Sunshine Coast’s top water polo players gain Queensland, Australian selection
See the rising young water polo stars who have cemented their names as ones to watch ahead of the 2023 Olympics, after gaining state and national selection.
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The biggest rising water polo stars of the Sunshine Coast are strutting their skills in the pool and earning themselves state and national selection.
More than 13 high school students from Peregian, Buderim, Noosaville, Forest Glen and Nambour have impressed coaches and selectors at representative competitions in 2022.
St Andrew's Anglican College and Queensland water polo staff member Georgina Kovacs Muller began her work on the Sunshine Coast in February 2022.
“I have two part-time roles, one with St Andrew’s Anglican College as water polo co-ordinator and my other role is with water polo Queensland, which is through regional development for players, referees and coaches on the Sunshine Coast,” she said.
“That also means working with some state level teams, and I was recently privileged and honoured to be reappointed as the girls under-16s Australian head coach.”
The Hungarian-born player, official, coach and selector said she was proud of the growth and commitment within the sport over the past year.
“I think it’s now about regrouping. I know that in the past 10 years when I was in Perth, the Sunshine Coast was very strong, and I think there has been a tendency for players coming out of high school to go down to metropolitan clubs.” she said.
“They’re obviously pursuing their careers, so we’re now just trying to revive the Sunshine Coast starting with the grassroots, to then boost those playing numbers later on.
“We now have some fantastic opportunities to provide pathways for these kids through our various local clubs by them collaborating and showing the kids they can make high-level teams from playing and training on the Sunshine Coast.”
Sunshine Coast youngsters Claire McCulloch, Auguste Korac and Smith Connors all represented the under 16 Australian team in 2022 by competing at the World Championships in Greece, and have now been fortunate enough to be selected for 2023.
Below are some of the region’s brightest young water polo talents that have been selected or represent Queensland and Australia in 2022.
Australian Youth/Cadet representatives
U16 Girls
Willow Spero
School: St Andrew’s Anglican College
Age: 15
Spero, who has only been playing water polo for the past three years, was extremely proud of her selection.
“I am proud of how far I have come and how I’ve progressed throughout the years,” she said.
“I am grateful for this opportunity to play and learn with the top Australian players my age, and I hope to learn many new skills under the guidance of the high-level coaches to improve my game.”
Spero said it would be her first elite-level camp.
“I am just looking forward to the whole experience of playing and training with everyone in the squad,” she said.
“I think it will be very exciting and interesting to train and play with such talented people and learn how they play.
U16 Boys
Harry Colley
School: Sunshine Coast Grammar School
Age: 15
“I’m so proud that my hard work and commitment to the sport I love has paid off and that my efforts have been recognised with Water Polo Australia,” he said.
Colley said he was excited for the coming months.
“I’m so keen, I’m going to listen and get as much as I can from these elite training camps,” he said.
“I’m going to take every professional development opportunity that I’m given to up skill myself from the high-level coaches that I get to work with and then use these when playing in competitive games.”
Colley already has his eyes on the ultimate prize.
“Playing for Australia at an elite level against other county’s and making new friends with other players that I would normally compete against would be my dream,” he said.
Hamish Chart
School: Good Shepherd Lutheran College
Age: 15
“I’m really proud as I overcame a shoulder injury, but still achieved the goal I set myself at the beginning of the year,” he said.
“I am very excited for this opportunity and will work as hard as I can to give myself the best possible chance of making a team.”
Chart said he would welcome any further improvement to his game.
“I’m looking forward to training with and getting to know players from the other states,” he said.
“It will also be good to travel to the other states to train.”
Sam Eyles
School: Sunshine Coast Grammar School
Age: 15
“I am extremely proud to be selected in the Australian Cadet Squad – it means a lot to me,” he said.
“I want to become a better player and develop my water polo skills and I would like to represent my country with pride.”
Eyles thanked the support and guidance from his parents and coaches and hoped to improve his game.
“Learning from highly experienced coaches and pushing myself to become better,” he said.
U18 Girls
Claire McCulloch
School: Matthew Flinders Anglican College
Age: 15
“I am actually really proud, it is such an honour,” she said.
“I have worked really hard but it doesn’t feel like work when you really love it.”
McCulloch, who at age seven was diagnosed with the extremely rare Xlag Gigantism, said she was eager to improve her skills and game style.
“Every time you get to work with a new coach or new teammates you learn something,” she said.
“Having the opportunity to work with players and coaches of this elite calibre is possibly a once in a lifetime experience.”
McCulloch also represented Australia at the Water Polo Cadet World Championships earlier this year and said she was looking forward to the experience once again.
“I’m actually looking forward to pushing myself in the elite realm,” McCulloch said.
“Playing outside my comfort zone and being challenged day in day out by the players and coaches will be fantastic.
“I am very grateful for any opportunity that comes my way and always do my best to ensure I am a very coachable player.”
