MAKING A SPLASH
Water polo player plans bright future
In just four years of playing water polo, Cam Pomana, 17, is splashing to the top.
Pomana started playing in the Palmerston North Boys’ High School under-16 team, and is now gaining national attention.
‘‘I liked swimming and I liked the contact and physicality of rugby, and water polo kind of combined those things,’’ Pomana said.
‘‘I was really bad. But I scored one goal in the under-16 nationals. I didn’t know what to expect when I started playing, but I haven’t stopped since then.
‘‘My coach, James Ross, must have seen something in me, because he wanted me on the team.’’
Ross was on to something. Pomana went on to make the national under-17 team last year.
He travelled to Auckland, Tauranga, Marlborough and Wellington to play, as well as a trip to Montenegro and Croatia to train with other overseas teams.
‘‘This year I want to make the under-18 world championship team.’’
There’s a lot of work and effort involved in reaching his goal.
‘‘I practise four hours a day. That involves a lot of swimming and leg work.
‘‘We do something called egg beating to keep afloat. Basically, you’re just rotating your legs to keep you above water. So you’ve got to build a lot of muscle.
‘‘I played rugby until year 11 and then I stopped to focus on water polo. I play basketball as well ... it uses similar tactics to water polo.’’
Pomana says he loves the challenge of playing water polo.
‘‘I love that I get to travel and meet a lot of people … the competitive side of it is also a really big part of why I enjoy it.’’
Although he’s achieved a lot in water polo, Pomana says he’s not going to pursue it as a sole career.
‘‘Water polo is more of a lifestyle thing for me.’’
He’s got big plans for his future after high school, intending to shoot for a scholarship to play water polo in the United States, as well as studying business or commerce.
‘‘The experience in the US would be amazing, it’s a lot more competitive over there.’’
‘‘There’d be more opportunities … and yeah, it’s the American dream, I suppose!’’