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UNSW Water Polo players carving it up in Gwangju

A number of UNSW-Wests Killer Whales and Magpies are represented in the Australian teams currently competing in the FINA World Championships in Gwangju, South Korea.

Published on the 18 July 2019

The Aussie Stingers have had a solid first stage of competition, coming away with two wins and a loss and currently sitting at the top of Group D. After a disappointing start, losing by one goal to Italy in the first round, the Stingers bounced back to defeat China 14-12 and Japan 9-7. They now await other results to discover who they will play in the crossover matches.

Killer Whales Lea Yanitsas and Amy Ridge (who is also a Ben Lexcen scholar and member of UNSW's Elite Athlete Program) have been instrumental in Australia's success.

Ridge has score three of Australia's goals so far and will be looking to build on that total during the crossover rounds.

Yanitsas, who is a goal keeper, has been slightly preferred over the team's other option in that position, Gabrielle Palm. Yanitsas has saved 46% of shots on goal, marginally ahead of Palm's 41%. She is readjusting to life in the touring squad after the birth of her first child just eight months ago.

“It’s been a very different experience in camp this time around, but it’s been awesome. I’m so grateful for the support of my family, my team and our coaches who have welcomed me back. Playing for my country is such as privilege and to be doing it again… I just couldn’t be happier,” she told Water Polo Australia.

Meanwhile, in the men's competition UNSW is represented by Joel Dennerley, Andrew Ford, Richie Campbell and Nathan Power in the Aussie Sharks.

The Sharks started with a 4-14 loss to Croatia, but just like the Stingers, bounced back to come away with a huge 17-8 win over Kazakhstan in their second game. They still have one game to go in their group stage, taking on the USA on 19 July. The USA have had similar results against Kazakhstan and Croatia, so no doubt it will be a tight match.

Dennerley has been playing a back up goal keeper role for the Sharks and doing admirably, saving some key shots on goal. Power has been the biggest scorer of the Magpies, with four goals at 57% over the first two games.

The competition runs until 27 July and all games can be streamed live on FINA TV.