TUESDAY night’s exhibition water polo match at the South and West War Memorial Pool brought together some old mates.
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Rick Hooper drove up from Caves Beach, Newcastle, where he is coaching the Lake Maquarie Dolphins Under 14 boys’ water polo side, to play in the special match commemorating 125 years of public school sport.
He was in the 1976 North West side that took part in the very first State CHS Boys’ Water Polo Carnival.
Pat Crowe, who flew back in from a Thailand holiday the day before, brought in that 1976 North West picture, a side that also contained Northern Daily Leader workmates Barry Smith and Dean Broderick.
Tuesday evening’s match contained former Australian skipper Daniel Marsden.
He played for Sydney North in 1985 and 1986, beating North West on their way to State CHS titles.
From there he went to the Australian Schoolboys and then into the national team for two Olympics.
“I was very privileged to play with Craig (Miller) and Nathan (Thomas) in Sydney (2000),” Marsden said.
“I had a wonderful time playing water polo.”
His two sons, Mitchell and Keenan, are also having fun with the unbeaten Hunter side while Daniel’s daughter also played in last week’s State CHS Girls’ Water Polo Carnival in Wagga Wagga.
Marsden captained a side that contained Steve Whale (NW and CHS), Nick Taggart (NW and CHS), Anthony “Oscar” Leonard (NW), Ian Moxon (NW and CHS), Craig Salter (NW, CHS and Australian Schoolboys), Dean Ambrose (NW, CHS and Australian Schoolboys) and Jason Gross (NW and CHS).
They were managed by Ross Coggan, who began his water polo at Taree and ran the 2000 Olympic water polo event and Tony La Chiusa (NW, CHS Australian Schoolboys and Australian Country).
Peter Waterman, who began his water polo career in 1957, and Crowe managed the Craig Miller side.
“I’ve been involved in water polo ever since (1957), played Australian Schoolboys, administered, coached, managed – it’s been fantastic,” Waterman said.
Miller played for North West in 1986-87-88, NSW CHS and Australian Schoolboys as well as playing for Australia in two Olympics (Athens and Sydney) and also playing two years professionally for Barcelona in Spain.
In his side were Lawrence Mihell (NW, CHS and Australian Schoolboys), Hooper (NW, CHS and Lake Macquarie Dolphins coach 2012-13-14), David Crowe (NW), Corey Ison (NW, CHS), Dean Dewhurst (NW and CHS), Craig Power (NW, CHS).
Power’s goalkeeping was impressive with two enormous falcons to save goals. We always thought he had a head for water polo. Whale was at large but Marsden and Miller stole the night with their deft touches.
Pat Saunders, Surtees’ able assistant through many years of producing so many talented and committed young water polo players, remarked on how well Ison and Dewhurst played.
He recalled many years previous when they were built for comfort and not speed but wanted to play water polo.
They were told they had to train and change their diets as well as attend the Tamworth High staff room every Friday for a weigh-in.
That they did over three years. Losing weight and becoming representative water polo players.
They might not have had the natural gifts that oozed from players such as Dean “Wombles” Ambrose, Miller and Thomas but they sure worked hard to ensure they not only made the THS team but win berths in State CHS representative sides.