Seven water polo athletes who had their start in Estevan competed in a marquee event in Edmonton as part of the National Championship League Crossover Tournament.
Tristan Threinen, Cameron Gillingham and Ethan Elliott play on Team Saskatchewan’s 19U men’s team. Josie Andrist, Alex Andrist, Mikayla Hack and Taeghen Hack play for Team Sask. in the 19U women’s division.
The Team Sask. 19U men’s team started off the crossover tournament Jan. 30 by playing the West Coast Warriors. It was a close, hard-fought battle and Team Sask. came out with a 13-12 win. Next they played Fraser Valley that night, and once again it was a very close game with Team Sask. winning 13-12.
They faced their first eastern opponent, the Scarborough Shadow out of Ontario, on Jan. 31, and came out with a 14-8 win. That night was their matchup against the Calgary Torpedoes and the boys continued their winning streak with an 11-7 victory.
Their first game Feb. 1 was the time to play the Pacific Storm, the No. 1 team in the west. The boys knew they would have to fight hard, and they did, but they fell 15-5. Then they had to regroup as they were facing another team from the east, the Camo out of Montreal. Team Sask. doubled up their opponents 14-7.
Team Sask. played their semifinal game Feb. 2 against the Warriors, and came out with an 8-6 win to advance to the championship game, which they lost 14-5 to the Storm.
Thanks to all of their hard work this weekend, they are now ranked second in the west.
As for the U19 women, they opened the tournament by facing off against the Calgary Renegades, and they emerged with a 9-8 victory. Then they played Fraser Valley and won 10-9.
Team Sask. split their games on Jan. 31, as they lost 9-8 to the Edmonton Tsunami in their first game of the day, but then they soundly defeated the Pacific Storm 13-5 in their next contest.
The semifinal was held in the morning of Feb. 1, and Team Sask. came away with a 10-4 victory over the Renegades to reach the final.
They faced the Tsunami for the second time in the tournament, and avenged their earlier loss, defeating the Edmonton squad 8-5 to be crowned the best in the west.
With the win, Team Sask. qualifies for nationals in Montreal at the end of March.
