Wonthaggi Underwater Hockey Team brings home state championship

A coastal town’s underwater hockey team took home an array of awards from a recent competition, as well as the state championship trophy.

Wonthaggi has taken home the title of state champions for underwater hockey after the tournament was held last week.Â

Wonthaggi has won the title of state champions for underwater hockey after a tournament hosted last week.

The Wonthaggi Underwater Hockey Club entered two teams for the state titles in Geelong last Sunday.

The day kicked off with a juniors competition that was played at a hectic pace with many goals scored and some great skills shown by the junior players.

A round robin was played between all six teams from across the state.

Team member and the club’s vice president, Michael Milnes, said it was a highly contested title and Wonthaggi put everything into bringing home the trophy.

“It was so close that Wonthaggi, having only lost one game all day, had to win the last game to make the final – which they did in a nail biter only to have to get back in the pool and play them again in the final,” he said.

Wonthaggi has taken home the title of state champions for underwater hockey after the tournament was held last week. Â

“As the siren sounded the scoreboard would show a 1-0 win to Wonthaggi over Maribyrnong with Dave Barry-Macauley the goal scorer for Wonthaggi.”

The Wonthaggi team included Dave Barry-Macauley, Belinda Watts-Keeley, Lucy Perdomo, Amy Barry-Macauley, Kirsteen “Chooky” Reid Rees Quilford, Michael Milnes, Romy Keppel, Ethan Milnes, Tamsyn Walsh, Felix Maund, and Will Stein.

Wonthaggi’s Belinda Watts-Keely took home the Women’s MVP and the Juniors Goal Scorer award went to Hamish Scothern.

The junior team’s Caden Milnes took home the Junior MVP.

The club took home many trophies on the day.

Mr Miles said a few of their junior players had big goals and this win was a step in the right direction.

“Both Hamish and Caden have their eyes set on representing Australia at the next Age Group World Championships being hosted in Turkey in 2024,” he said.

The Wonthaggi UWH club plays on Thursdays at the YMCA from 7.00pm and new members are always welcome.

All the gear is supplied for people to try out the sport.