Water Polo Australia announces youth and junior teams for New Zealand Invitational

Water Polo Australia is pleased to announce the Junior Men’s and Youth Women’s teams that will travel to New Zealand for an invitational event.

Following the training camps held at the Australian Institute of Sport at the beginning of May, the following teams have been selected to represent Australia.

Teams travelling to New Zealand will play in the New Zealand 21&U Invitational Event from 25-27 June, as well as having the opportunity to train alongside the NZ Junior Teams.

Youth Women’s Head Coach Philip Bower said that it was a pleasure to see the talent on display at the AIS camps, and is looking forward to seeing the teams in action in New Zealand.

“It was a pleasure to work with 24 very enthusiastic athletes at the AIS last week, all the athletes that attended showed a great willingness to listen and learn,” Bower said.

“It was refreshing for me to see this attitude and the excitement the girls showed for the whole of the camp.

“New Zealand will be the first small step for these girls on their path to the FINA Junior World Championships in 2023,” he said.

Junior Men’s Head Coach Dmitry Gorshkov echoed Bower’s comments, adding that it was great to be able to have his squad back together again.

“The AIS camp was a great opportunity to get the 35 boys together in a National Camp environment as we haven’t been able to do this for over 15 months,” Gorshkov said.

“The teams chosen to tour New Zealand will act as the next stage of selection for the FINA Junior Men’s World Championships scheduled for the end of August in Argentina,” he said.

The Australian Junior Men and Australian Youth Women’s Gold teams will also play in three test matches against New Zealand, set to be livestreamed with details to be confirmed.

Congratulations to the following athletes on their selection:

Australian Junior Men

Marcus Berehulak (Barracudas, QLD)

Matthew Byrnes (UNSW, NSW)

Lachlan Emanuel (UWA, WA)

Andrej Grgurevic (Sydney University, NSW)

Thomas Harris (Sydney University, NSW)

Samuel Hughes (Balmain/Gosford, NSW)

Charlie Hunter (Balmain, NSW)

Byron Kelly (UWA, WA)

Julian Kyriakou (UWA, WA)

Matthew Murphy (UNSW, NSW)

Mitch Robinson (Hunter Hurricanes, NSW)

Samuel Rowbottam (UWA, WA)

Matt Wilson (Nordek/Balmain, ACT)

Australian Junior Men’s Development Team

Connor Barclay (Cronulla, NSW)

Noah Bright (Barracudas, QLD)

Harry Bruce (Melville, WA)

Riley Childs (UWA, WA)

Charlie Emanuel (UWA, WA)

Scott Lilleyman (UWA, WA)

Riley Maurich (UWA, WA)

Campbell McAullay (UWA, WA)

Drew McJannett (Sydney University, NSW)

Elijah Neesham (Melville, WA)

Tex Sjerp (Melville, WA)

Joel Smith (Balmain, NSW)

Kai Young (Sydney University/Cronulla, NSW)

Australian Youth Women’s Gold Team

Stephanie Brettargh (Sydney University/Tuggeranong Vikings, NSW)

Kate Blew (Mermaids, QLD)

Megan Cranley (Melville, WA)

Dayna Garside (UNSW, NSW)

Sabine Hatzipetrou (Mermaids, QLD)

Jasmine Higgs (Drummoyne, NSW)

Tara Logan (Richmond, VIC)

Lara Owen (Mermaids, QLD)

Antonia Poor (Triton, WA)

Bronte Ryan (Drummoyne, NSW)

Tahlia Scipioni (Eastern Saints, SA)

Macy Sicree (Melville, WA)

Nioka Thomas (Balmain, NSW)

Australian Youth Women’s Green Team

Paige Black (Mermaids, QLD)

Alex Brown (Sydney Northern Beaches, NSW)

Jessica Craig (Melville, WA)

Charlotte Cuthbert (Richmond, VIC)

Indigo Ditterick (Sydney University/Gosford, NSW)

Michaela Dyson (UNSW, NSW)

Celia Evans (Melville, WA)

Eve Gath (Mermaids, QLD)

Stephanie Jacobson (DVE Aquatic, VIC)

Lucy Peers (Mermaids, QLD)

Gabrielle Seccombe (Mermaids, QLD)

Isabelle Walls (Sandy Bay, TAS)

Alyssa Woolley (Henley Sharks, SA)