Our Leadership and Our Coaches

Honors and Awards

• 2023, 2024, 2025 ACWPC Academic All-American (Superior)
• 2024 Big West Commissioner's Honor Roll (Highest Honors)
• 2025 Big West Conference All-Academic Team
• 2024-25 Big West Commissioner's List - Highest Honors

Lucy Holland is a fourth-year goalkeeper for the UC Davis Division I Women’s Water Polo team. She began playing water polo at the age of 11 with West Valley Water Polo Club after watching her dad play her whole life. At Los Gatos High School, she was a four-year varsity goalie, and three sport athlete, lettering in Varsity Lacrosse and Swimming as well. She earned recognition as the Santa Clara Valley Athletic League Most Valuable Goalie and a spot on the All-Central Coast Section Second Team during her senior year.

In addition to competing, Lucy began coaching at the age of 15, using her experience and knowledge to mentor younger players. She also honed her skills by regularly attending Jack Bowen’s Goalie Combines starting in 8th grade, which helped solidify her technique and foundational training. She uses the culmination of coaching ideas from her high school and club teams, outside clinics and camps, and three years of DI water polo experience in order to effectively coach the goalies of Davis Water Polo Club

HONORS & AWARDS

• 2023 ACWPC Superior Academic All-American
• 2024-25 Big West Commissioner's List - Highest Honors
• 2025 Second Team All-Big West
• 2025 Big West Tournament MVP

Before his time at UC Davis Chelsom played for Harvard-Westlake in Los Angeles. In the 2025 season he appeared in 27 out of 28 games for the Aggies in goal, recording 787 minutes...Ranked first in the Big West Conference with 226 saves and 43 steals...Also posted a .426 save percentage, which was fourth best in the conference. Davis Water Polo Club is lucky to have his skill and expertise forming our goalies.

Stapleton has led the Davis High School boys water polo program for 29 seasons and is one of Northern California's most decorated water polo coaches. During his tenure at Davis Senior High School, Stapleton collected 9 of the school's 15 San Joaquin Division I CIF Section titles. In addition to coaching water polo, Stapleton is the Davis Senior High School boys and girls swim coach and last year picked up another Division I CIF Section title in Girls Swimming.

Stapleton teaches economic and civics at Davis High School. He resides in Davis with his wife Tara. His son Connor attends Stanford University and is a member of its water polo team as well as the USA National Junior Team. Stapleton's daughter Colby is a freshman at Harvard University and a member of its water polo team. She is also a member of USA Water Polo's Olympic Development Program National Team.

Owning more than 30 years of experience at both the collegiate and international levels, Dan Leyson enters his thirteenth season at the Aggie helm in 2025.

Leyson, who owns a 127-66 overall record at UC Davis and a commanding 41-3 record in Western Water Polo Association play, brought an immediate impact to the Aggie program, guiding UC Davis to an undefeated Western Water Polo Association record in his first year. The 2015 squad then reached new heights: the program's best win-loss percentage (.692) since 2007 and the highest national ranking during the regular season (No. 9) since 2011.

For his achievements, Leyson was awarded the Monte Nitzkowski Distinguished Men's Coaching Award by USA Water Polo and served as the head coach for USA NorCal in the second season of the USAWP National League.

Never one to rest on laurels, Leyson continues to raise the bar for Aggie men's water polo. In 2016, the former U.S. National Team player and coach guided UC Davis to its first Western Water Polo Association championship and NCAA postseason appearance since 1997, setting then-school records for wins (23), winning percentage (.793), goals scored (12.6 per game) and final national ranking (No. 10).

In his seven years at UC Davis, Leyson has guided the Aggies to six winning seasons — including the last five straight — and a top-two finish at the WWPA Tournament six times, including titles in 2016, 2017, and 2019. His last four teams have also finished among the top 10 in the final national polls.

An assistant for two years (2002-04) under legendary coach Ratko Rudic for the United States National Team for the 2004 Summer Olympic Games in Athens, as well as appearances at the FINA World League (bronze medal), the 2003 World Championships, and the 2003 Pan American Games (gold medal), Leyson embarked on his coaching career at his alma mater where he was an assistant at USC from 2000-02, helping the Trojans to a third-place finish at the NCAA Championships in his first year.

