Water polo champs make a new splash
THE Geelong Amateur Water Polo Association hosted the inaugural Tri-State Championships at Kardinia Aquatic Centre at the weekend.
More than 20 teams from Victoria, New South Wales and Tasmania competed across five different grades.
The Geelong Marlins fielded one team in the under-12 mixed section.
While the young Marlins side failed to make finals, club secretary Julie O’Callaghan said the weekend was hugely beneficial.
“They improved dramatically over the weekend and competed very hard,” she said.
“That’s why we do it — to give our players a chance to compete against the best.”
Melbourne Collegians had the most successful outing at the tournament, winning the under-16 girls and the under-14 boys titles.
Teams from New South Wales also performed well, with Albury Sharks winning the under-12 mixed competition in the tightest final of the day, and Albury Tigers taking out the under-14 girls.
The under-16 boys final was won by the Richmond Water Polo Club.
“It was a fantastic festival of water polo,” O’Callaghan said.
Geelong previously held the state championships for a number of years before the event moved to Melbourne.
O’Callaghan said the new tri-state event was established in response to popular demand.
“The water polo community wanted an event to continue to be hosted in Geelong, so this event was inaugurated to meet that
need,” she said.