Australian Uni Games 2009

Womens Waterpolo team on the improve

Thursday 20 August

Miles Rodriquez - Media Intern

In the years between 2002 and 2006, Monash University were unable to field a women’s water polo team in the Australian University Games. Since then, Monash has not only entered a team each year, but has improved their finishing position each time they have competed.

It is this gradual progression in the team’s performance which player and team manager, Clare Alomes, is so proud of.

‘We came eighth in 2007, we halved that in 2008 coming fourth, and this year we’re aiming to come in the top three,’ she said.

Miss Alomes says that a lot of the women’s success has come from landing Ryan Beck as coach. An ex-Monash AUG player, Mr Beck who co-coached the women last year, currently plays in the Victorian State League 1 for the Monash Water Polo Club.

With the Australian University Games starting in just over five weeks, the team has been training hard for more than a month, and Miss Alomes has been impressed with its quality.

‘Training is going really well. We have three trainings a week, one is compulsory and two are voluntary,’ she said.

Miss Alomes expects the team will be made up mostly of players currently competing in the Victorian State 1 and State 2 leagues. There are two first year students in the training squad and a further four first time AUG water polo members.

Although the team will only be made up of Caulfield and Clayton students this year, Miss Alomes anticipates that last years Green and Gold recipient, Celia Pulling, will be a key player in leading the side to its goal of a top three placing.

The team after a match at Uni Games last year

Clare Alomes, Team Manager 2009