Water polo juniors headed for Geelong

THE Tri-States Junior Water Polo Tournament will welcome hundreds of competitors into Geelong next weekend for the seventh year of the competition.

Hosted by the Geelong Water Polo Club at Kardinia Aquatic Centre, 500 players from regional Victoria, Metro Melbourne, regional New South Wales and Tasmania will compete in the event.

It will run from February 15 to 16.

Geelong Marlins junior coordinator Deb Johnson said the 2025 event will have a record number of water polo athletes.

“The tri-states is the largest regional tournament in Victoria and it attracts some of the best of the best,” Johnson said.

 

“In the New South Wales area, there’s a lot of Aus rep players in all ages, so that’s very exciting.”

Athletes will range in age from under-1 2s through to under-16s with teams split up into girls, boys and mixed.

Johnson said spectators can expect to see some amazing water polo throughout the event, with some competitors experiencing their first tournament.

“They make lifelong friends, mixing with other clubs and learning the rules,” Johnson said.

 

“For the spectators, some of them have got children that have started in under-12 at a young age and now they’re in under-16.

“Our main goal is for everyone to participate, have fun, enjoy themselves, see some great water polo.”

From the Geelong tournament, some of the competitors will go on to compete at the Australian Youth Championships held in Western Australia.

Spectators are welcome to attend the competition, and entry is free.