By Bill Sheehan

Julian Nichols is a jack of all trades for Cal State Fullerton's water polo team.

The utility player is a major offensive force – he's first in team shooting percentage, second in goals scored and third in scoring. But his work on the defensive side is just as valuable, said Titan head coach Kyle Witt.

"Julian defends right-handers attacking the right side of the pool. That's why his job is the toughest. He is up against the best guys in the country."

"On offense, he has a baseball-like release point on his shots that is unique. His mentality is, 'Give me the ball. I've got the confidence and the toolbox to get it done,' " said Witt.

Jacob Hatch, a Titans utility player, said Nichols brings a lot of energy to the team. "Julian is one of our elite scorers and has a lot of firing power. We want to make sure he is touching the ball a lot, which is not a fun sight for our opponents."

Nichols, a senior from Glendora, prides himself on being a dynamic field player who does a little bit of everything – facilitating, shooting, driving, moving the ball around and playing defense.

"I'm big enough to post up and play center, yet I'm small enough to be nimble and quick, and long enough to get a good shot. I'm one of the faster guys in the pool, so I can guard bigger guys," said the 6-foot-4 Nichols.

A Citrus College transfer, he arrived for the 2023 reboot of the men's water polo program, which had been in hibernation for 38 years. Nichols and the team's other seniors will be honored Sunday evening before Fullerton's non-conference game against visiting Cal Baptist. A Senior Night ceremony will take place 20 minutes before the 6 p.m. match, which is the Titans' regular-season finale.

Fullerton, which is 11-15 overall and 0-4 in the Big West, will first travel to UC Irvine (16-7, 4-0) for a conference match Friday at 6 p.m. In two weeks, the Titans will compete in the three-day Big West Tournament, which starts Nov. 22 in Davis.


"His mentality is, 'Give me the ball. I've got the confidence and the toolbox to get it done,' " Fullerton head coach Kyle Witt says of Julian Nichols.

Fullerton is looking for its first conference win and its first road win, excluding neutral-site games, since the program was relaunched last year.

"We are not going to beat Irvine just showing up the day of the game. It starts with practice and sticking with our game plan," said Nichols. "We need to play very disciplined, very smartly, cut down on turnovers and be very aggressive and not back down," he said.

"We have improved a lot offensively. We have a lot of talented shooters. Our goalie, Garrett Henderson, is very good and keeps us in games, and our defense has been playing at a higher level."

Witt, the Titans coach, is a strong motivator, Nichols said. "His pep talks really make a difference in how we play and push things forward. He has made me a better player and helped me develop mental toughness."

Last season, Nichols finished first in team field blocks (10), second in goals (54) and tied for second in points (71). He was also fifth in assists (17). Through 26 games this season, he has 41 goals, 10 assists, 51 points, seven steals and five blocks.

To improve his skills, Nichols spent three months last summer playing in a semipro water polo league in Puerto Rico. "The competition was superior to Division 1 play. The coaches were from Spain, and there were players from Greece, Argentina, Mexico and several other countries.

"I was that told my shot was great and that I was fast and athletic enough. But the coaches beat it into my head that I needed to play better defense to become a better player."

Nichols played baseball and soccer as a youth before his father, Ryan, steered him toward water polo. Ryan had played the sport in high school and community college, and he thought it would be a good fit for his son.

"Julian was exceptionally fast in the water, and he had a strong left arm from baseball," said Ryan. "I didn't want him to play football, so we signed him up for a summer water polo league before he started high school.

Nichols was turned off by the small swimsuit. "I was turned off initially because I had to wear a Speedo," said Nichols. "But the other kids were wearing them, so I ended up doing it."

At Glendora High School, he was a three-year varsity letterman. As a senior, he was the Palomares League Player of the Year and helped Glendora High reach the CIF playoffs for the first time in school history. Nichols also competed for CHAWP Aquatics in Norco and Foothill Club Water Polo in Claremont.


Julian Nichols was a three-year varsity letterman at Glendora High School. He was the Palomares League Player of the Year in his senior year.

He received some offers from four-year colleges. But with the Covid pandemic eliminating in-person classes, Nichols opted to attend Citrus College in Glendora.

"The Citrus coach showed an interest, contacting me at the Glendora water polo Senior Night. After weighing everything, I decided to go there. Financially, it was the smartest move I could have made. And it was just two minutes from my home."

Playing for two years at Citrus, he finished third in career goals with 116. He also competed on the community college's swimming team, becoming the school record holder in the 100-meter freestyle (47.43) and the 50m freestyle (22.13).

Nichols received emails from the Loyola Marymount, Santa Clara and UC Santa Barbara programs. Around the same time, he heard about the relaunch of the Titans program from his Citrus coaches. "I figured Fullerton would be a perfect fit. It was close to home and a new program, where I would have a good opportunity to play."

At first, he exchanged emails with Witt, then the two talked on the phone. "Summer rolled around, and I got another call from Kyle. He told me his plans for the program and what it would be like. I really liked what I heard, and I told him, "I'm in!' "

His father, Ryan, and mother, Sascha, and his younger siblings Anika, 20, and Cade, 12, try to attend every home game. Ryan is a district superintendent for the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power. Sascha is a teacher assistant at an elementary school. Anika and Cade are both water polo players.

Nichols, 23, will graduate next spring with an American Studies degree with a minor in economics. He envisions a career with the DWP, starting as a lineman and working his way into a managerial role.

In his free time, Nichols enjoys surfing and hiking in Orange County. "Julian likes to be active. We'll often surf or play basketball together," said Hatch, a senior from Morgan Hill. "He loves to be around his family and friends. He always finds a way to smile and laugh."

Nichols is grateful for his experiences at Cal State Fullerton. "Last year we had a six- or seven-hour bus ride to Davis. It was a fun trip, hanging out with my teammates, trying to get homework done and playing games."

"Our players attend games featuring other Fullerton teams, and we have received support from them in turn. The women's water polo team members come out to cheer for us, and we do the same for them. We have created a social life that wasn't here before – not just in sports but the community in general.

Nichols' most memorable moment at Fullerton was the first game of the relaunch. "We played Chapman, and I had never had that many people cheering me on. I scored one of the first goals, and the crowd went crazy."

"Building this program from the ground up made an impact not only on the players but the entire campus community."

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