A member of the Estevan Sharks water polo club has been recognized for his success in the pool during the past season.
Water Polo Saskatchewan held its year-end awards banquet on June 23 in Regina, and Cameron Gillingham was presented with the under-14 Male Athlete of the Year Award. Gillingham has been a part of the Estevan Sharks for four years and has grown as a player and teammate.
He said he joined the program after his parents saw an ad for the sport.
“I just like being in the water, so they signed me up,” said Cameron.
Over the past year, Gillingham has led the Sharks bantam team in regular league play, and they captured the bantam boys’ provincial league title for the first time in club history.
It was an exciting moment, he said.
He also played with Team Sask. this past year. They won the Alberta Open in Calgary, competed at a tournament in Los Angeles, where they finished ninth, and played at a tournament in Toronto, where they finished third.
All proved to be great experiences.
“The coaches’ comments were around being fun to coach, and working hard, and those kinds of things,” said his mother Rena.
Coach Victor Bautista from Team Sask. said Gillingham was selected based on the potential and contribution he has made to his team this past year.
Gillingham will move up to the under-16 level next year, which means he will have added visibility in the sport.
And he will be in the Junior Olympics this summer in San Jose, Cal., where he will be competing for Team Utah. Saskatchewan and Utah have an agreement that allows Utah to take some of the top young talent in this province.
He is also continuing his involvement in water sports by competing for the Estevan Golden Eels swim club this summer.
