National Performance Pathways
Identifying, developing and preparing Australia’s next generation of water polo talent.
Proudly supported by KAP7 AUSTRALIA
The WPA National Age Group Program is proudly supported by KAP7 Australia — the official equipment partner of Water Polo Australia.
High Performance Strategy
WPA’s High Performance Strategy provides the blueprint for how the sport will collaborate with purpose and with system partners to enable the Ord Minnett Aussie Sharks and Aussie Stingers to Win Well when it matters and inspire Australia.
Athlete Development Framework
WPA’s Athlete Development Framework will guide the work we do and attributes we develop in athletes across all phases of an athlete’s development journey toward becoming a world-class water polo athlete, in and out of the pool.
Explore the Squads
Water Polo Australia has a strong pathways program in place designed to support athletes progressing through the competition pathway.
Before making a senior men’s or women’s representative team, athletes have the opportunity to represent Australia through the various representative opportunities available with underage teams including U16, U18 and U20.
The purpose of the National Performance Pathways is to identify, support and develop athletes in preparation for the relevant international age group events but also to best prepare them to compete for selection in future National senior teams.
U18 Boys World Champs Team
U18 Girls World Champs Team
U16 Boys Squad 1
Alexander Punzmann (Nordek, ACT)
Ben Regan (UWA, WA)
Chase Staskiewicz (St Andrew's Anglican College, QLD)
Daniel Heathcote (Vikings, ACT)
George Kennedy (Sydney Uni, NSW)
Hugo Miocevic (Sydney Uni, NSW)
Jesse Hopkinson (Melville, WA)
John Ziros (UNSW West, NSW)
Jonah Edelman (Mantas, QLD)
Kody Ryland-Adair (Ryde, NSW)
Levi Clapper (UQ, QLD)
Liam Hutchinson (Sharks Water Polo, NSW)
Louis Brown (UQ, QLD)
Luka Trbojevic Cabrera (Sydney Uni, NSW)
Nate Kell (Cronulla Sharks, NSW)
Noah Hale (Sydney Uni, NSW)
Patrick Bonser (UQ, QLD)
Phoenix Irvine (Sydney Uni, NSW)
Reef Potter (Sydney Uni, NSW)
Russell Yuan (Sydney Uni, NSW)
Samuel Hosking (New Wave, WA)
Samuel Smith (River City, QLD)
Sebastian Calo (UWA, WA)
Stewart Bell (UWA, WA)
Thomas Gamble (UWA, WA)
U16 Boys Squad 2
Anthony Rigopoulos (Melbourne Collegians, VIC)
Archie Jones (Easts Water Polo Club, NSW)
Caelin Kopievsky Blyth (Grammar School, ACT)
Charlie Cartia (Mantas, QLD)
Charlie Wirth (Cronulla Sharks, NSW)
Daniel Massey (UWA, WA)
Darcey Lea (Richmond, VIC)
Deion Fernando (UWA, WA)
Edison Whalan (Sydney Uni, NSW)
Ethan Jaldiani (SPOC, SA)
Fletcher McGregor (SNB, NSW)
Hamilton Ward (Sydney Uni, NSW)
Harry Cattle (Nordek, ACT)
Henry Le Ray (Adelaide Tritons, SA)
Hudson Lynch (River City, QLD)
Hugo Lane (Sandy Bay, TAS)
Jacob Hebden (Richmond, VIC)
Jude Quinlivan (UWA, WA)
Kaizin Castle (Mantas, QLD)
Leonardo Briganti (Melbourne Collegians, VIC)
Noah Roper (Melville, WA)
Phoenix Brown (Sydney Uni, NSW)
Thomas Milcz (SNB, NSW)
Thor Nilsen (Mantas, QLD)
Tom Heaton (UNSW West, NSW)
Tom Hong (UNSW West, NSW)
U16 Girls Squad 1
U16 Girls Squad 2
Adelaide Driver (Nordeck, ACT)
Alice Sefton (UQ, QLD)
Annika Burdack (Central Newcastle, NSW)
Ashley Gould (Tuggeranong Vikings, ACT)
Audrina Ucchino (Drummoyne, NSW)
Claudia McCahon (All Hallows, QLD)
Ella Spiteri (Richmond, VIC)
Elsa Engelbrecht (UWA, WA)
Hannah Higgins (Richmond, VIC)
Imogen Booth (Albury Tigers, VIC)
Lille Walker (Melville, WA)
Lily Emu (UQ, QLD)
Mia Styles (Sandy Bay, TAS)
Myrsini Harakidas (Sydney Uni, NSW)
Olive Humby (Central Newcastle, NSW)
Ruby Comiskey (Mermaids, QLD)
Ruby Knights (SPOC, SA)
Saskia Astone (Mermaids, QLD)
Simaema Wickham (Balmain Tigers, NSW)
Sophie Carroll (Sydney Uni, NSW)
Sophie Moten (Mermaids, QLD)
Sophie Zampech (River City, QLD)
U18 Boys Squad 1
Aidan Wilson (UNSW West, NSW)
Alex Doherty (Mantas, QLD)
Alex Woolfe (SNB, NSW)
Ashton Bo Brown (Sydney Uni, NSW)
Brandon Liu (Ryde, NSW)
Callum Pugh (Melville, WA)
Charlie Fannin (Sydney Uni, NSW)
Cooper Semmens (SNB, NSW)
Dylan Jennison (UQ, QLD)
Ivan Zorotovic (Melville, WA)
Jake Cox (Sydney Uni, NSW)
Jake Taboni (UWA, WA)
Jett Semmens (SNB, NSW)
Kai Penney (SNB, NSW)
Khai Zenith (Central Newcastle, NSW)
Kosta Tsiaousis (SNB, NSW)
Lachlan Davies (SNB, NSW)
Mitch Lazarus (UQ, QLD)
Oliver Moncur (UQ, QLD)
Orson Owen-Jones (Sydney Uni, NSW)
