Five members of Australia’s bronze medal winning team from the 2012 London Olympic Games have been named to headline the Aussie Stingers squad for the women’s FINA World League qualifying rounds in New Zealand next week.
Dual Olympic medallist Bronwen Knox and London teammates Nicola Zagame, Holly Lincoln-Smith, Rowie Webster and Ash Southern will all make the trip across the Tasman in the 14-player group.
Joining the established stars in the squad is goalkeeper Kelsey Wakefield who will enter the team’s training camp in Sydney today on a high after her Brisbane Barracudas club team scored stunning victory in the National Water Polo League finals yesterday.
Western Australian Institute of Sport athlete Eliesha Browne is the only rookie in the squad and will make her senior international debut if she is selected in the final 13 to play in the tournament.
Browne – who originally hails from Geraldton in WA’s mid West – will be joined in the squad by fellow WAIS athlete Zoe Arancini, who was in action at last week’s NWPL finals week with the Fremantle Marlins.
National women’s head coach Greg McFadden said there were a few players not considered because of work commitments, allowing some of the squad’s rising stars an opportunity to impress.
“The team consists of five bronze medallist’s returning from London with Victoria Brown and Glencora Ralph (WAIS) unavailable due to work commitments,” McFadden said.
“This is a great opportunity for the players who just missed out on selection for London to cement their position in the team for this year’s FINA World Championships in Barcelona.”
McFadden believes the side has a very balanced look and paid tribute to the domestic form of those selected.
“We have selected a strong team that covers every position,” he said.
“I look forward to the challenges and watching the team develop in New Zealand while coming up against China, Japan and the host country.
“The new players have deserved their selections through outstanding performances throughout the National League and the All Star game.”
The team will spend three days in camp in Sydney before playing six games in as many days in Auckland against Asia/Oceania rivals China, Japan and New Zealand, starting on May 9.
– Water Polo Australia
