Our Mentors
Brittany — Strength & Conditioning
Coach Brittany VanderGroef is in her third year at Fordham University in the Bronx, New York, where she is the Strength and Conditioning Coach for Water Polo, Football, Baseball, Women's Rowing, Squash, and Golf. In this role she implements training programs for these teams including speed and agility sessions, using Velocity Based Training Units, power development, and mobility training. Coach has made previous stops at Iona University, Villanova University, and UMass Lowell after receiving her MASTER'S Degree in Exercise and Sport Science from Merrimack College and Bachelor's Degree in Exercise Science from Norwich University. She has worked with a wide range of athletes across most sports throughout her coaching career. She has held her certification AS a CERTIFIED Strength and Conditioning Specialist for 5 years.
With a 4.0 GPA and a major in Finance, with a concentration in Information Systems, our mentor brings a wealth of academic excellence and real-world experience. He has interned at a New York hedge fund and In the Insurance Industry. A consistent Dean's List honoree and member of Phi Kappa Phi, his academics is as strong as his athletic skill.
Per balazs athletic journey, he was a three-year starter at guard for Fordham, ranked #2 in the country. His athletic achievements include placing 5th and 7th at the Junior Olympics with SD Shores, securing Hungarian Champion titles from U10 to U18, and becoming a Regional Champion and runner-up in the Adult Championships. He is also the recipient of the NCAA Elite 90 Award and an Academic All-American.
Balazs — Fordham Water polo
Position: 2M Defender
Jacopo — FOrdham Water Polo
Position: Attacker/2M Defender
A standout athlete and member of the Italian National Team, Jacopo has excelled on both the international and collegiate stages. He won a European Championship with the U18 National Team in 2019 and added a U20 Italian National Championship to his list of achievements. Playing club for Circolo Nautico Posillipo, he became a starter in the prestigious Italian A1 League, one of the most competitive leagues in the world.
In the USA, He had a stellar collegiate career as a 4-year starter for the #1 ranked Fordham Rams. He consistently delivered elite performances, earning the MAWPC Conference Tournament MVP title and achieving the remarkable feat of scoring 100 points in all four collegiate seasons.
Lucas has proven himself as an accomplished water polo player In BOth Spanish And American Pools. Competing for Club Natación Sant Andreu in the Platinum Spanish Senior League, Spain's highest level of water polo, he showcased his talent early by leading his team to a third-place finish at the 2021 Spanish U19 Championship, where he was the tournament's top scorer. His achievements also include third-place finishes at the Spanish U16 Championship and the Catalonia U18 Championship in 2019, where he finished As the top scorer for Sant Andreu's U19 team.
Transitioning to collegiate competition, He became a 4-year starter for the #1 ranked Fordham Rams, cementing his legacy as the program's all-time leading goal scorer and serving as a 2-time team captain. His leadership and scoring prowess have been instrumental in his team's success, reflecting a career defined by determination, skill, and excellence.