Junior Tom Leggett from the Air Force men’s water polo team has been named to the 2026 Cutino Award Watch List. The announcement was made by USA Water Polo and the Olympic Club, together with the Association of Collegiate Water Polo Coaches (ACWPC).
The Peter J. Cutino Award honors the top player in men’s and women’s college water polo each year. It is named after Hall of Fame coach Peter J. Cutino.
Leggett, a utility player from Santa Barbara, California, currently leads all NCAA players in goals scored with 86 and points with 122. He also ranks second in assists with 36. Last weekend, he set new school records for career goals (343) and career points (448). Leggett has twice been recognized as an ACWPC All-American and has earned All-WCC honors two times.
The watch list was created in 2022 to promote collegiate water polo and raise awareness about the award and athletes’ performances nationwide. Twenty athletes were selected for this year’s list based on submissions from varsity college coaches across the country. While it is possible that the eventual winner of the 2026 Cutino Award could come from this group, being on the watch list does not affect nomination or voting for the final award, which will reflect performance throughout the entire 2025 season.
The full list of athletes on the 2026 Cutino Award Watch List includes representatives from schools such as Stanford University, Harvard University, University of California Los Angeles, Princeton University, and others.
“20 athletes, as submitted by varsity college coaches around the country, are recognized for their outstanding play. While it’s possible the 2026 Cutino Award winner will come from the list of athletes below, the watch list is completely independent from the nomination and voting process for the Cutino Award as that honor will acknowledge the full impact of the 2025 season.”
