From La Jolla to Malta: Four Siblings Unite on Water Polo's World Stage

Nearly 7,000 miles from La Jolla, current UC San Diego men's water polo scholar-athlete Finn Bugelli reunited with two former Tritons, his siblings Bennett and Rhys, on one of the sport's biggest international stages.

Joined by their sister, Jensine, a former UC Irvine scholar-athlete, the four Bugellis represented Malta at the same international tournament for the first time at the 2026 Water Polo World Cup. What began on the pool decks of La Jolla and continued through standout collegiate careers became an unforgettable opportunity to represent their family's heritage on the international stage.

"It was super random," Bennett said with a laugh. "I actually have my sister to thank."

After graduating from UC Irvine, Jensine began exploring opportunities to continue playing water polo overseas while traveling. Through the family's Maltese grandfather, she discovered the Bugellis were eligible for Maltese citizenship. Before long, she had convinced her siblings—Bennett, Rhys and Finn—to apply as well.

"They were like, 'Four for the price of one,'" Bennett joked.

The opportunity came together quickly. Bennett was able to step away from work before beginning medical school, while Finn balanced the trip around UC San Diego's demanding quarter system and Rhys worked around his own commitments after graduating. The sisters spent nearly a month training with the national team before the tournament, while the brothers joined just before competition.

Growing up, the Bugelli siblings sampled nearly every sport before finding their home in the pool. Swimming laid the foundation, but once they picked up a water polo ball, there was little debate about which sport would stick.

"We all tried a lot of different sports," Bennett said. "Once we started playing water polo, it was obvious that was the thing everybody wanted to do."

For Finn, the youngest of the four, following his siblings into water polo never felt like an obligation.

"I wanted to play water polo. It's definitely more fun," he said. "It's fun to play with my siblings and spend time at the pool."

That shared passion eventually carried each sibling through a successful collegiate career. Bennett, Rhys and Finn all competed as scholar-athletes at UC San Diego, while Jensine continued the family's success at UC Irvine.

Bennett finished her UC San Diego career as one of the most accomplished goalkeepers in program history. A two-time All-American and two-time All-Big West selection, she recorded 814 career saves, third-most in school history, while earning five ACWPC All-Academic honors before beginning medical school.

Rhys emerged as a leader for the Tritons, serving as a two-time team captain while earning All-WWPA Second Team honors, three CSC Academic All-District selections and four ACWPC All-Academic awards as an aerospace engineering major.

Now entering his senior season, Finn has continued the family's tradition of success at UC San Diego. The aerospace engineering major in Warren College has earned CSC Academic All-District recognition along with multiple Big West Commissioner's Honor Roll, Big West All-Academic Team and ACWPC All-Academic honors while becoming a key contributor for the Tritons.

This spring, those individual journeys converged in Malta.

Having a familiar teammate made the transition easier.

"It was helpful to play with Rhys because I know how he plays and he knows how I play," Finn said. "I usually had him in the water at the same time."

The siblings also discovered how deeply water polo is woven into Maltese culture.

"It was surprising how big the sport is over there," Bennett said. "So many people came out for every game. For such a small country, they have so many clubs and so many people playing."

She was equally struck by how long athletes continue competing.

"In the U.S., you're pretty much done playing water polo at 22 unless you're playing abroad or you're an Olympian," Bennett said. "But over there, people keep playing while working regular jobs. It's pretty cool."

For Finn, the biggest adjustment came inside the pool.

"Playing international is a little bit rougher," he said. "They're a little bit more aggressive, but that's what you expect at higher levels."

The tournament also produced memorable results.

The Maltese women recorded the nation's highest-ever finish at the World Cup, placing 10th in Division 2 while earning the country's first victory in tournament history with a 13-11 win over Slovakia. Bennett anchored the defense in goal, including an 11-save performance against South Africa, while Jensine helped lead the offense with a hat trick against Brazil and goals throughout the tournament.

The men's team also placed 10th after closing the event against Canada. Finn scored against Montenegro during tournament play, and Rhys remained in Malta afterward to compete professionally with Birzebbuga ASC for the summer.

For the siblings, however, the results were only part of what made the experience unforgettable.

"It was just us four siblings," Finn said. "No parents overseeing. It was pretty fun. It was good to see my siblings again all in one place."

The trip gave the family something few athletes ever experience: the chance to compete together while representing their heritage.

Bennett hopes medical school will still leave room for future appearances with the Maltese national team. Finn hopes to return after completing his internship and final season at UC San Diego. Rhys is already extending the family's overseas adventure through his professional season in Malta.

Years after learning the game together in La Jolla, the Bugelli siblings found themselves sharing another pool deck, this time representing Malta on the international stage. What began as four kids chasing a ball through local pools has grown into a story that spans continents, connecting family, heritage and the sport that has shaped each of their lives.

About UC San Diego Athletics
After two decades as one of the most successful programs in NCAA Division II, the UC San Diego intercollegiate athletics program has begun a new era in NCAA Division I. The 24-sport Tritons earned 30 team and nearly 150 individual national championships during its time in Divisions II and III and helped guide 1,400 scholar-athletes to All-America honors. A total of 84 Tritons have earned Academic All-America honors, while 39 have garnered prestigious NCAA Post Graduate Scholarships. UC San Diego scholar-athletes exemplify the academic ideals of one of the world's preeminent institutions, graduating at an average rate of 90 percent, the highest rate among public institutions in NCAA Division I or II.