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After competing on the UCLA men's water polo team for four years, Matt Armato will serve as student assistant coach for the 2000 UCLA women's water polo team. The 6-1 attacker from Long Beach is the only player to be a part of UCLA's three national championship teams in 1995, 1996 and, most recently, in 1999.
After redshirting the '98 season, Armato returned this past year, ushering in a list of accolades, including first-team All-America, MPSF Tournament Most Valuable Player, first-team All-MPSF Conference and first-team All-SoCal Tournament. The 1999 co-captain was the second-leading scorer on the team and tallied six two-point goals in 1999, which ties the school's single season record set by Jim Toring during the 1993 season. In addition, Armato posted 13 career two-pointers, breaking former All-American Jim Toring's school record of 10 (1993-96).
In 1997, Armato earned All-America and All-MPSF honors and was the second leading scorer on the squad.. He also led the team with four two-point goals.. In the 1996 season, Armato played a key role in helping UCLA earn its second national title and the previous year, he was the only true freshman on the 1995 national championship team.
Armato gained additional water polo experience as a member of the 1995 Junior National Team, which took home the Pan-American Championship. A three-year water polo letterman at Wilson HS under head coach Ricardo Azeveda, Armato was a prep All-American who earned all-city, all-league, all-CIF honors.
Armato is a Geography-Urban Planning major whose hobbies include surfing and drawing.
