WPWAI Grand Final Weekend

Our junior and senior competitions are wrapping up shortly and the grand final weekend begins this Saturday, the 1st of April with the seniors and concludes the following day with the SunSmart WPWAI Junior competitions on the 2nd of April.

As always, the grand finals will be taking place at HBF Stadium, further details will be released on the WPWAI website when grand final teams are finalised. Following the success last year of having the SunSmart WPWAI Junior Grand Finals live streamed, WPWAI will be offering the service again. So don't stress if you’re unable to come down and watch the action, a link for the free live streaming is now available on the WPWAI website and on the WPWAI Facebook page.

2017 Geraldton Toyota Country Water Polo Championships

The games commenced on Friday 3rd March and continued through until Sunday, March 5th at the Geraldton Aquarena.

In both the men’s and women’s division Geraldton took home the gold against runner-up Bunbury (men's) and Karratha (women's) in what was a massive weekend of highly competitive water polo.

Read more about the matches on the WPWACI website.

In the play offs for the third place, Bunbury took home the bronze in the women's division and last years winners, Karratha, took the honours in the men's.

Women's All Stars
Eliesha Browne, Alisha Gilbert, Caitlin Walker, Abbey Benham, Narene Lawley, Emma Hancox, Kate Kalajzich, Belinda Brooks, Anouska Angove, Laura Hill, Caitlin Read, Deb Mercer and Alice Rotheram

Men's All Stars
Zac Cross, Joel Cross, Mick Rock, Rhys Knight, Justin Angove, Jack Deschamp, Jarrod English, Corey Smith, Brad Horsman, Daniel Lacey, Daniel Prout, Marko Draksimovic and Tim Bailey

Grand Finals Most Valuable Players
Jack Deschamp
Eliesha Browne

Tournament Most Valuable Players
Jack Deschamp
Belinda Brooks

Highest Goal Scores
Justin Angove (Men’s Division)
Caitlin Read (Women’s Division)

Natasha O’Neill - Life Member of Bunbury WPC

Bunbury’s Natasha O’Neill has been awarded life membership to Water Polo WA Country for her outstanding contribution to country water polo spanning over 17 years.

Tash has been a board member, official, player, coach, manager, publicity and marketing officer, club member, event coordinator and above all an enthusiastic and committed ambassador for the great sport of water polo.

Bridgette Gusterson to be inducted into International Swimming Hall of Fame

The captain of the Australian 2000 Olympic water polo team that made history when they won gold in front of the home crowd in Sydney, is one of the 17 honorees who will enter the International Swimming Hall of Fame as the Class of 2017. The induction ceremony will be held in August 25-27 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Bridgette Gusterson was born on February 7, 1973, in Perth, Western Australia and started playing water polo at the Bicton pool.

After assuming captaincy of the Australian team in 1998, the Australian Olympic Organizing Committee added women’s water polo for the first time to the Olympic program in 2000. As a feared centre forward, Bridgette led the team to victory in the first women’s Olympic tournament, sharing the triumph with her sister and teammate, Danielle.

Gusterson made her first Australian National Team appearance in 1992 and subsequently represented her country in 212 international matches, scoring more than 400 goals.

She retired after the 2000 Olympic Games but continues to be involved in water polo as a coach. Bridgette resides in Perth with her husband Gary Ireland (former World Champion swimmer and surf lifesaver) and their son Kalani.

WPWAI would like to congratulate Bridgette, a true pioneer of women’s water polo.

VenuesWest Brand Ambassador Program

As part of their commitment to high performance sport and creating athlete pathways VenuesWest is offering an opportunity for eligible Western Australian athletes to apply to become a VenuesWest Brand Ambassador.

Within the framework of the Brand Ambassador program, three athletes will be chosen. Each will receive $5,000 in cash sponsorship to assist with training and competition expenses. In return, as brand ambassadors, they will assist to build community awareness of VenuesWest’s role in supporting elite athletes and the pathways to elite competition. They will do this through engagement with our customers and stakeholders in a range of personal appearances throughout the year.

Suitable athletes will be assessed against set criteria:

For full details and to submit an application please visit the Brand Ambassador Program web page.