Sussex water polo team set for international first

A Sussex youth water polo team is set to be the first UK team to participate in the world’s largest water polo tournament for children.
Back row: Ben Loffler, Matt White (Coach), Oliver Hunt, Aaron Lalic, Amelia Cook, Thomas Greenyer, Gloria Dimmock, Aiden McCarragher, Marley Allen, Mihaela Nicolescu (Coach), Leon Wudarczyk Front Row: Kitty Sukumaran, Harvey Tester, Adam Rawlins, Sammy Smith, Elsie Graves, Albie Taylor -BHUI-eLhqj7UL8bfQpxBack row: Ben Loffler, Matt White (Coach), Oliver Hunt, Aaron Lalic, Amelia Cook, Thomas Greenyer, Gloria Dimmock, Aiden McCarragher, Marley Allen, Mihaela Nicolescu (Coach), Leon Wudarczyk Front Row: Kitty Sukumaran, Harvey Tester, Adam Rawlins, Sammy Smith, Elsie Graves, Albie Taylor -BHUI-eLhqj7UL8bfQpx
Back row: Ben Loffler, Matt White (Coach), Oliver Hunt, Aaron Lalic, Amelia Cook, Thomas Greenyer, Gloria Dimmock, Aiden McCarragher, Marley Allen, Mihaela Nicolescu (Coach), Leon Wudarczyk Front Row: Kitty Sukumaran, Harvey Tester, Adam Rawlins, Sammy Smith, Elsie Graves, Albie Taylor -BHUI-eLhqj7UL8bfQpx

Drenched Mini Water Polo’s under 11s team will head to Lignano Sabbiadoro, Italy, to take part in HaBaWaBa International 2020.

The squad is formed of 15 children, who will head to the tournament in June along with their coaches.

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Drenched was founded in 2016 and has been focusing on growing water polo in Sussex amongst children aged seven and up.

Many of the players have come from local swim schools and clubs, including Aquaschool, Lancing Penguins, Billingshurst, Steyning, Worthing Swimming Club and Littlehampton Swimming Club.

Coach Matthew White said: “HaBaWaBa International is a unique event that will play host to over 100 teams from all over the world.

“We are hoping to have a lot of fun learning, making new friends and testing ourselves against teams from some of the world’s best water polo nations.”

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“Incentives like HaBaWaBa are key to helping us inspire young players to spend more time in the pool and accelerate their progress.

“Before last summer, the group was playing one hour a week, but since September this has increased to between five and seven hours a week. Their improvement, in such a small timeframe, has impressed everyone.”

Drenched is encouraging children to get involved in future HaBaWaBa events and also regular mini water polo sessions across Sussex. Find out more at www.drenchedschool.co.uk

Upcoming taster sessions are set to take place on Monday, January 27 at 6.30pm at Windlesham House School (free HaBaWaBa trial, read the requirements at drenchedschool.co.uk/habawaba-programme), and Saturday, February 8 at 4pm - Hurstpierpoint College (free taster session, all abilities, ages seven to 11, sign up at drenchedschool.co.uk/free-taster-session).

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