Danielle Lewis is Back in the Country to make a Splash 

at Pan Pacs

You may recognize her from the official Panasonic Pan Pacific Banners and Programs. Danielle has been playing water polo at one of the highest levels in the Collegiate Water Polo League in the USA. She has been studying, playing, and ‘roughing it’ in Hawaii for the past year and a half.

Dani made her debut on her 18^th birthday for the NZ Senior Women’s at the 2010 FINA World Cup held in Christchurch. Then made the NZ Senior Team again to compete in the 2011 FINA World Championships in Shanghai, China.

Dani is one of the key leaders in the Marist U20 Women’s team who played Hutt and Canberra today and won both with scores of 13-6 and 10-4 respectively.

Quote from Danielle Lewis (left)

“I am really happy to be back playing for Marist after being away for so long. It’s great to be able to bring home new skills to the team so that they can also benefit from some of the great coaching I have received overseas in Hawaii.”

Coach Ben Pye, originally from Wellington (Current Marist Club and former Hutt Club and NZ Men’s Player), has recently been accepted to the Police Academy, so will gradually be handing this team over to another willing coach. Congratulations Ben! 

Photo: Danielle Lewis (Member of the Marist U20's, University of Hawaii and NZ Senior Women's teams)

New Zealand U15 Girls’ Team Competing in the U16 bracket of the Panasonic Pan Pacific Tournament

The NZU15 Girls’ Team consists of players from all over New Zealand, including Lilly Tomlins (see photo, right) from the deep south, Invercargill. Lilly trains with her team as well as the boys’ team to get as much training as she possibly can while she is at home. Last year she played for a Christchurch team to gain more experience and game time, but due to the distance and school commitments, she has been unable to continue this.

The other NZU15 girls come from Wellington (Harbour City Club), Tauranga, Waikato and Auckland (Marist, Mountfort, Waitakere and North Harbour Clubs).

Most of the girls in the NZU15 team are also playing for their Club teams throughout the tournament. The girls will be released for various club games so as not to penalize their club sides. Some girls will play up to three games per day.

The team is lucky to have the help of Phillip Howat (former NZU15 Girls coach 2010) again. He is assisting this team and brings a wide breadth of water polo knowledge.

The NZU15’s had a convincing win against Waitakere Teal today. Pan Pacs is the lead up to playing a 3 game test series vs NSWCHS (New South Wales Combined High Schools) July 5^th and 6^th. 

The U16 NSW Blues Made the Trip Across The Ditch and Look to be Tough Competition, as well as fielding an Ex Aucklander! 

One of the New South Wales Blues players grew up in Auckland. Kara Harris, a former St Cuthbert’s College and Marist Club water polo player is back in town to show her former club the skills she has learnt since moving to Australia.

Speaking to Coach Brett Arnold from New Castle, after the NSW Blues vs Canberra game this morning, where the NSW Blues won 17-0. He seems confident about his team’s ability. Arnold named the player of the game as Morgan Rowbottom. He also spoke of the great hospitality they have been met with since their arrival in Auckland.

After only being together for 6-8 weeks (eight trainings and two weekend camps) the girls gelled extremely well. The NSW Blues girls are from all over the Australian State, country and city girls alike. 


Photo: Kara Harris (Former Aucklander, now NSW Blues Team Member) 

The 2012 Panasonic Pan Pacific Youth Water Polo Tournament is upon us!

The Pan Pacific Youth Water Polo Tournament is the Largest Water Polo event to be held in the Southern Hemisphere. Teams from Australia, the USA and New Zealand will be competing throughout Auckland from Friday 29^th June-10^th July in age groups from Under 14 to Under 20 to become the 2012 Panasonic Pan Pacific Champions.

Over the course of the tournament there will be updates on this web page detailing some of the stories that go on behind the scenes as well as some game information.

Keep checking to see if there is an article about your favourite team.

Good luck to all competitors.

Emily Cox

NZWP Media Representative

Competition Dates:

Under 20 - 29^th-3^rd July

Under 16 - 30^th-4^th July

Under 18 - 6^th-10^th July

Under 14 - 6^th-9^th July 

For more game results and information go to the NZWP web site  http://waterpolo.org.nz/