Mia Freeman
School: St John’s College
Age: 17
“Being selected for the Australian squad was honestly an incredible step for my water polo career,” she said.
“It allowed me to realise that I’m not nervous for the future, but extremely excited to play at levels that will challenge me more than ever before.
“Knowing that all the training, driving to Brisbane and trying to fit in schoolwork was worth it and it made me understand that I’m a lot more capable than I think, and stronger than others think.”
Freeman said she was looking forward to the coming months.
“I’m looking forward to being challenged, and pushed to points physically that I never thought I could reach in terms of my speed and strength,” she said.
“I’m hoping for not only enhanced skill, but an opportunity for competition that pushes me harder than I can push myself.
“I’m working to be an Olympian one day and I don’t plan on stopping anytime soon.”
U18 Boys
Auguste Korac
School: St Andrew’s Anglican College
Age: 16
Korac, who represented Australia at the World Championships in Greece from August 21 to 27, said he was looking forward to the coming months.
“I don’t think the work is done just yet. There are always bigger and better things to work for,” he said.
“I think this opportunity will help to improve my comfortability in a high-level environment.”
Korac said he was excited to be around elite talent and coaching.
“I have had a lot of great coaches in the past who have helped me to develop as a player but there is always more to absorb,” he said.
Josh Eyles
School: Sunshine Coast Grammar School
Age: 17
“I am very proud of making the Australian Youth Squad and I am hoping to improve and develop my skill set,” he said.
Eyles said he was eager to play and learn under new coaches.
“I am looking forward to training with high level coaches to learn new techniques and skills,” he said.
“And developing camaraderie and friendships with water polo players from all around Australia.”
Smith Connors
School: Good Shepherd Lutheran College
Age: 16
“I’m pretty chuffed, I’ve worked hard but also have a great support system and teams around me.”
Connors, who was also a Sunshine Coast representative in the Australian Men’s Cadet team, said he was eager to further his skills in the upcoming matches and training sessions.
“I’m hoping to learn from my teammates and always have training that challenges me to be the best I can be,” he said.
“The camaraderie of playing in an elite team is always a lot of fun, I’m looking forward to the next National tournament and high-performance camp in Perth this coming January.”
Connors said he hoped to one day play at the Olympics.
“I feel grateful to be able to live on the Sunshine Coast and still have these amazing opportunities,” he said.
“Australian coaches are incredible, and I am always in awe of their expertise but it’s also pretty sweet to have learnt the basics right here on the coast from our local mentors.”
Matthew Bonser
School: St John’s College Nambour
Age: 17
“I’m very proud of my efforts having put a lot of time and commitment into the sport having to drive down to Brisbane five times a week for training and games,” he said.
“I hope to develop as a player and take in the knowledge and game tactics they have to offer, overall bettering myself.”
Bonser was grateful for the support of his parents and coaches.
“It will be cool to experience the top level of water polo by playing at a high level with a good group of teammates and friends,” he said.
Queensland Representatives
U19 Girls
Lucy Wolfenden
School: St John’s College
Age: 17
“It is always an honour to wear maroon and play for Queensland, it is great when all the training pays off and you can get to play in representative teams,” she said.
“I am most proud of the relationships that team sport brings, the friendships and the experience.”
Wolfenden said she relished the elite-level coaching and atmosphere.
“When you get to play for multiple teams, you learn new skills from the coaches and managers,” she said.
“The opportunity to be coached at that level brings a deeper understanding of the game and gives me different perspectives on how the game can be played.
“Playing with others who have such a high skill level is both humbling and rewarding.”
U19 Boys
Harry Prince
School: Sunshine Coast Grammar School
Age: 17
“I was very proud to be selected in a Queensland Schoolboys team that included many top level players,” he said.
Prince was proud of his performances and efforts across the tournament.
“You have to give 100% for every minute of every game,” he said.
“I learnt a lot from my coaches and it is always good to play in well officiated games.
“I want to thank my coaches and teammates for a great tournament.”
Tom Neal
School: Good Shepherd Lutheran College
Age: 16
“As a squad, we played to the best of our abilities and enjoyed all of it, the immense effort we poured into the games was well worth it with the outcome we achieved,” he said.
Neal said he enjoyed playing in the intense atmosphere.
“Each match is always a bit of a battleground where we use what we’ve been taught to sway the outcome in our favour,” he said.
“However, each match is another stepping stone to becoming a stronger team and a more well-rounded unit.
“The atmosphere is always very serious at this level, making it a great place for adjustments in relation to strategy as the group is prepared to listen and develop as a whole.”
He thanked the efforts of his head coach and prominent Sunshine Coast water polo figure Eddie Choy.
“At this level, a knowledgeable and capable coach is necessary to convert the individual talent throughout the group to a strong squad able to play in these competitions,” he said.
“Eddie Choy, who also coached our victorious Sunshine Coast Schoolboys team, was a positive figure for us that I felt enhanced the team to the level that we got to.”
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