ST ANDREW’S Anglican College was recently announced as the Sunshine Coast Water Polo Champion School of 2016, with six of eight grand final teams coming away as champions.
St Andrew’s Director of Sport, Steve Robson, said this title was the fourth in a row for the college.
“It has been great to see so many schools and students from all over the coast embracing the great sport of water polo,” Robson said.
“The success is deserved for our students, but full credit to the many other schools and teams who also enjoyed a wonderful season. The finals night was a terrific way to celebrate a great year.
“Importantly the officials, volunteers and supporters from every school have been outstanding and this is what makes water polo so special.”
St Andrew’s Water Polo Co-ordinator, Cameron Piper, said he was thrilled for all teams.
“Our Junior B Girls enjoyed a super win, with the Open A Girls team winning their division for the third year in a row after a victory over a very strong Sunshine Beach team – it was a wonderful reward for so many St Andrew’s girls who have contributed so much to water polo at the college for many years.
“Our Open A Boys had a thrilling match against Matthew Flinders Anglican College. It got to the 18th penalty shot to separate the two teams with St Andrew’s retaining last year’s trophy,” Piper said.
“Full credit to the Flinders boys as it really could have gone either way – importantly, whenever we play Flinders, it is always an outstanding match played with fantastic spirit from both teams.”
In other matches – the Intermediate A Boys got up against Flinders, while Flinders got up over St Andrew’s in the Intermediate Girls.
“Our Intermediate B Girls put up a brave fight against eventual winners Grace Lutheran,” Piper said.
“The future of St Andrew’s water polo looks great as our Junior Girls won both the A and B Divisions against a very strong Good Shepherd team and Siena side respectively and our Junior A Boys got up against Grammar.”
Robson said he wanted to thank Cameron Piper for his incredible leadership of St Andrew’s water polo, as well as Water Polo Queensland CEO Rob Donaghue for travelling from Brisbane to present trophies.
“It was also an honour to welcome triple Olympian and Australian Women’s Water Polo Captain, Bronwen Knox, for the evening,” he said.
St Andrew’s Year 12 students, Jacqui Sjogren and Rheece Powell, will now go on to represent Australia against New Zealand and South Africa in December.