LEWISBURG, Pa. – Bucknell men’s water polo head coach John McBride will welcome six recruits to the team this fall, he announced Thursday. The group includes five players from California and a member of the Serbian Youth National Team. The Bison will need to replace five seniors from a squad that posted a 15-10 record last fall in McBride’s first year at the helm.

“I am very excited about the incoming freshman,” said McBride, who led Bucknell to a fifth-place finish at last year’s Eastern Championship. “We have had to replace five very good seniors and I know that we have accomplished that. This class brings size, strength, and speed, which will add to our depth.”

Bucknell Men’s Water Polo Recruiting Class
Stefan Aleksic – Belgrade, Serbia/Sport Gymnasium (RAT)
Nick Hale - Menlo Park, Calif./Menlo School (Utility)
Jedd Thayer – Balboa Island, Calif./Corona del Mar (Utility)
Max Wilder – San Francisco, Calif./Menlo-Atherton (Utility)
Max McKelvy – Portola Valley, Calif./Sacred Heart Prep (Attack)
Andrew Roberts – Moraga, Calif./Campolindo (Center Defender/Center) 

Stefan Aleksic (Belgrade, Serbia/Sport Gymnasium) – Stefan Aleksic … born Jan. 7, 1993 in Belgrade, Serbia … son of Sijana and Dragan Aleksic … member of Serbian Youth National Team … starter for and 10-year member of WC Partizan in Belgrade … helped Partizan win tournaments in Mali Medo, Croatia; Olimpijske, Montenegro; Vouliagmeni, Greece and the Kinder Tournament in Hungary … has competed in various championships and world cups with the National Team … currently a starting player for WPC Singidunum, which finished second in the Serbian National League … has one brother, Filip.

Nick Hale (Menlo Park, Calif./Menlo School) – Nicholas John Hale … born Feb. 16, 1994 in London, England … son of Allison and Jonathan Hale … member of water polo and swimming teams at Menlo School … two-time water polo All-American … three-time all-league selection … three-time All-Central Coast Section … earned a gold medal at the Junior Olympics … swim team MVP and captain … played for Stanford Club A team along with fellow recruit Max Wilder … has one sister, Lizzie, and two brothers, Matt and Andrew … Lizzie is a member of the volleyball team at the University of Miami and will be a senior in 2012 … Matt played water polo at Princeton … Andrew was a member of the swimming team at UC Santa Cruz.

Jedd Thayer (Balboa Island, Calif./Corona del Mar) – Jedd Gavin Thayer … born Oct. 7, 1993 in Orange, Calif. … son of Paula Gavin and Scott Thayer … attended both Garces Memorial High School and Corona del Mar High School … member of swimming, water polo, basketball and baseball teams … led water polo team to California Interscholastic Federation Central Section Division 3 title … water polo MVP of Central Section Division 3 and Yosemite League … received Jim Coiner Sportsmanship Award … MVP of water polo and swimming teams … helped swim team to CIF Central Section Division 2 title … has two siblings, Jaclyn and Jeritt … both siblings played soccer at NYU and were team captains … Jeritt played four years professionally in the United Soccer League … father played baseball at UC Irvine and for three years professionally.  

Max Wilder (San Francisco, Calif./Menlo-Atherton) – Maxwell Christopher Wilder … born June 16, 1993 in Stanford, Calif. … son of Gloria and Christopher Wilder … earned four letters in water polo and three in swimming at Menlo-Atherton High School … team captain of both teams … helped water polo team to second place finish in CIF Division 1 … second-team CIF Central Coast Section … member of Pacific Zone ODP youth Team … played for Stanford Club A team along with fellow recruit Nick Hale … All-America swimmer in the 400 free relay … has one brother, Sam.

Max McKelvy (Portola Valley, Calif./Sacred Heart Prep) – Maximilian Harrison McKelvy … born June 29, 1993 in Stanford, Calif. … son of Teri and Dorian McKelvy … two-time second-team all-league selection for water polo … helped water polo team to back-to-back league and Central Coast Section title games … squad finished second in both in 2010 and won championships in both in 2011 … won WCAL league title in 200 freestyle … earned first-team all-league honors for swimming … has one sister, Taylor.

Andrew Roberts (Moraga, Calif./Campolindo) – Andrew Roberts … son of Sarah and Paul Roberts … starting center on water polo team that finished fourth in the North Coast Section quarterfinals … was named All-DFAL … earned team’s Most Improved Award … scored 33 goals and dished out 36 assists as a senior … National Merit Scholar and AP Scholar … water polo and swimming Scholar-Athlete.