WATER POLO’S NIGHT OF NIGHTS RECOGNISES EXCELLENCE AT ALL LEVELS OF THE SPORT
Published Fri 28 Apr 2023
The water polo community has come together to celebrate the very best in the sport at the annual night of nights at NSWRL Centre of Excellence, Sydney Olympic Park.
It’s the first time the water polo community have been able to gather since the COVID-19 pandemic, with the Water Polo Australia (WPA) Annual Awards previously celebrated online since launched in 2021.
Tonight the community gathered to recognise the achievements of individuals, clubs and programs achieved at the grassroots and elite levels of the sport, as well as six new inductees to the Water Polo Australia Hall of Fame.
The WPA Annual Awards coincides with the Australian Waterpolo League Finals Series, with the top teams in the country going head to head at Sydney Olympic Park for a spot in Sunday’s all important medal matches.
WPA CEO Richard McInnes said it was great to be able to come together to celebrate the achievements over the last 12 months.
"Tonight we were privileged to celebrate the very best of our sport, from the volunteers and community supporters through to our elite players and coaches," McInnes said.
"Our sport boasts so many passionate and dedicated people who give back to the sport. Tonight we were also proud to welcome another six distinguished players and coaches into the Water Polo Australia Hall of Fame.
"Congratulations to all of our finalists and winners and we look forward to growing the Awards Night next year," he said.
Aussie Stingers captain and dual Olympian Zoe Arancini was presented the prestigious Outstanding Achievements (Athlete) award.
“It’s a very big honour - I didn’t expect it,” Arancini said.
“It’s been a big 12 months, and Paris is fast approaching…I’m really looking forward to it.
“Three World Championships before an Olympics is unheard of and it’s going to be great preparation for us.
“It will be good for us to get some high quality games, and games uner pressure, before we get to the Olympic Games,” she said.
Megan Sutherland from the Fun Fit Program in Newcastle claimed two of the top honours, taking out the Volunteer of the Year and Program of the Year Awards.
“These awards are really special to me. Growing up in Tamworth, watching all the big kids playing water polo, I used to want to be a part of it,” Sutherland said.
“Me giving back has been like a dream come true and it’s the best gig in the world,” she said.
Former Aussie Sharks captain and dual Olympian Nathan Thomas was one of six new inductees to the Water Polo Australia Hall of Fame. John Fox, the late Colin French, Amanda Leeson-Smith, Ian Trent and Thomas Whalan were also inducted into the Hall of Fame.
“Being inducted into the Hall of Fame is an incredible honour, and a bit of a shock really,” Thomas said.
“It’s given me some time to think and reflect about my time in the sport, and all the wonderful people who have helped me throughout my time.
“There’s a lot of people, still to this day, who I have received a lot of support from and it wouldn’t have been possible without all of them,” he said.
Thomas was also proud to be part of a special presentation of Water Polo Australia’s new indigenous inspired artwork, created by two-time boxing Olympian and Indigenous artist Brad Hore.
The artwork marks the start of WPA’s Reconciliation journey, and the design will be used as part of WPA’s Reconciliation Action Plan which is set to be unveiled in the coming months.
2023 WATER POLO AUSTRALIA ANNUAL AWARDS
Outstanding Achievement (Athlete) - Zoe Arancini (WA)
Performance Coach of the Year - Georgina Kovacs-Muller (QLD)
Program of the Year - Fun Fit Program - Newcastle (NSW)
Volunteer of the Year - Megan Sutherland (NSW)
Water Polo Coach of the Year - Sharyn Arnold (ACT)
Young Achiever of the Year - Tahlia Scipioni (SA)
Hall of Fame Inductees:
