return home to host Fresno Pacific in the Wester Water Polo Association opener, Sept. 18, at the Cadet Natatorium. Air Force will play 10 home games this season.For the most updated Air Force water polo schedule, click here.

Who's Back: Air Force returns five of its top seven scorers from the 2020 season. Junior Grant Snyder led the team with 33 goals and 50 points in 11 games last season. Senior Sam Fuller was third on the team with 25 points, senior Gavin Jones was fourth with 18 points, junior Alex Hirjoi and sophomore Ian Christie were tied for fifth with 15 points. Both goalies return as well with senior Anthony Tolbert and junior A.J. Kuypers combining to start all 11 games last season. Kuypers started six and had a 3-3 record with a .364 saves percentage. Tolbert started five games and had a 1-4 record with a .358 saves percentage.

All-American Grant Snyder: Grant Snyder earned second-team All-America honors from the Collegiate Water Polo Coaches (ACWPC) in 2020. His second-team All-America honor is the highest in program history. Snyder, from Springville, Calif., ranked in the top 10 in the nation in nearly every statistical category. He was third in the nation in points (50), sixth in goals (33), sixth in assists (17) and seventh in steals (19). He also led the nation in sprint victories with 32.
An all-WWPA selection, he posted at least one point in all 11 games and scored a goal in 10 of the 11. Against conference foe Loyola Marymount, Snyder recorded career bests of eight goals and 10 points. He had four or more points in a game eight times.

2020 Champions: Air Force won its first ever WWPA regular season championship in 2020 with a perfect 2-0 record in conference play. The Falcons defeated Loyola Marymount, 15-13 in overtime, and Cal Baptist, 15-14, in overtime, in designated conference games. Air Force was the No. 1 seed in the WWPA Tournament for the first time ever, but fell to Cal Baptist, 11-9, in the title game. Air Force finished the season ranked eighth in the nation. The Falcons finished the season with a 4-7 overall record.

Air Force opens season by hosting Rare Air Challenge

Players Mentioned

Ian Christie

Sam Fuller

Alex Hirjoi

Gavin Jones

A.J. Kuypers

Grant Snyder

Anthony Tolbert

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