Following that experience, Leyson moved on to the club level in 2005, serving as head coach of the Rose Bowl Water Polo Club, which tripled its membership to more than 200 members representing 70 schools during his tenure. He earned Best Coach accolades in the 2010 Ironman League while leading the 16-under boys team to the league's championship.

Leyson was named winner of the Bill Barnet Distinguished Men's Coach Award (Scholastic) from the U.S.A Water Polo Assembly in 2011. Three of his boys teams that year captured gold medals at the South Florida International competition. He also served as head coach for the California Coastal Zone for the Olympic Development Team (2006-07).

Returning to the collegiate ranks in 2011, Leyson was an assistant at UCLA for two years, helping the Bruins to a championship in the powerful Mountain Pacific Sports Federation and a pair of runner-up finishes at the NCAA Championships before joining the UC Davis program.

A four-year starter, a three-year scholar-athlete, and three-time All-American for the Trojans as a player — including first-team honors in 1992 when he helped lead USC to a third-place NCAA finish and led the tournament in scoring — Leyson played professionally overseas with Club Natacio Atletic-Barceloneta, a 1st-division Spanish team, until 1998. He also competed with the U.S. National Team for trips to Denmark, the Czech Republic, Mexico, Japan, and Canada, participated in three Olympic Festivals, and twice competed at the Maccabiah Games, winning a silver medal in 1993.

After earning his undergraduate degree in business from USC in 1992, Leyson went on to earn his master's in physical education, with an emphasis on coaching, from Ball State in 2008. He and his wife, Camille, are parents to daughter Mia and twin sons, Benjamin and Silas.

Dan has coached DWPC's 14u Girls and 10u, 12u, and 14u Boys.

Doug Wright leads DWPC's high school girls' program. In addition, Wright has led the Davis Senior High School girls’ water polo program for 26 seasons and was the girls swim team coach for 12 seasons. Wright started at Davis Senior High School in 1994 as the head coach for girls swimming and took over the girls’ water polo program in 1996, the year it gained CIF recognition as a varsity sport.

During his tenure, Wright has collected 17 CIF SJS D1 water polo titles and 4 D1 CIF SJS swimming titles. Wright is in his 30th year teaching and his 21st at Davis Senior High School.

Wright started his coaching career in 1990 as coach of the boys’ high school water polo team at Menlo-Atherton High School, his alma matar. Shortly thereafter, Wright attended UC Davis where he both swam and played water polo. As a senior, Wright earned All-American status in the 200 butterfly and 200 freestyle relay, helping UC Davis capture the Pacific Collegiate Swimming Conference title and a third-place finish at the NCAA Championships. As a team captain in water polo, he was named second-team All-WWPA. Wright earned his B.A. in Art History in 1994 from UC Davis.

Wright served as Assistant Coach for UC Davis Men's and Women's Water Polo teams from 1993 to 1997. Wright also served as the Central Zone USA Water Polo Coach from 1997-1998 and USA Water Polo National Youth Team Coach from 1999-2000.

When he's not on the pool deck, Wright can often be found in the pool or on the trails running. Wright swam the English Channel in 2010 and has toed the line at many ultra-running events.

Doug's children are involved in Davis Water Polo. His eldest daughter was a highly decorated player at DSHS and went on to play for Santa Clara University. His oldest son is a high school player making waves across the state with his intuitive play. You can find all five of Doug's younger children in DWPC polo caps or cheering from strollers on the pool deck.

Wright has helped direct and coach Davis Water Polo Club since 1995.

HONORS & AWARDS

• 2022 All-Big West Conference Honorable Mention

• 2019, 2020, 2021 ACWPC All-Academic Team (Superior)

• 2020, 2021 Big West Conference All-Academic Team

A Davisite through and through Alyssa has played for the hometown team since the beginning of her career. Played basketball and did track all four years before adding water polo sophomore year. During her freshman year, broke the Davis High triple jump record before breaking her own record a year later. In her senior year, was the Davis Senior High School Female Athlete of the Year, Davis Enterprise Blue Devil Athlete of the Year, Water Polo MVP, Track and Field MVP, and Water Polo All-CIF first team… Was also a member of the Davis Water Polo Club… Scored 97 goals her senior year of water polo. Following a wildly successful time with the UC Davis Women's DI Water Polo team, under both Jamey and Kandace's leadership, Alyssa has been playing professionally in both Spain (CN Rubi) and Australia (Hunter Hurricanes).

