Five members of the Estevan Sharks water polo program are currently developing their skills in Croatia at a water polo camp.
Josie Andrist, Alex Andrist, Cameron Gillingham, Mikayla Hack and Taeghen Hack were selected to be part of the Team Sask. contingent that travelled to the European nation. Gillingham and Mikayla Hack now live in Regina, but both are considered to be Sharks players, while the other three live in Estevan and compete with the Sharks.
“Every year Team Sask. offers a training camp in Europe,” said Tania Andrist, who is a coach with the Sharks program and Josie and Alex’s mother. “They’ve done it for the past three years. They went to Italy last year. They went to France the year before, and this year the selected location is Croatia.”
Two teams of 12 are selected to travel from Saskatchewan to Europe each year.
Taeghen Hack was part of the contingent that went to Italy last year.
“Every player doesn’t go, but it is a really tremendous opportunity to be with your team, intensely training, and to have a European trip with your coaches and teammates, who are also your friends,” said Tania.
Since the Estevan athletes are quite strong, and they’re getting to the age where the opportunity is available to them, they’re able to send so many players.
The players left for Croatia on Feb. 12, and will remain in the country until Feb. 21. It’s described as a training opportunity in top European facilities, since water polo is a very popular sport in Europe.
“There are facilities and infrastructure, and a recreational culture that is just more centred towards water polo,” said Tania. “They really sell the trip as training, whether it’s facilities with coaches, or with exhibition games against teams that are just that much stronger.”
Tania compared it to a top young hockey talent from a non-traditional hockey country coming to Canada to train and improve in that sport.
Before the five Sharks players return to Estevan, they will stop in Edmonton, where they have a tournament in the National Champions League. They will be back in the Energy City on Feb. 24.
“It’s a real team bonding where they’re all jet-lagged and they’re all fired up from training in Europe, and they all come back to their own league.”
And there will be opportunities to sightsee while they’re in Croatia.
Josie Andrist said she is looking forward to the opportunity to compete in Croatia, and to play against older players.
“We’re smaller than most, my sister and I, and we’re not really that big of players out there, so it’s nice to get noticed,” Josie said.
The experience should help her in her development as a player by competing against stronger teams.
Josie said she is looking forward to going to Europe for the first time, and hopes to learn about European culture.
Tania believes it’s a great sign that five local kids have been selected to be part of this team.
“We have a really great program, and our athletes are really, really dedicated, and it shows when they get to Regina,” Tania said.
