Rozolis-Hill Reaches New Heights, Breaks All-Time Goals Record for Men’s Water Polo

The loud thud of the post echoed throughout Blodgett Pool. After a flurry of fakes, the cross cage shot from junior utility James Rozolis-Hill found its mark, catapulting him to the top of Harvard’s record books.

With that goal against Brown on Oct. 12th, Rozolis-Hill cemented his place as a modern Harvard legend and the all-time leading goal scorer in program history. With the shot heard ‘round Blodgett, he surpassed a record that stood for over a decade, marking a monumental moment for the junior standout and the Crimson.

“I knew going in that I was two goals away from the record,” shared Rozolis-Hill about his record-breaking night. “By the second fake, I knew I had the goalie, he was off his line. I really like that shot and I buried it.”

Rozolis-Hill credited his high school goalie, Gabe Haddad, for helping hone the technique that he used years later to smash the Crimson record.

“My family, roommates, and friends were there so it was a very special moment,” the junior added.

Rozolis-Hill’s water polo journey began at the age of six, a journey rooted in a family passionate about the sport. Growing up in the competitive Southern California club scene, he sharpened his skills at Vanguard Aquatics, a powerhouse in youth water polo, starting at age eight.

“We were blessed to be very talented, hard working, and we won a lot,” said Rozolis-Hill about his club experience.

The water polo phenom enjoyed a successful high school career at Huntington Beach High School, highlighted by winning the league MVP and championship in the COVID-shortened 2021 season. Rozolis-Hill and Huntington Beach nearly repeated the feat the following season, ultimately losing in the semi final as the team ended the season ranked third nationally.

Given his high school pedigree, it was no secret that Rozolis-Hill was a highly coveted recruit. Coach Ted Minnis spoke about the recruitment experience, and the all-around well-roundedness of Rozolis-Hill.

“It was an interesting time because it was during COVID,” said Minnis, recalling the push to recruit Rozolis-Hill. “The thing that sticks out to me about James is not that he's just an amazing water polo player, he’s an impressive student and he loves learning. He really works hard in the classroom and that was important to him, to have that knowledge between academics and athletics.”

In his debut season, Rozolis-Hill immediately made his presence known, scoring five goals to open his collegiate career against No. 17 Fordham. Rozolis-Hill carried the momentum to a historic season, smashing the Crimson’s single-season goals record and becoming the first player in Harvard history to score over 100 goals, notching 123 goals as a freshman. He repeated the feat the following year, scoring 102 goals, and he is currently on pace to have a third consecutive season surpassing the century mark.

From that first game, it was apparent that the towering career goals mark of 282, set by Benjamin Zepfel ’11 over a decade ago, was in danger. Since Zepfel graduated, no player had come within 45 goals of the record until Rozolis-Hill. Coach Minnis explained how the 6'6" star consistently finds the net.

“He’s got a knack for scoring the ball,” Minnis said. “He has an incredible fake and this year he’s playing some of the best defense he’s ever played. James is always working on his game. He’s always watching film, taking extra shots, talking about strategy and helping his teammates become better players.”

For Rozolis-Hill, his strong work ethic comes from his confidence in his ability.

“I have an unwavering confidence in myself. I think anything I do, why not be the best at it? It might be delusional, but my mindset is I think I can be the best at whatever I do.”

His willingness to push himself to the limit of his athletic ability has paid dividends for the Crimson, steadily improving its end-of-year finishes every season Rozolis-Hill has been on the roster.

In Rozolis-Hill’s freshman year, Harvard suffered a crushing defeat in the semi-final of the Northeast Water Polo Conference (NWPC) playoffs. A year later, Harvard hosted the tournament, reaching the final before losing to Princeton. This year, the team hopes to finally get over the hump and win its first NWPC championship since 2019.

Despite his already lofty achievements, Rozolis-Hill eyes bigger prizes, including the prestigious Cutino Award, given to the top male and female water polo players in the country. However, team achievements come first for all members that don the Crimson uniform.

“I set high expectations,” Rozolis-Hill said. “I want to be an All-American again, which is always a special privilege. I want to win the Cutino Award. I think if we win the conference and make a run in the NCAA, I’m going to put myself in a good position. But, winning a conference championship is number one, by far.”

As the all-time leading scorer in Harvard history, Rozolis-Hill’s legacy is already secured, but with more games on the horizon, there’s no telling how far he’ll push the record. For now, Harvard water polo has a new name etched at the top of its record books — odds are it will be there to stay.

—Staff writer Oscar E. Mercado can be reached at oscar.mercado@thecrimson.com.