Max Miller has always had high expectations for himself.
To go along with that, the fifth-year 2-meter has a long line of USC water polo legacy to uphold as well. Miller’s uncles, Matt and Greg Tonkovich, and grandfather Earl Harris played for the Trojans and were “extremely influential to him.”
“I always knew I wanted to go to USC because of my family,” Miller said. “My grandma comes to every game, she is always super stoked and bleeds the Trojan family since she also went here.”
Miller’s collegiate career has featured a long list of accolades and the team captain recently added to that list, scoring his 100th career goal earlier this season. The fifth-year is also second on the team in goals this year as he looks to cap off an impressive collegiate career.
But his collegiate water polo career did not begin at Uytengsu Aquatics Center, though, after his multi-sport high school years at San Juan Hills. Instead, Miller spent his first college semester training in Croatia with other California recruits.
“The reason I’ve played 5 seasons at USC is because we got an extra [year] because of the pandemic,” Miller said. “During that time, a couple of other guys from SoCal and I, who didn’t even know each other well, were in the same boat and we just wanted to play so we practiced abroad and then went to our different schools.”
Once he started at USC, Miller was welcomed with open arms by his teammates who tremendously helped him evolve as a player, and now leader for the Trojans. The players became very close, very quickly. From daily practices, to living near each other to creating motivation for each other, there is a strong force, according to Miller.
“When I first came in, I had two senior roommates and then my current roommate from my year, [current fifth-year driver] Tom McGuire,” Miller said. “Of my two senior roommates, Nic Porter, our goalie at the time, was like a big brother to me.”
Porter served as a role model and helped push Miller, but was there when he needed to talk at the end of the day too. The camaraderie of the team during that season was particularly memorable for Miller.
“Looking back as a captain and on the past five seasons — when I came into the role during the spring two years ago — losing 11 seniors and a big part of the culture was really tough,” Miller said. “Lately I have gotten especially close with everyone and I have been trying to push the juniors to start stepping up a little more just so we don’t have another big loss when the seniors graduate this year.”
According to Miller, it has made his experience at USC unforgettable. However, because he has focused a lot on the sport, it is time for him to also start focusing on his future career.
“I am feeling a little bit old and ready for what’s next but it is a little bittersweet,” Miller said. “It’s going to be a super fun season, it already has been and we have high expectations.”
One of the main lessons Miller comes back to throughout his college years is remembering to be patient with himself. The Trojan water polo team and program is unlike any other in the school, according to Miller.
“Whether it is the system for how we run our team or our plays, I felt like I had to learn everything all at once as a freshman,” Miller said. “Having the intention to get better and using my team for support when I need it is huge.”
Miller and his teammates have now played and lived together for four years. A community off campus called Olympic Village, where the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games were accommodated, now houses around 25 men’s and women’s USC water polo players in a 100-yard radius.
“Growing up, I’ve always heard about the Trojan family and how close this community is, it is so great that it lives up to its expectations,” Miller said.