Owen Nash (Balmain Tigers, NSW)
Rorey Nielson (Polo Bears, QLD)
Sam Kettle (UQ, QLD)
Savo Todic (UNSW West, NSW)
Seth Booth (Albury Tigers, VIC)
Taj Young (UNSW West, NSW)
Toby Gould (Sharks Water Polo, NSW)
U18 Boys Squad 2
Adam Handley (Central Newcastle, NSW)
Beau Boettcher (Central Newcastle, NSW)
Benjamin Hutchens (Tuggeranong Vikings, ACT)
Callum Redelinghuys (Melville, WA)
Cassius Allan (Melbourne Collegians, VIC)
Charles Smart (Adelaide Vikings, SA)
Charlie Lewcock (SNB, NSW)
Christian McGlew (UWA, WA)
Essington Bailey (UWA, WA)
Felix Neal (Essendon, VIC)
Fletcher Gregurke (Dolphins, ACT)
Flynn Swift (UQ, QLD)
Griffin Cosker (Sandy Bay, TAS)
Gus Callaghan (Richmond, VIC)
Harris Anderson (Richmond, VIC)
Henry Akhurst (SNB, NSW)
Henry Garvey (Sydney Uni, NSW)
Hugo Payne (Cronulla Sharks, NSW)
Jake Tucker (Melville, WA)
Lachlan Green (Wooden Waves, ACT)
Noah Goddard (Sandy Bay, TAS)
Oscar Wallis (Sandy Bay, TAS)
Reuben Teague (Melbourne Collegians, VIC)
Ryan Wallis (UWA, WA)
Sam Regan (UWA, WA)
Thomas Elliott (Mantas, QLD)
Tom Sloman (Polo Bears, QLD)
Tommy Steer (UWA, WA)
Zac Hutton (Noosa, QLD)
U18 Girls Squad 1
Abigail Oates (Sydney Uni, NSW)
Alannah Paul (SNB, NSW)
Ali McCarthy (Polo Bears, QLD)
Alice McMeniman (All Hallows, QLD)
Amelie Hoefel (Mermaids, QLD)
Bless Daly (Polo Bears, QLD)
Cameron Browning (Clarence Crocs, TAS)
Caroline Healy (Melbourne Collegians, VIC)
Claudia Booth (Polo Bears, QLD)
Ellie Sefton (UQ, QLD)
Emily Broadbent (Balmain Tigers, NSW)
Emmerson McEwan (Polo Bears, QLD)
Evelyn O'Neill (Balmain Tigers, NSW)
Georgia Joosep (Mermaids, QLD)
Harlei Kricak (SNB, NSW)
Isabella Parkes (SNB, NSW)
Isabelle O'Connor (Mermaids, QLD)
Kiera Mironova (Sydney Uni, NSW)
Lara Lane (Melville, WA)
Lucy Burchard (Richmond, VIC)
Lucy Stuart (Mermaids, QLD)
Sara Connors (UQ, QLD)
Sienna Walker (Melville, WA)
Zara Cooke (SNB, NSW)
U18 Girls Squad 2
Alisa Collett (Nordek, ACT)
Alyssa Chan (Sydney Uni, NSW)
Amie Glass (Melville, WA)
Arielle Vykopal (Melville, WA)
Ava George (Sydney Uni, NSW)
Carolyn Townsend (Sandy Bay, TAS)
Elisabeth Palmer (Nordek, ACT)
Grace O'Brien (UTAS Honey Badgers, TAS)
Jessica Wiley (Mermaids, QLD)
Laura McKinnon (Mermaids, QLD)
Lillian Hogan (Nordek, ACT)
Madeleine Hook (Drummoyne, NSW)
Mia Akhurst (SNB, NSW)
Molly Betteridge (Melville, WA)
Nikita Muriti (SNB, NSW)
Poppy Lochran (Mermaids, QLD)
Scarlett Baker (UQ, QLD)
National Performance Pathways Coaches
The National Age Group Program forms an important part of the Water Polo Australia high performance framework, designed to prepare athletes, coaches and referees for Australian representative opportunities. The program is designed to educate aspiring athletes about all aspects of water polo, both in and out of the pool.
Water Polo Australia’s high performance programs play a crucial role in ensuring future success of our national teams. The National Age Group Program also provides the ideal environment to prepare aspiring athletes looking to extend their representative honours with the Ord Minnett Aussie Stingers and Ord Minnett Aussie Sharks (senior team) and also who have aspirations for the Olympics.
U16 Boys
Coaches: Dean Semmens and Adam Richardson
U16 Girls
Coaches: Harry Sanderson and Melissa Rippon
U18 Boys
Coaches: John Fox and William Downes
U18 Girls
Coaches: Fabio Pavanello andJemma Semmens
U20 Men
TBC
U20 Women
TBC
Athlete Resources
Shoulder Performance Enhancement Program
Active Warm Up
Stretch & Trigger
Mobility
Camp Recipe Book
National Age Group Program Athlete Characteristics
Policies & Frameworks
For all documents related to the National Performance Pathways program, such as selection policies and athlete categorisation criteria, search the WPA document hub.
Major Partners
Program Partners
Industry Partners
Across Australia
Connect
Water Polo Australia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia and recognises the ongoing connection to lands, waters and communities.
We pay our respects to the continuation of cultural, spiritual and educational practices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and to Elders past, present and emerging.
Water Polo Australia is committed to providing a safe and welcoming environment for all people to participate, including those with diverse sexualities and genders. To strengthen this commitment, we are a part of Australia’s Pride in Sport program.
