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Many cheered from afar as JSerra graduate Ryder Dodd competed for the U.S men’s water polo team at the Paris Olympics. But on Thursday, some of the Lions’ faithful celebrated their Olympic hero up close.
JSerra welcomed Dodd back to his alma mater just days after the 18-year-old helped Team USA capture the bronze medal in Paris. It was the United States’ first Olympic medal in men’s water polo since its silver in 2008.
Dodd, a 2024 graduate of JSerra, joined the Lions in the water at practice. He met with students and appeared on the school’s podcast.
And, of course, he posed for pictures with his Olympic medal.
But most of all, Dodd felt the love from JSerra.
“I got to see a lot of my friends and it really did make me realize how supportive they are and showed how much they truly love me,” Dodd said.
Dodd, The Register’s male athlete of the year for 2023-24, finished the Olympics with eight goals, three assists and three steals in seven matches.
He said he will head to UCLA this fall wiser for his experience.
“Overall my experience in Paris was pretty amazing,” said Dodd, The Register’s boys water polo player of the year in 2023. “One lesson I can take from this tournament is that this is the biggest tournament for a reason because it brings out the best in people. The intensity all teams brought were like none other and was a great learning point for me as it made me realize I needed to be better.”
Dodd’s brother Chase, also part of Team USA’s bronze medal effort, was celebrated by his alma mater of Huntington Beach and Vanguard Aquatics.
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