Water Polo Squad Set for Interstate Challenge

The NSWIS women’s water polo squad travel to Canberra this weekend for the National Training Centre Challenge, a high performance competition which forms part of the selection process for the Australian squad that will compete at the world championships.

Among the NSWIS squad is Olympian Tilly Kearns, who recently returned from playing in the United States.

“I’ve been back for 10 days and it’s really nice to be back among some Aussie accents,” Kearns said.

“It’s a different style of water polo in the States and I’m really looking forward to getting back to playing with Team NSWIS and then the Stingers.

“In the US it is very much a structure. Every time there is a goal scored there is a play you need to do and I think there are benefits to both sides. But I am keen to play more ‘free’ right now and have that flexibility to do what I can.

“The key difference is it’s probably more free playing here – you play off feel and can make decisions based on what everyone is doing around you.”

The squad travel to Canberra on Friday morning and play teams from the Queensland Institute of Sport, the Juniors and the Barbarians.

“This weekend is part of the selection for the world championships for the Stingers and also the junior team to compete at the junior world championships in Portugal,” NSWIS women’s water polo head coach Rebecca Rippon said.

“For me it’s about the players that have been overseas coming in and helping lift the level of the players around them.

“The girls that have been at home training and competing have really improved a lot over the last six months and have really put a lot of work in and really owned this space.”

The two time Olympian coach sees the National Training Centre Challenge in two parts for her athletes.

“The ones that are going and are competing for Stingers spots do well and push for that selection,” said Rippon.

“And that the others are seen and lift the standard of the competition and show themselves for future selections.”

Kearns, who has played in the States for three seasons and as a result grew tremendously as an athlete, is eager to help blood the younger generation and raise the benchmark of competition.

“It was great experience especially as a young one,” she said.  “I learnt a lot from the girls I was playing with and against.

“The USA are a powerhouse in water polo and being exposed to those players who then I played against on an international stage was unreal.

“I am one of the older ones now and can bring back what I learnt over there and help teach the young ones.”

Frances Cordaro, NSWIS