The women’s season has begun and there’s already been noteworthy upsets, including Fresno State knocking off #4 Arizona State in Tempe on two weeks ago, and unranked LIU beating #10 Indiana in Ann Arbor last weekend. Plus, there’s the return of Olympians Aria and Makenzie Fischer, Paige Hauschild, Kitty Lynn-Joustra, Maddie Musselman, Emma Wright and others—all of whom have been otherworldly in their first NCAA competition in two years.

Which begs the question: Why would I focus on the Vavic family saga now?

In case you’ve been comatose the last three years (which, if you think about ALL that has gone on with COVID-19, might be preferable) you missed:
- The Varsity Blues college admissions scandal that exploded on March 12, 2019.
- To date 53 defendants have either been convicted or pled guilty; 38 of these are parents; 15, including Rick Singer, mastermind of the scheme, worked for or with Singer or were coaches or university administrators.
- On the polo front, Jovan Vavic, winningest coach in NCAA polo history, was fired on March 12 by USC—when the U.S. Department of Justice unsealed its case—after a quarter century which saw him win almost 1,200 matches with Trojan men’s and women’s squads and 16 NCAA titles (10 for the men, six for the women).
- Allegations against USC included Donna Heinel, a senior associate athletic director who struck a deal with the Feds—imperiling Vavic.
- Vavic, whose sons Marko and Stefan remain enrolled at USC, is fighting to avoid jail time and substantial financial penalties.

[Commentary: The Rise and Scandalous Fall of USC Water Polo Coach Jovan Vavic]

This is such an explosive story that I’ve chosen to stay with it. And, because it involves Vavic’s kids, I couldn’t pass up parallels to Greek tragedy: the sins of the father being visited on the sons. Marko—now a red-shirt senior—and Stefan, a red-shirt sophomore, have not played for USC since their father was fired.

It’s my job to look at this and ask why.

My recent interview with Rick Allen of Informed Athlete raised a number of issues regarding inconsistencies with how water polo is treated when compared to other NCAA sports. It also highlights how important polo topics are at times swept under the rug to create the illusion of harmony.

[Where’s Marko? Why are an Olympian and his Brother Left Off USC’s Roster?]

In the case of the Vavic boys, the hope—I guess—was that out of sight meant out of mind. The irony is that the Vavics in question were present and accounted for last December at the NCAA men’s tournament. Jovan, Marko and Stefan were all in the stands at UCLA’s Spieker Aquatics Center watching as USC lost 13-12 Cal in the 2021 national championship final.

For an athlete who five months ago represented the U.S. at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, and is considered one of the country’s best players, no one has said a word publicly about Marko’s absence at USC. Which is weird, because Jovan, by virtue of his outsized success, remains the biggest personality in American water polo. Just the mention of “Vavic” sucks all the air out of any polo discussion.

What happened to Marko and Stefan should not be ignored. Separating the athletes from their last names, this is a travesty—and USC’s handling of the situation deserves examination. As Allen explains in the interview, this has to do with USC’s Athletics Compliance and their office of General Council. They took the safe way out—claiming the Vavic sons were ineligible but not explaining why—to the detriment of two athletes who deserved better.

American collegiate water polo athletes are unlikely to make a living playing the sport they love. Therefore, their college careers mean everything. Take that away; what do they have for all the time and effort invested in mastering one of the toughest sports around?

Marko missed the previous two USC seasons training with the US men’s national team. I believe he wanted to enjoy one final season with teammates he’s known for his entire collegiate career. If not, he could have returned to Europe and resumed playing professionally—though this time he’d get paid—while prepping for the 2024 Paris Olympics.

[#WaterPoloPassport: Updates from Team USA Athletes Abroad]

So, you can’t tell me that Marko chose to sit. Or, that his coach Marko Pintaric—recruited by Jovan from Croatia, who in 1998 won the first of the Trojans’ 10 men’s titles, who was Vavic’s trusted assistant for 18 years—voluntarily sidelined the team’s best player in his final season.

But it’s Stefan whose USC career has been entirely wrecked. An excellent prospect, he’s spent three years practicing for matches he never had a chance to play in. Unlike his siblings Monica (2013), Nikola (2010, 2011, 2012, 2013) and Marko (2018), Stefan is unlikely to ever win a national championship. It’s possible he will never don USC’s distinctive maroon and gold in collegiate competition.

Or, maybe he will. His father’s case is scheduled to be tried next month, and a decision should be rendered within a couple of weeks. If Vavic loses, the controversy may fade and Stefan will either be free to play or USC Athletic Compliance will determine once and for all they can’t have a Vavic representing the Trojans in NCAA battle.

But if Jovan wins his case—and I’ve already said no one should ever bet against Jovan Vavic—then I believe Stefan will never play again for USC. His dad will be suing the bejesus out of his former employer for wrongful termination.

Can you imagine a Vavic wearing the sky blue and gold of UCLA—the school that Jovan graduated from?

I can.