Queensland Country Water Polo Championships: Hannah Nicolas set for state competition
A Mackay teenager will use a statewide water polo championship to help launch an elite career.
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It is known as one of the most physically-demanding sports to play, but Hannah Nicolas is diving headfirst into it.
The 17 year old will make a splash at the Queensland Country Water Polo Championships, but while she will represent her Mackay roots, it will not be in Mackay colours.
She said the region did not have enough female players to send a team, so instead she will compete with a mix of Townsville and Mackay players.
“The team I was drafted into will have a mix of Townsville players as well as four Mackay girls,” she said.
“Mackay doesn’t have enough girls playing to have a full team, we train with the boys at home which is great but there’s not enough to send a full team.
“It’ll be a great opportunity to meet some new girls and learn how to play alongside them.”
Nicolas will join other Mackay players Amanda Cox, Brittany Nicolas and Caitlyn Goudie at the championships.
Mackay will also send a full men’s team to compete at the championships, with the squad arriving in Cairns on Thursday.
It is not Nicholas’ first representative carnival, having been selected in state and national squads.
Nicholas said she was set to play in the Australian under-18s championships in 2021, but her chances of playing on a national stage were cut short.
“I was drafted to an Australian youth water polo championship team, but unfortunately because of the Covid outbreak down south it got cancelled,” she said.
“I’ve been drafted into the same team this year, so hopefully the tournament doesn’t get cancelled again.”
The former netballer and swimmer said she had lofty goals of playing water polo at an elite level, with one eye cast on universities.
“There’s definitely a goal to play at a higher level,” Nicholas said.
“I want to play at the college level, I’m still focused on school since I’m in my last year but I really want to keep playing.
“There’s a couple of sport-focused colleges down in Brisbane that would be amazing to play at.”
The matches will be livestreamed on the Daily Mercury.
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