Beyond Alyssa's accolades and impressive athleticism is a coach who cares deeply for her players and leads them with an excellence that moves each player to their highest level in and out of the pool. You will find Alyssa doing conditioning sets alongside her players and pulling on a cap whenever she's able.

Born and raised in Santa Barbara, CA, Madison Sparre is in her third year at UC Davis as a Biological Systems Engineering major and co-captain of the UC Davis Women’s Water Polo Team.

At the youth level, she began playing for Santa Barbara 805 Water Polo Club at age ten and placed in the top 10 of Junior Olympics Platinum Division all eight years with the club, making it to the top 4 two of those years.

Sparre was a four year varsity letterwinner during her time with the San Marcos Royals, team captain of the squad her senior year in the 2022-23 season. She earned the NISCA Water Polo All-American accolade in 2022 and was recognized as a USA Water Polo Academic All-American.

Appeared in all 29 matches during her debut season for the Aggies, scored 17 goals and dished out 16 assists for 33 total points, drew 10 exclusions and recorded seven steals.

As a sophomore, appeared in 28 matches as a starter for the Aggies, ended the season with 13 goals and 13 assists, drew 25 exclusions for powerplay advantages, recorded 9 steals and a field block for the defense, won 17 of the sprints she faced off in and was named 2024 ACWPC Superior Academic All-American and 2024 Big West Academic All-Conference.

From Lompoc, California, Mary is an utility player who finished her career at UC Davis after being a four-year all-league performer at Cabrillo HS '20 while playing for Santa Barbara 805.  She graduated with a degree in Agricultural & Environmental Education. Mary also coaches for Davis Senior High School continuing to support athletes on the JV team. Her players respect her knowledge of the game and support in their development as players.

HONORS & AWARDS

• 2023 ACWPA Honorable Mention All-American

• 2021, 2022, 2023 All-Big West Conference Honorable Mention

• 2021, 2022 ACWPC All-Academic Team (Superior)

• 2019, 2020 ACWPC All-Academic Team (Excellent)

• 2019, 2020, 2021 Big West Conference All-Academic Team

Coming from Clovis, CA Ally played a variety of positions in water polo, including attacker, utility, and center/defender. Two-time first team All-Conference honoree. Picked up second team All-Valley distinction and Best Offensive Player award her junior year before earning first team to close her high school career. After playing a well-decorated college career at UC Davis Ally has coached at Davis High School and with DWPC while preparing for and playing professionally in Spain for Real Canoe in Madrid.  Ally cares deeply for the sport and for the athletes she gets to train, and we are DWPC are lucky she shares her talents for coaching and playing so generously.

According to his coach Dan Leyson, "Jacob has been exposed to high-level water polo games his entire life. Jacob brings that experience and knowledge to the right side of the pool to our program. He is a crafty passer who has good vision and can also score timely goals." A natural coach Jacob comes to the UC Davis Men's team from the Archie Williams High School where he played water polo and soccer. His high level of play has also led to a number of accomplishments for Carrera throughout his career, including winning the Marin County Athletic League water polo title as a freshman in 2021 and participating in the elite 18U North Irvine Water Polo Club.

Tony Seto brings a wealth of experience and a deep passion for water polo to his coaching career. With a rich background as both a player and a coach, Tony has dedicated his life to the sport, fostering talent and inspiring athletes at various levels of competition. Tony's journey in water polo began at Merced High and continued through Merced College, where he honed his skills and developed a profound understanding of the game. From 2001 to 2009, Tony served as a respected referee in the Sac-Joaquin section, bringing fairness and integrity to every match he officiated.

Tony's coaching career is marked by extensive experience and notable achievements:

1994-2009: Tony coached at Merced High, Golden Valley High, Merced College, Fairfield High, and Solano College. His tenure at these institutions was characterized by his commitment to developing young athletes and building competitive teams.

Tony also coached the UCD Women's Club team and under his guidance, the UC Davis Women’s Club made two national appearances, showcasing his ability to lead teams to success on the national stage.

