Mermaids looking for home ground advantage at KAP7 AYWPC

Local Brisbane club, Mermaids Water Polo Club, will be looking to use their home ground to their advantage when they line up KAP7 Australian Youth Water Polo Championships (AYWPC) starting this weekend after a stand out year in 2019 year.

Mermaids started their 2019 surge by claiming the 12&U, 14&U and 18&U female age division titles at the inaugural AYWPC and a second place in the 16&U division.

One of the Head Coaches of the Club, Nicola Johnson, said that despite the success in the pool, it was great to see all of her teams having fun throughout the Championships.

“For most of these girls, it was their first national event, so it is nice to see them having such a great time, both in and out of the water,” Johnson said.

“To top off such a great competition with gold medals for our 12s, 14s and 18s was just the icing on the cake.”

14&U Mermaids team with Gold medals at 2019 Australian Youth Water Polo Champs

But AYWPC was only the beginning, the Mermaids 14&U girls went on to be named as the Quest Sports Star Team of Excellence, chosen as the best junior team in Queensland across all sports.

“The title was such a great honour for the girls, and for them to be recognised for their great success in 2019 was very humbling for us all,” Johnson said.

Mermaids come into the KAP7 Australian Youth Water Polo Championships in strong form ,having claimed gold medals in 14&U, 16&U, 18&U and Open age groups at the 2019 Delfina Water Polo Queensland State Titles, with their 12&U boys also earning themselves top spot in their division.

“The effort from our players at the State Titles was incredible, it was a great feat to win five state titles,” Johnson said.

But Johnson said the focus now lies on the 2020 KAP7 Australian Youth Water Polo Champs, where her girls will be looking to go back to back.

“We have a lot of younger up and coming players this year, they’ll just be looking to gain a lot of experience this year,” Johnson said.

“I think what we learnt most from last year was to get involved in all aspects of the AYWPC, not just playing water polo.

“Definitely get down to watch the USA tests, visit Southbank, the City and Howard Smith Wharves,” Johnson added.

“Most importantly, mix with as many of the interstate teams as possible to make new friends.”

2019 16&U Gold medal match - UNSW Killer Whales Yellow v  Mermaids Pink

The 2020 KAP7 Australian Youth Water Polo Championships are set to kick off in Brisbane on Saturday 11 January.

The two week festival of water polo will be complemented by an international test match series, where the Aussie Stingers and KAP7 Aussie Sharks will take on the USA in three official tests at the Brisbane Aquatic Centre on 14, 16 and 18 January.

Tickets are selling fast but are available at https://bit.ly/AUSvUSAtix