Woden Waves to represent Canberra at Australian Youth Water Polo Championships

A composite team from Canberra, the 16&U Woden Waves Girls team will be truly representative of the Australian Capital Territory water polo community when they play at the Australian Youth Water Polo Championships (AYWPC) in January.

The AYWPC is set to take place in Brisbane from January 5-16, with more than 210 teams traveling from around Australia, New Zealand and the United States of America to take part.

Made up of girls from several clubs in Canberra as well as a few draft players from out of state, the Woden Waves will play under the experienced eye of coach Alex Kuzis, an expert on the AYWPC environment.

“My water polo journey began in Tasmania when I was in year five, and now more than 10 years later, I’m more involved than ever,” said Kuzis.

“I went three or four times to the Championships as a player representing Tasmania and also refereed at the event in Brisbane in 2021. 

“I moved to Canberra for University a few years ago, and found that I couldn’t stay away from the sport, so now I’m back coaching and I’ll be returning to the AYWPC in January to referee in the first week and coach in the second,” he said.

The Woden Waves will play hard and have fun along the way, with the team looking forward to the social aspect of the tournament just as much as being in the pool.

“I coach the team here in the ACT on a weekly basis and the players traveling up to Brisbane could not be more excited,” said Kuzis.

“The girls are all looking forward to building their friendships, meeting new people from around the country and playing the sport they all love. Personally, I’m looking forward to a bit of sunshine.

“Hopefully the girls will make friendships that they can bring back here and continue to have as they move forward in their water polo journey, something that was so important for me when I was growing up and something I’m sure will be important for them too.

“Everyone dreams of a medal but we’ll be there for fun and enjoyment more than anything else,” finished Kuzis.

Currently studying at the Australian National University (ANU) and playing for the ANU Owls, Kuzis is excited to see so many teams from the ACT make the trip to compete.

“We’ve got quite a few teams traveling up from Canberra in January,” said Kuzis. “The plan in the ACT for the last few years has been to encourage the clubs to send their own teams to the AYWPC, so we’re starting to see a lot more composite teams form - especially in the younger age groups - as that plan progresses.”

The AYWPC will take place across various venues in Brisbane from early to mid January 2024. To learn more about the event, visit the website here.

ORD MINNETT TEST MATCH SERIES

The Ord Minnett Aussie Sharks and Aussie Stingers will also be in Brisbane for the AYWPC, playing in a three test match series. Find out more and purchase your tickets here.

TOP 17 THINGS TO DO IN BRISBANE
You’ll have a ball in Brisbane while here for the Australian Youth Water Polo Championships (AYWPC) from 5-16 January. Plunge into the city and surrounds with this list of must-do experiences, from island hopping and adrenaline-fueled fun, to a foodie feast and endless summer sport.
The city will come alive when more than 210 teams from around the country compete in the Australian Youth Water Polo Championships for 12&U, 14&U, 16&U and 18&U divisions. We hope to see you, your team and family out and about exploring Brisbane’s must-do experiences. 

CLICK HERE to find out more.