University of California Athletics

Cal Success:

• Recipient of the 2017 Peter J. Cutino Award as the collegiate water polo player of the year.
• Capped a historic Cal career with an incredible senior season in 2017. Earned ACWPC National Player of the Year and MPSF Player of the Year after leading the MPSF in scoring with 58 goals.
• Finished his Cal career as a four-time All-American after being selected to the first team for the third time.
• Even with his increase in scoring, Cupido remained the nation's most versatile player in 2017. Finished the year with 48 steals, 46 assists, 35 ejections earned and 19 field blocks while playing nearly every position in the pool.
• After missing over two weeks due to illness, Cupido returned to the pool for the 2017 MPSF Tournament and helped carry the Bears back to the NCAA Tournament with an incredible individual performance against Stanford in the third-place match. Scored with 11 seconds left to force overtime and added an overtime goal that would be the eventual game-winner in Cal's 10-9 victory.
• Led the Bears in scoring nine times in 2017 and scored a season-high six goals against UC Irvine on Oct. 15. Added five more goals the next day against San Jose State and was named MPSF Player of the Week.
• Enjoyed another standout season and was a hugely important piece in Cal's run to the 2016 national title. Scored 30 goals, 16 of which came in the final month of the season.
• Earned first team All-America, first team All-MPSF and first team All-NCAA Tournament honors in his junior season. 
• Scored one of the season's most memorable goals with a long distance strike just before time expired in the first overtime of Cal's 11-8 national championship game win over USC. Finished the game with two goals.
• Named MPSF Player of the Week on Nov. 7 after scoring a combined six goals against UC Irvine and Pepperdine. A five-goal effort against the Waves represented Cupido's season-high for scoring in a game.
• Scored three goals combined in two 2016 NCAA Tournament games and added four at the MPSF Tournament, including three in a 15-9 win over Stanford that clinched Cal's spot in the NCAA Tournament.
• Tied for match-high honors in scoring with Odysseas Masmanidis by scoring three goals in Cal's 11-10 win over Stanford on Nov. 12.
• Earned first team All-America and first team All-MPSF honors after a tremendous sophomore campaign in 2015. Ranked fourth on the team in goals with 43 and led the Bears in assists (46) and ejections earned (48). Also tied for second on the team with 11 field blocks.
• Earned first team All-NCAA Tournament honors for helping Cal take third in the final tournament of the season. Led the Bears with two goals against USC.
• Earned All-MPSF Tournament honors after scoring six goals in three matches. Led the Bears in scoring against UC Santa Barbara (tied with two goals) and UCLA (three).
• Scored multiple goals in 12 matches and scored four goals in a match twice in 2015 (11/7 vs. Pacific, 11/15 at Stanford).
• Made his first season (2014) in Berkeley a memorable one, scoring 42 goals (third on the team) in 24 matches to earn MPSF Newcomer of the Year honors.
• Named third team All-America and second team All-MPSF as a true freshman.
• Finished second on the team in assists with 31, tied for first in steals with 35 and led the team in ejections earned with 35.
• Made his collegiate debut on Sept. 6 vs. Air Force and made an immediate impact, scoring a team-high four goals in a 19-10 Bears win.
• Scored a season-high five goals in win over UC Santa Barbara on Nov. 1.
• Scored multiple goals in a match 12 times in 2014.

High School/National Team/Club Success:

• Spent the spring of 2016 training with Team USA and made his Olympic debut in August at the Rio Games. Started every game for the Americans, scored in four of the team's five matches and finished with four goals. Also had six steals, five field blocks and three assists. 
• Made a huge impact with the USA Men's National Team during the summer of 2015, helping the Americans win the gold medal at the Pan Am Games in Canada. Tied for third in goals with 16.
• Also a member of Team USA at the 2015 FINA World Championships.
• 2013 first team High School All-American at Newport Harbor High School.
• Member of Italian teams that won gold at the 2013 LEN Junior European Championship and 2013 FINA Junior World Championship. Also a member of the 2012 FINA Youth World Championship team.
• Competed for the RN Camogli (Italy) club team.

Personal:

• Younger brother of Cal standout Giacomo Cupido, who played for Bears head coach Kirk Everist from 2010-13. 
• Native of Santa Margherita Ligure, Italy.

Goals:
2014 - 42
2015 - 43
2016 - 30
2017 - 58
Total - 173