Kelowna Water Polo Club competes at first ever tournament

Kelowna's Water Polo Club (KWPC) made history over the weekend, with the youth team competing at their first ever tournament.

At the City Centre Aquatic Complex in Coquitlam, BC, 16 Kelowna athletes competed, ranging in ages from under-11, under-13, under-15 and under-18.

In the under-13 competition, KWPC athletes Ian Appel, Evelyn Barr, Liam Halsall, Summer Hansen, Nicholas Isherwood, Aanika Jonson and Nixon Kirschner played with athletes from the North Shore Titans, Coquitlam Lions and Vancouver Vipers. This developmental competition mixed teams from all four of BC's community water polo clubs, of which Kelowna is the newest member.

KWPC's under-15 and under-18 players teamed up with the Titans to play in tournament games on Saturday and Sunday. They were tough, physical encounters with the Vancouver Vipers and two teams from the Lions.

Lions president Michael Zaklan commented that "Kelowna has some excellent athletes for such a young club," which is a great testament to the KWPC, which was just founded in September 2020.

Eileen Appel, Mason Baughen, Samantha Isherwood, Alex Joe, Nathan Martinson, Camille Neish and Clarke Schafer were the athletes competing in the under-15 and under-18 division.

The team will return to the Coquitlam Spring Water Polo tournament on April 15 and 16, 2023 to compete in the next community club tournament.

"The club had an amazing weekend!! Our athletes showed their skills, had some fun, and above that, they were positive teammates and representatives," said head coach Kristen Smart. "A big thank-you goes to our athletes and parents for representing our team with such good sportsmanship."

For more information on the water polo team and if you want to register for the winter session, click here.