Aussie Stingers Dominate Women's All Star Team Selections
All 17 members of the Aussie Stingers Olympic water polo squad have been selected to represent their respective teams in the 2012 National League All-Star fixture, to be held in Canberra on Saturday April 14 at the AIS.
Aussie Stingers head coach, Greg McFadden, has named a total of 26 players to line-up in the marquee match, with the two North and South squads battling it out for the inaugural Cathy Parkes Trophy.
The All-Star concept, which divides the 12 National League clubs into two divisions, sees the best players from the 2012 National Water Polo League season go head to head in this action packed evening of elite water polo.
Coach McFadden, who will be out to make crucial selection for the Stingers upcoming tours to London and Asia, said the addition of the women's game to the All Star line up was a great move for Australian water polo.
"This is the inaugural women's All Star game and all 17 of the Stingers squad members are pitied against each other in a battle for supremacy," McFadden said.
"This presents a great opportunity for us with each team also bolstered by hopefully future national representatives.
"There are also two foreign players selected, with South African Sarah Harris (Hunter Hurricanes) and the USA's Forel Davies (UNSW) being rewarded for fine seasons.
"I'm sure the quality of this game will be extremely high with players vying for selection berths in the upcoming London Test event, World League Preliminaries and World League Finals tour".
Aussie Stingers captain Kate Gynther has been elected to lead the North team, while Fremantle Marlins star and Aussie Stingers vice-captain Gemma Beadsworth, will captain the South.
Current league leaders the Brisbane Barracudas and the Victorian Tigers have earned the most representatives with five each, with Cronulla and Fremantle on three.
More information about the start time of women's All Star match will be released in the coming weeks.
North Team:
Goalkeepers: Alicia McCormack (1985, Cronulla Sharks), Kelsey Wakefield (1991, Brisbane Barracudas)
Field Players: Kate Gynther (Captain) (1982, Brisbane Barracudas), Holly Lincoln Smith (1990, Cronulla Sharks), Olivia King (1991, KFC Breakers), Ashleigh Southern (1992 Brisbane Barracudas), Nicola Zagame (1990, Cronulla Sharks), Jane Moran (1985, Brisbane Barracudas), Melissa Rippon (1980, Brisbane Barracudas), Hannah Buckling (1992, Sydney Uni Lions), Sarah Harris (Hunter Hurricanes), Gaby Wikman (1990, Sydney Uni Lions), Bre Appel (Balmain Tigers)
Head Coach: Aleks Osadchuk (QAS), Assistant Coach: Debbie Watson (Balmain Tigers)
South Team:
Goalkeepers: Victoria Brown (1985, Victorian Tigers), Lea Barta (1989, UNSW)
Field Players: Gemma Beadsworth (Captain) (1987, Fremantle), Sophie Smith (1986, Victorian Tigers Qld), Elisha Browne (1992, UWA), Jessica Martin (1990, Adelaide Jets), Bronwen Knox (1986 Victorian Tigers Qld), Glencora Ralph (1988, Fremantle), Rowena Webster (1987, Victorian Tigers), Isobel Bishop (1991, Victorian Tigers SA), Zoe Arancini (1991, Fremantle), Morgan Baxter (1993, Drummoyne) Forel Davies (UNSW)
Head Coach: Dalibor Maslan (VIS), Assistant Coach: Mitchell Scott (Drummoyne)
Australian Water Polo Inc