2021-Present: Tony returned to coaching, bringing his expertise to  Davis WPC.

Tony was honored to serve as a guest coach at the Olympic Training Center on two occasions, reflecting his recognition and respect within the water polo community.

Throughout his coaching career, Tony has had only one season below .500, a testament to his coaching prowess. Remarkably, this season involved teaching JV boys at Merced High how to swim, highlighting his dedication to developing foundational skills in his athletes.

Many of Tony's players have gone on to play at the collegiate level, a clear indication of his ability to nurture and prepare athletes for the next stage of their athletic careers.

Tony believes in the power of hard work, discipline, and a positive attitude. He is dedicated to creating a supportive and challenging environment where athletes can grow both as players and individuals. His approach emphasizes skill development, teamwork, and a deep understanding of the game.

Gabe has been playing water polo for almost a decade. He grew up in San Diego, and played for Carlsbad Club and La Jolla United before joining Dan's team at UC Davis. He has the benefit of being a left-handed attacker/driver. As a freshmen, Gabe made the travel roster and learned so much that he's eager to share as a coach. He is often found helping players work on their shots, even after his official coaching duties are over. DWPC is lucky to have Gabe's talent and energy on the pool deck.

Peter is currently a student at UC Davis, studying Biomedical Engineering and playing for the UC Davis Club Water Polo team.  He has coached Junipero Serra High School as an assistant coach for the last two seasons.  He has also coached for San Mateo Aquatic Club coaching 12U-18U teams.  He has been playing water polo for nine years primarily as a driver/center defender.

Liberty is a third year center on the UC Davis women's water polo team. In her time as an Aggie she has been named to the all Big West academic team, was the fifth overall highest goal scorer, and received her team award for Most Improved. She has been playing for nine years for her club Arroyo Grande and her high school, San Luis Obispo High School. She was named all league first team and all league MVP in high school as well as receiving multiple team awards.

HONORS & AWARDS

• 2019, 2021, 2023 ACWPC All-America Third Team

• 2020 ACWPC All-America Second Team

• 2022 ACWPC All-America Honorable Mention

• 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023 All-Big West Conference First Team

• 2020, 2021 Big West Conference All-Academic Team

• 2019 Big West Conference Freshman of the Year

• 2019 Big West Conference All-Freshman Team

• Big West Conference Player of the Week (Feb. 6, 2019)

Noelle Wijnbelt is a former UC Davis water polo player with 16 years of experience, including a successful five-year collegiate career at UC Davis. A center for the Aggies, she earned 5 ACWPA All-American honors, she was a four-time First Team All-Big West selection, and was named Freshman of the Year. She finished as the second-highest all-time scorer in UC Davis history with 258 goals and was also named to the Peter J. Cutino Award Watch List. Prior to college, she played and coached for Socal Water Polo Club. After her water polo career and graduation from UC Davis with a Bachelors in Human Development, she earned a BSN and became a Registered Nurse. She is excited to be back in Davis to assist in developing the next generation of athletes.

Eva is a standout on the UC Davis women’s water polo team goalie and won the award for 2025 ACWPC All-Academic - Superior.  She's been playing for close to 10 years. From Park City and was named the 2022 MVP for the state of Utah.  Eva loves to coach and is an enthusiastic addition to our coaching team.

Brett is one of our cherished parent/coaches. He grew up in the pool, swimming and playing water polo in Atwater, CA through high school. Brett was first team all-league for Atwater High School and went on to join the UC Davis men's team for his freshmen year. Brett's son has been in the water with DWPC since he was an 8u and it's been a joy for Brett to watch him grow into a high school player. Brett works as an attorney and business owner in Davis, but feels most at home when he's practicing with DWPC Masters or working alongside his family on their central valley farm.

Cameron is a celebrated parent/coach who has helped to transform boys' age group into an elite training program. Growing up in Monterey, CA he was never far from water, playing for his high school team and continuing his polo career at Cabrillo College. Cameron is an emergency medicine doctor at Kaiser in South Sac. His son has been a solid player for the team since 8u and continues playing for DWPC and the high school as an utility player with a bright future in the sport. When they aren't by the pool, you can find them on the slopes.