Players to make a splash in Hawaii
Four Karratha Water Polo Association members have jumped back into the pool to begin training after their selection in the Hawaii Invitational Water Polo competition was announced earlier this month.
Karratha's Alex Dobbin and Byron Newbold and Tom Price player Mason Watts have been selected to play for Australia after strong performances in the Australian Country Championships at the Karratha Leisureplex in March.
They will compete against teams from all around the world in the six-day competition in Waikiki.
Newbold said it was an absolute privilege to be selected and a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to compete against some of the best players in the world.
"It's great exposure for the club at such a high level of the sport," he said.
"You pick up so much by playing with your peers at a higher level and we can bring that experience back to club level in Karratha."
Dobbin said she hoped their experience would inspire local junior players to dream big when it came to playing the sport professionally.
"Our selection really goes to show you that don't get left behind just because you live in a remote town like Karratha," she said.
"It is still possible for young athletes to go out in their chosen sport and represent your country."
Karratha player and coach Gary Vincent has also been named the manager of the Australian women's side.
He said he would help the three local players work through a rigorous training schedule for the next seven weeks in preparation for the competition.
"It's off-season in water polo at the moment here and we will be playing teams who are still in the middle of their season, so it's vital to get their fitness up to scratch," he said.
"I am so proud of these guys - they have been selected in these sides because of their true commitment to water polo in Country WA.
"It's great to see local players' commitment to the sport recognised; it's going to be unreal experience for us all."
The Hawaii competition will be held from August 3-9.
