Members of the Estevan Sharks water polo club played key roles in the recent success of some Saskatchewan teams.
Over the past six months, 22 atom and bantam athletes from the Sharks have been attending additional training.
In addition to three regular practices in Estevan each week, these players train with the elite Water Polo Sask. Developmental Camp run by Team Sask. coaches from Regina.
Friday night practices are weekly two-hour pool training times, taking place in Weyburn three times a month and in Estevan once a month. They also commit to one weekend in Regina per month where they spend six to 10 hours in the pool refining their techniques, building endurance and becoming the best water polo players they can be.
These athletes range in age from 10 to 14 years old, and they have a love of water polo that can definitely be seen when they jump into the pool.
This past weekend was the highlight of the year for these players as they joined forces with the development camp players from Regina, Weyburn and Saskatoon, forming six Team Sask. entries. They all travelled together to Calgary from March 14-17 for the John Csiskos Alberta Open Water Polo tournament.
This is the largest water polo tournament in Western Canada for this age range and teams from all over Alberta, British Columbia and Saskatchewan attend this tournament. Based on past years’ performances, Team Sask. was viewed as the team to beat and they did not disappoint.
Out of the six teams entered by Team Sask., four came home with medals.
The Team Sask. 14-and-under girls Green squad went undefeated during the weekend and won the gold medal. Two members of the Sharks, Sadie Smith and Emily Tarnes, were on the team.
Also winning gold was the Team Sask. 14U boys White team, which went undefeated during the weekend. Ethan Elliott, Tristan Threinen, Lucas Dzeryk, Lyndon Sauder, Nathan Threinen and Logan Dalziel were on the team. David Dzeryk was an assistant coach.
The other gold medal-winning team was the 12U girls team, who also went undefeated. Rachel Tober, Mahlyn Bomberak, Hailey Tangjerd, Hailey Hack, Prysm Gooding, Lily Knoll, Emily Sauder and Jordyn Tarnes were on the team, and Mona Hack was an assistant coach.
The Team Sask. 12U boys had four Sharks players – Brooks Milford, Brody Turner, Bennett Walliser and Shiven Sangar. They won the bronze medal.
The Team Sask. 14U boys Green team wound up in sixth. Jason Dalziel was an assistant coach, and players included Dierks Milford, Jace Carritt, Josh Heleta and Noah Mvula. The Team Sask. 14U girls White team didn’t have any Sharks players, and they finished ninth.
