Water Polo Australia (WPA) wishes to congratulate the male and female athletes who have been named to Australia’s UniRoos that will represent their country at the World University Games in Napoli (ITA) – ‘2019 Summer Universiade’.
The selected water polo players join Australian athletes from 14 sports for what is the world’s second largest multi-sport event, only surpassed by the Olympic Games.
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Australia’s water polo teams have enjoyed success at Universiade outings, amassing five medals at the biennial event, including two gold (women – 2015; men – 2009).
Australia’s women’s team have been drawn in Pool B and will face USA, Italy, China and Russia while the men, also in Pool B, will go up against Croatia, Italy, Hungary and Japan.
Australia’s men’s coach Andrew Yanitsas said team selection had been competitive.
“We were able to come together in Canberra for a week of training in May which led to a solid training block and to the final selection,” Yanitsas said.
“We are embracing the challenge of playing International water polo at this level where we will play hosts Italy as well as Croatia, Hungary and Japan,” he said.
The World University Games – 2019 Summer Universiade – will be held from 2-14 July in Napoli, Italy. Napoli 2019 will be the 25th Summer Universaide that the Australian UniRoos will compete at, continuing a long and proud history of success.
Water Polo athletes are following in the footsteps of many of the greats of Australian water polo with a number of former UniRoos going on to play for the Aussie Sharks and Aussie Stingers at the Olympics.
Women’s team
Abby Andrews (QLD) Michigan
Hayley Ballesty (NSW) UNSW
Pascalle Casey (NSW) Balmain
Jessica Emerson (QLD) QLD Thunder
Tess Hosking (WA) UWA
Tilly Kearns (NSW) USC
Genevieve Longman (NSW) Balmain
Brooke Mclean (NSW) Cronulla
Sophie Milliken (QLD) QLD Thunder
Dani Morrissey (NSW) Sydney Uni
Sofie Pontre (WA) Michigan
Alice Williams (NSW) Balmain
Jessica Zimmerman (WA) Rapallo – Italy
Head Coach: Dusan Damjanovic
Assistant Coach: Debbie Watson
Physiotherapist – Danielle Woodhouse
Men’s team
Nick Elphick (WA) Fremantle
James Gilfeather (NSW) Wests
Nick Hallam (NSW) Drummoyne
John Hedges (WA) Fremantle
Christian Kyriakou (NSW) Sydney University
Angus Lambie (NSW) Wests
Thomas McJannett (NSW) Sydney University
Sam Nangle (NSW) Santa Barbara/Wests
Charlie Negus (NSW) Wests
Nick Taylor (ACT) Wests
Reilly Townsend (QLD) QLD
Lachlan Vos (WA) UWA
Damian Williams (WA) UWA
Head Coach: Andrew Yanitsas
Team Manager: Mark Salmon
Physiotherapist – Danielle Woodhouse
