(LEBANON, Ill., April 2) -- The Collegiate Water Polo Association (CPWA) announced the Missouri Valley All-Conference awards for the 2019 men's club water polo season earlier this week. The Bearcats placed four student-athletes on the second team with head coach Zach Roper receiving Coach of the Year.

Seniors Anthony Murat (Chicago, IL/Buffalo Grove High School), Jarad Wahl (St. Louis, MO/Oakville High School), sophomores Owen Martin (Flower Mound, TX/Flower Mound High School), and Kyle Moore (Whittier, CA/La Habra High School) were named to the second team for their performance during the season.

"I am immensely proud of the way our team played throughout the season. To have these four players recognized for their effort is awesome! I enjoyed my first year with the program and am looking forward to building on this year's success next season," said Roper.

The nominations are the first for each athlete as Murat and Wahl cap off their water polo careers.

"I am extremely proud of all of our athletes and coaches for contributing to a great 2019 season. All four of our student-athletes recognized, each played a major role in contributing to the success of our team throughout the season and I am particularly excited to see that we have been represented in goalie, attacking, and center/center defender positions proving that we can be a threat in all positions at both ends of the pool," said varsity head coach Colleen Lischwe. "Additionally, to see Zach acknowledged for his coaching achievements in his first year with our program is a wonderful sign of the progress he has made as a coach, the trust his team has in him as a leader, and the consistent effort to improve and strengthen the foundation of our team."