U16’s – The Closest and Most Intriguing Competition to Date

The Under 16’s section of the Panasonic Pan Pacific Youth Festival really is developing into the closest and most intriguing competition to date as teams try to make tomorrow’s semi finals. First they have to grab a quarterfinal spot. The boy’s section looks a bit more clear-cut although 2 draws in pool play will decide the order of the advancing teams. The first of these involved NZ U15 boys and Queensland White in an 8 all draw; whilst Marist Red and Tauranga boys fought out a 7 all draw. It seems that all 4 teams will advance along with North Harbour A, Corona Del Mar, Queensland Maroon, NSW Blues and NSW CHS but there is still room for someone to upset the apple cart.

The U16 Girls is even closer and there will be much anticipation tomorrow to see who emerges from the pack with both Canberra and Mountford Park still holding out hopes of a top 8 spot and a place in the quarters with the NZ Under 15s, NSW Blues. NSW CHS, NSW Waratahs, Harbour City, North Harbour A, Queensland Maroon and Marist Red.....only 8 of these 10 teams can get a place.

Chris Hayward

NZWP

Under 20 Finals

The Under 20 Finals will be the first to contest the medals at the 2012 Panasonic Pan Pacific Youth Festival today. The men’s final will see Waitakere take on the international combined side of FRANZ - comprising of players from France , Australia and New Zealand- in a bid to be the third Waitakere team to take a Gold medal at this level. The Under 14 boys in 2004 and the Under 16 Boys in 1998 preceded them to the podium. Marist Auckland and North Harbour will battle it out for the bronze.

Marist and North Harbour (defending champions) take to the pool in the U20 women’s final with the NZ Under 18 side battling it out for the women’s bronze with Australia Gold, after today’s semi finals, Harbour City and Canberra were eliminated.

Chris Hayward

NZWP

Canberra Academy U16 Girls’ Team

The ACT is small, with the state only containing 350,000 people. However, even with the small population, there are many keen water polo players. The Canberra Academy has 8 teams in the Panasonic Pan Pacific Water Polo Tournament; 4 girls’ and 4 boys’ teams.

Matt Turnbull runs the Canberra (ACT) Water Polo Academy. He played in the USA, and has used his connections to gain the two American coaches that are leading the Canberra Academy U16 Girls’ team.

Head Coach Shane Mahoney (photo right), originally from the USA, played with Matt at Stockton University. Shane has only been in Canberra for 3 ½ months coaching the girls’ team.

A lot of the girls in the Canberra team are under 15, and the majority of them are from Canberra and surrounding areas with one exception being an American import.

The Canberra Water Polo Academy is building an exchange culture between the USA and Australia. The ACT Academy have 4 American girls attending local high schools in Canberra and playing for club teams and there will be three Canberra girls going on exchanges to American High schools later this year.

Assistant coach, Joey Rossi (photo right), is from California and is a strength and conditioning coach at the University of Pacific. He trains all the aquatic sports teams there and works alongside former NZ Women’s Team Captain, Megan Thompson, who is the Head Water polo Coach at the same University. Joey is at the ACT because he played water polo in Australia for Canberra Water Polo in the Australian League.

Quote from Joey on his experience so far in Auckland: “Beautiful town, great people and a fun environment.”

Maranui U16 Boys Team Led by American

Head Coach Ryan Holt (photo left) from Philadelphia, USA, attended Slippery Rock University in Pennsylvania and was the assistant coach at Mercy Hurst College in Eyrie, Pennsylvania.

Not only is Ryan a talented water polo player and coach, but he also worked as a river guide at Ohiopyle State Park.

Ryan initially went to Wellington to play for legendary coach Dante Detamanti in the Maranui Senior Men’s 2012 season. Dante coached both the Maranui Men’s and Women’s National League Teams this year.

Maranui put huge effort this year into rebuilding the strength they once had throughout the Kilbirnie centered club. This year they had several American’s playing for both the men’s and women’s teams. Ryan stayed on after the completion of the National league season to coach the U16 Boy’s team and leaves for the USA this Friday.

The Maranui U16 team consists mainly of boys from St Patrick’s College, Onslow College and Wellington College. A lot of the players are all round athletes and play a variety of different sports and in Ryan’s opinion this helps in the pool with athleticism and tactical focus. He has been particularly impressed with his team’s defensive abilities.

The team manager raved about Ryan’s abilities as a coach. Describing him as young, but very dedicated and relates really well to the boys in the team.

Sounds like he will be missed by many, both in and out of the pool. Maybe we will see him back for another season in the future.

Servite High School, USA

If you see a group of boys or girls walking around sporting impressive tans, they are probably one of the American Teams who have come from their warm California summer to endure the Auckland rain in order to participate in the Pan Pacific Water Polo Tournament.

The Servite High School boys (photo left) are no exception. Servite is an all boys Catholic School in Anaheim, California, just minutes from Disney Land.

This is the team’s first international competition. Their Coach, Mustafa Hassan, who was born and raised in the USA gets his interesting name from his parents’ heritage. His father is Arabic and his mother, Cuban.

Due to the financial input needed to come on such a trip to New Zealand they have a variety of boys on their team. Some are much younger than would play on the team if they were playing in California. But coach Mustafa can see the positive side of it, giving the younger players a chance to step up and learn through the experience of playing for the team during the tournament. They have a mix of ages, from 14 to 16 and are playing in the U16 bracket.

There are no boarding facilities at their school so the boys all commute and live within 20 miles (32km) of their school. They are staying in down town Auckland and have been enjoying walking around their new neighbourhood and seeing what the city has to offer.

Good luck for the tournament, Servite High School!

Behind the Scenes Before the Ceremony

A plethora of teams assembled to walk proudly around the West Auckland West Wave Aquatic Center pool in a parade of water polo players from Australia, the USA and all over New Zealand. One of the Californian team members (Corona Del Mar, photo right) added to the atmosphere by waving American flags with their traditional patriotic pride.

Before the players entered the pool area, there was a relaxed atmosphere; the buzz of voices, high-pitched screams, giggles, an impromptu basket ball game and the sight of reuniting friends from different nations. The Pan Pacific Water Polo Tournament festivities have begun.

The vibe of the tournament is one of excitement. Teams new to the tournament have been met with open arms by not only the water polo organizers and competitors, but around Auckland. Teams returning have come to expect the generous Kiwi culture they experience each year. 

Photo left: North Harbour U16 Girls' Team waiting patiently to participate in the Opening Ceremony.

The Panasonic Pan Pacific Opening Ceremony Entertains All

Penny Hulse, Auckland City Council Deputy Mayor and West Aucklander made a guest appearance at West Wave Aquatic Centre this evening, 1^st July.

Former water polo Mum herself, Penny’s advice to the athletes for the Pan Pacific Water Polo Tournament was “Be strong. Be staunch.”

The athlete and official oath was recited, the New Zealand Anthem was sung and the Haka was performed, as well as a traditional Samoan dance.







Photo Above: Auckland City Council Deputy Mayor, Penny Hulse and Councilor Alf Filipaina.

A select number of player and coach representatives from other nations were called upon during the traditional Maori welcome (photo left) to be apart of and accept the challenge of the tournament. Councilor Alf Filipaina, a former water polo player was in charge of the performances.
                   



     Photo Below: Samoan Performance

Photo Below: Traditional Maori Dance