Queenslanders dominate the Australian under 16 water polo girls and boys training squads

Queenslanders have dominated the Australian under 16 water polo girls training squad while 11 Queensland boys were in the national under 16 squad preparing for either the world youth championships or Pan Pacs in July.

Queenslanders have dominated the Australian under 16 water polo girls training squad while 11 Queensland boys were in the national under 16 squad preparing for either the world youth championships or Pan Pacs in July.

Of the 52 named in the girls’ squad, 24 are from Brisbane clubs Mermaids, Barracudas, St Rita’s College, All Hallows’ School or Brisbane Girls’ Grammar School.

They include 12 members of the powerhouse Mermaids club who, in their age group across the last five years, have not been beaten.

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Of the 24 young Queenslanders, the likes of Molly Nasser from Mermaids and St Rita’s centre half forward Amelia Watt were gaining experience in the Queensland Thunder senior set-up this season.

St Rita's College water polo player Amelia Watt prepares to shoot.

On the boys side of the fence River City dominate representation with seven players. They are

Dawson Bryant, Jack Fodor, Tomos Hedges, Isaac Kyle-Little, Ryan Medic, Samuel Powell and Luca Zolla.

Barracudas product Will Valentine, who attends Marist College Ashgrove, is in the squad and has been blooded this season in the men’s Queensland Thunder where he is learning from the likes of Rhys Howden and Billy Miller.

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Valentine’s powerful Barracudas club has three other players – Samuel Mellick, Marcus Buchanan and Jack French.

Queensland’s representation in the two squads was reflective in the success of local teams at the Australian Youth Water Polo Championships held at Chandler last month.

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The extended squads will enter into a training camp during the April school holidays before the squad members compete for their respective states at the WPA National Championships in Adelaide, May 21-24.

Molly Nasser is introduced to the crowd while playing for Thunder earlier this month. (AAP Image/Richard Walker)

After that teams will be finalised for the FINA 16 years and under Water Polo World Championships in Greece and also for the Pan Pacific Youth Water Polo Festival in Auckland.

The Queenslanders named in the squads are, girls:

Lauren Brownhill AHS

Olivia Camilleri (St Rita’s

Lily Carrick St Rita’s

Mary Comiskey BGGS

Annabel Cowan Mermaids

Josephine Crimmins Mermaids

Louisa Downes Mermaids

Lulu Elliott Mermaids

Phoebe Fredericks AHS

Mia Freeman Mermaids

Grace Gallagher AHS

Abigaile Houston St Rita’s

Emily Humphries Mermaids

Chelsea Johnson Mermaids

Victoria Kininmonth Mermaids

Isabel Lumley BGGS

Phoebe McGuire AHS

Molly Nasser Mermaids

Olivia O’Hara Mermaids

Horatia Schlect St Rita’s

Isabel Scott Mermaids

Mimi Stoupas Richmond

Taafili Taoso Mermaids

Amelia Watt St Rita’s

Boys:

Dawson Bryant River City

Marcus Buchanan Barracudas

Jack Fodor River City

Jack French Barracudas

Tomos Hedges River City

Isaac Kyle-Little River City

Ryan Medic River City

Samuel Mellick Barracudas

Samuel Powell River City

Willi Valentine Barracudas

Luca Zolla River City