After the 1995
GPS Swimming Carnival a parent, Bob Boyd, was asked to supplement the
BBC winter swimming program by offering Water Polo two sessions a week
in the heated BBC pool. Approximately 10 boys from the swimming program
commenced these sessions as Water Polo novices.
Briefly, the Water Polo achievements of the original squad and boys
who joined in the next couple of years include:-
| Sep 1995 – Aug 1996 |
- Third in the Brisbane Water polo Saturday Summer Junior Under
15 Competition
- Seventh in the Queensland Under 17 State Club Championships
- Winners of the Brisbane Winter 5’s Junior Competition
- Two members in the Queensland Under 14 Team
|
| Sep 1996 – Aug 1997 |
- Fourth in the Independent Schools 15 years competition
- Third in the Brisbane Water Polo Saturday Summer Junior Under 16 Competition
- Winners of the B Grade Winter 5’s Competition
- Second in the Queensland Under 17 State Club Championships
- Six members in Regional teams at the Queensland Secondary Schools Championships
- Two members in the Queensland Under 17 Team
- Three members in the Queensland Under 14 Team
- Reached the third round of the Queensland Schools Q-Soft Knockout competition
- Formed the basis of a club team which won the Brisbane D Grade Mens Competition
|
| Sep 1997 – Mar 1998 |
- Eight members playing A, B & C Grades with various Brisbane
Mens Club teams
- Formed the basis of a club team which won the Brisbane D Grade Mens Competition
- Eight members in the Metropolitan West Regional team to the Queensland Secondary
Schools Championships
- Three members in the Queensland Secondary Schools team
- Two members in the Queensland Secondary Schools Development team
- Reached the third round of the Queensland Schools Q-Soft Knockout Competition
|
The achievements of these boys are exceptional. One
reason for this is that they took the opportunity to learn a ‘new’ sport
that utilised and complemented a basic skill they already possessed.
Consequently they enjoyed the game as a supplement to their swimming.
A second reason is that they extended their school Water Polo involvement
by playing Club Water Polo.
The scoreboard after 1998 is even more amazing. Every year since
then BBC has provided more players than any other school to Schoolboy
regional teams with a good number being selected in Queensland Schoolboy
teams. Two players (Jordan Boyd and Michael Cranley) have travelled
overseas with Australian Schoolboy teams. A member of the original
1995 squad toured with the Australian University team and attended
a USA University on a Water Polo Scholarship. He is also a current
BBC coach and the current Metropolitan West Schoolboy Water Polo coach.
Current BBC boys and past players also make up a large percentage
of the RiverCity Water Polo Club’s Junior and Senior teams. Many
have been or currently are, members of the Queensland U13, U14 U17
and U20 teams. The two players previously named have also represented
Australia overseas as members of Australian Youth teams and are currently
playing in the National League for the local Queensland Breakers team.
A number of current and previous players are now coaching BBC, Schoolboy
Regional and Club teams.
Any young player wishing to enjoy their Water Polo more, or any player
who has aspirations of gaining regional and perhaps state or national
representation in the future, are strongly encouraged to play club
Water Polo (see invitation from RiverCity Water
Polo club to BBC players).
The school season is relatively short, but club Water Polo extends
the season and enjoyment of the sport and can lead to an exciting and
full Water Polo career.
Boys playing Water Polo for BBC are encouraged to maintain swimming
fitness by being involved (couple of sessions per week) either in the
BBC winter swimming program with Georgie Parkes or a program elsewhere.
Thus the program should ensure a reasonable water fitness level at
the commencement of the Term 4 swimming program.
If you enjoy swimming and sports such as Basketball, Soccer, Hockey,
Australian Rules, etc and wish to learn to play a most exciting water
based team sport, then we would be pleased to introduce you to Water
Polo.
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