For four years, this moment eluded USC. But on Sunday, the water polo team finally earned the national title it spent nearly five years fighting for, culminating with coach Jovan Vavic leaping into the pool, arms raised with an open-mouthed grin, and the reserves and coaching staff jumping in beside him.
The Trojans had reached this game and lost every year since their last national championship in 2013, forfeiting control in the wrong moment and letting it slip away.
Not this time. The Trojans held on in the final minutes to defeat the Cardinal 14-12 to win the program’s 10th title.