Under 18 Women

The New Zealand Under 18 Women's Performance Programme is a pathway designed by New Zealand Water Polo to educate aspiring athletes about all aspects of water polo, both in and out of the pool.

The Under 18 Women's pinnacle event is the FINA Water Polo Under 18 World Championships. Unfortunately, the 2020 FINA World Youth Championships were cancelled by FINA due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

In 2022, our NZ Under 18 Women placed 8th at the FINA World Women's Youth Water Polo Championships in Belgrade, Serbia.

In December 2022 the name of the event was officially changed to the World Aquatics Women's Under 18 Water Polo Championships. The next Under 18 World Champs will take place in 2024.

In July, 2023 the squad travelled to Queensland, Australia to play and train with a Queensland club teams and squads.

2024 World Aquatics Women's U18 Water Polo Championships

Where: Chengdu, China

When: 15-22 September

Team:

Madi Searle
Zoe Crisp
Bella Knight
Bianca Pennington
Ellie Millard
Emison Styris
Holly Dunn
Katie Marshall
Gabrielle Doyle
Abby Welsh
Tallulah Goldsworthy
Taylor Fisher
Bailee Swindells
Riaan Bryant

Non-travelling reserves:

Olivia Shine
Charlotte Coughlan
Lucy Gilleece
Lia David

Travelling staff:

Head Coach: Angie Winstanley Smith
Assistant Coach: Facundo Policarpo
Assistant Coach: Rachael Roset
Sports Therapist: Simon Breen

NZWP Referee appointed by World Aquatics: Ryan McEwen

Junior Development Squad

Congratulations to the following athletes who have been selected into the Junior Development Squad (born 2007):

Annabelle Imlah

Anouk O'Malley-Cain

Caitlin Foote

Danica Phillips

Emma Needham

Gemma Robertson

Holly Bricklebank

Keira Evans

Leni Webster

Macy Mahoney-Studd

Mia Kelliher

Paige Ellis

Pippa Southcombe

Poppy Kostan

Sia Okach

Sienna Hirst

Sophie O'Leary

Stevi Cooper

Dates:

AUS State Champs 24-29th September
Training with AUS U18 Squad 29th September – 4th Oct

TEAM:

Congratulations to the following athletes who have been selected to represent New Zealand at the 2023 Australian U17 State Championships in Canberra, Australia in September 2023.

Travelling Team: