Gold-en glow for region's young stars

Fourteen players from the Moreton Bay Region helped Queensland dominate the Delfina Interstate Water Polo Challenge.

The Under 14 tournament against Victoria, in Melbourne, from June 11-13, saw a clean sweep for Queensland in the girls’ event and a gold medal in the boys’ section.

Southern Cross Swimming Club member Amelie Hoefel (above picture by Lilian Lazarus) won gold with Ali McCarthy and Bless Daly, from Albany Creek-based North Brisbane Polo Bears, in the Queensland Maroon team.

Super seven

The Maroons won all seven games before their gold medal match against Queensland Gold, which had won six from seven with Polo Bears’ Mia Doyle (also Grace Lutheran College), Ana Jaramillo and Alexa Rushal.

Hoefel, from Redcliffe, scored in the third quarter of a 7-0 victory for Maroon coached by former Australian player Jodie Stuhmcke who played at the 2004 Athens Olympics.

“This experience has taught me so much,” Hoefel said, “we have the best coaches, and I most enjoyed the time spent with teammates.

Supportive

“We all play for different clubs in the local league and as a State representative team we’re super supportive of each other.”

Queensland Gold received the silver medal and Queensland Navy - with Polo Bears’ Chanel Streek and Natasha Winton - beat Victoria 4-3 in a tight clash for bronze.

Bless Daly won the Girls’ MVP (Most Valuable Player), was named in the Tournament Team and was the top goal scorer with 54.

Close call

The Queensland boys’ Maroon team – with Polo Bears Mitchell Lazarus and Tom Sloman - beat Victoria in another tight final.

But, Queensland Gold – fielding Polo Bears Lachlan Hill, Lachlan McMaster and Cody Robinson – went down to ACT in the tight match for bronze.

Tom Wood, also from North Brisbane Polo Bears, was in the Queensland Navy team.