Lars Wenstrand has strived towards a collegiate water polo career ever since he was a freshman in 2022, when he was recently called up to Turlock High School’s varsity team. Where he’d play and study was a question for another time.
During his sophomore season, Wenstrand discovered the answer after hearing the call that has inspired over 41 million others across the United States in its 250-year history. He was determined to join the armed forces.
On Thursday, the Turlock High senior center took a significant step in realizing his dream by signing his National Letter of Intent to enroll in the Air Force Academy. It’s a path taken by many in his family, including his older brother.
“During my sophomore year in high school, I just felt a call to serve,” Wenstrand said at Thursday’s signing ceremony. “I became passionate about serving my country following my college water polo career. I have deep family roots within the military and my brother (Brigg) is currently serving in the Air Force, so that was a big support system as I was deciding.
“The Air Force academy gave all three things I was looking for — Division I water polo, high academics and it will allow me to graduate and serve as an officer.”
It wasn’t your usual high school athletics recruiting process.
Wenstrand explained that it took about a year to get accepted, which included gathering letters of recommendation, getting interviewed by local representatives and receiving a nomination by a local Congressman. After that, he had to undergo vigorous medical checks to see if he was fit to serve in any of the service academies.
All those steps were necessary, and it helped that he was a standout in both the classroom and the pool at the Steve Feaver Aquatic Center.
Following his late-2022 call up, Wenstrand was a three-year varsity starter. What ensued was dominance, scoring 202 goals and recording 57 assists over 96 matches. The three-time All-CCAL selection was key in Turlock winning the conference crown for the past three seasons.
The last two years were some of the most successful in school history, threatening for the program’s first section title since his father, Colin Wenstrand, helped win it all in 1990 — Turlock’s lone blue banner in history. In 2024, the Bulldogs advanced to the Sac-Joaquin Section Division I semifinal for the first time in at least two decades, and followed it up this past season with the program’s first-ever appearance in the CIF State NorCal Tournament, advancing to the Division III semifinal.
“We lost in the semifinals, but that was a time I will cherish for the rest of my life,” Wenstrand said. “I’m proud to be a part of a program my dad once played for and won the school's only section title his senior year and how I was able to continue my career playing for the same program.
“I am most proud of being part of a water polo program that prides itself on having the athletes play for each other and the love of the game. I really appreciate my teammates and coaching staff at Turlock, head coach Nicholas Serratos and assistant coach Zachary Glidden.”
At the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Wenstrand will be obligated to serve five years as an officer after graduation. From there, he’ll have the opportunity to continue serving if he pleases.
“I can't think of anyone better to receive this honor. I think Lars is a deserving leader, deserving athlete and a deserving young man,” Serratos said, who is particularly excited about the fact that the Air Force competes in the West Coast Conference and will regularly play against programs in California.
“This is the halfway mark for him,” Serratos added. “It’s so exciting to see. This is the second favorite day as a coach. I think the first favorite day is going to be seeing Lars suit up and actually play at the college level this year. I’m really excited for that.”
The 2026 schedule has not yet been released for the Falcons, but will be made available at www.goairforcefalcons.com/sports/mens-water-polo/schedule in the coming weeks.
“I can’t wait,” Wenstrand said. “I’m very grateful.”
