THE Geelong Marlins may not be one of Victoria’s biggest water polo clubs, but their ability to produce elite junior talent is again on display, with four players selected to represent Victoria at this weekend’s under-15 East Coast Challenge.<\/p>\n
Brother and sister Dylan and Kate Parnell will line up alongside teammates Freddie Robertson and Isla Anderson at the tournament, which runs from 3\u20135 July at the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre.<\/p>\n
Hosted by Water Polo Victoria, the annual East Coast Challenge brings together under-15 state squads from across the country ahead of the National State Championships later this year.<\/p>\n
Thirteen-year-old goalkeeper Dylan said the welcoming culture at the Marlins had played an important role in his development.<\/p>\n
“I like playing for the Marlins because the people in the club are everyone’s friend,” he said. “They are always open to new people trying out and joining in.<\/p>\n
“Everyone is respectful and encouraging, and playing for Victoria is the exact same.<\/p>\n
“They are always checking in to see how you are going and train us to be the best we can be. I personally love playing for both.”<\/p>\n
Kate, 14, said balancing club and state commitments had exposed her to different coaching styles and helped accelerate her development.<\/p>\n
“There is a strong sense of community playing for the Marlins,” she said.<\/p>\n
“My experience with Water Polo Victoria has been different but equally valuable. The trainings are more structured and disciplined, pushing me to develop my skills and work harder.”<\/p>\n
Regardless of the results, Kate said she was looking forward to the challenge.<\/p>\n
“Training for the tournament with both Marlins and Victoria has been a great opportunity,” she said.<\/p>\n
“Through these programs, I have met many new people, challenged myself and trained to the best of my ability.<\/p>\n
“The training has strengthened my love for water polo and helped me grow as a player and teammate.”<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
THE Geelong Marlins may not be one of Victoria’s biggest water polo clubs, but their ability to produce elite junior talent is again on display, with four players selected to represent Victoria at this weekend’s under-15 East Coast Challenge. Brother and sister Dylan and Kate Parnell will line up alongside teammates Freddie Robertson and Isla […]<\/p>\n