Youthful goalkeeper to play alongside hero
Monday November 30, 2009
(Australian Water Polo News)Eighteen-year-old Gold Coast water polo goalkeeper Kelsey Wakefield will be playing against the best players in the world in December.
The newcomer to the national team will leave for North America tomorrow with the Aussie Stingers to contest the Canada Cup in Montreal from Wednesday until Sunday and the Holiday Cup in the United States’ Newport Beach on December 9-13.
Wakefield said it was a thrill to play in the same team as her hero, Stingers captain and Olympic bronze medallist Mel Rippon.
“When I first started water polo, Mel Rippon was someone I regarded as a hero...I actually wrote to her to wish her well for the 2004 Olympics! To now be her teammate is an honour.”
Wakefield was a member of the national youth team last year and competed at the junior world championships in Russia this year.
Other newcomers to the team are South Australian Isobel Bishop and Victorian Elise Rossato.
Adelaide Jets’ Bishop comes from a relative backwater when it comes to international representation.
The 18-year-old left-handed driver said: “I'm really happy representing Australia as there have only been a few people from South Australia to previously do so.
“It's a massive step up for me, and I’m really excited to go away with the senior girls and soak in and learn as much as possible. It’s such a fantastic opportunity.”
Rossato (21), who plays the demanding centre-forward position with national league team Victorian Tigers, began her international career with the national youth team in 2005 and played on the junior team last year and the national university team in Serbia this year.
Rossato is pleased to be following in the footsteps of fellow Victorian Jo Fox, a member of the gold-medal winning Aussies at the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games.
“As a young player getting to train with Jo Fox in her preparation for Athens, she always said: ‘When you think you are giving it your all, give a little bit more and never stop believing in yourself’”, she said.
The Canada Cup features world champion United States of America, Canada, Australia and 2004 Olympic champion Italy, while the Holiday Cup comprises USA, Australia, Canada, Italy, Olympic champion Netherlands and Russia.
Australia opens its campaign against the USA on Thursday (Australian time).
Touring team: Goalkeepers: Victoria Brown (VIC); Kelsey Wakefield (QLD). Field players: Bronwen Knox, Melissa Rippon, Sophie Smith (QLD); Nicola Zagame (NSW); Elise Rossato, Rowena Webster (VIC); Isobel Bishop (SA); Zoe Arancini, Gemma Beadsworth, Jemma Dessauvagie, Gaby Domanic (WA).
AIS squad for December 2009-May 2010: Goalkeepers: Victoria Brown (VIC), Kelsey Wakefield (QLD), Lea Barta (NSWIS). Centre forwards: Bronwen Knox (QAS); Gemma Beadsworth, Jemma Dessauvagie (WAIS). Centre backs: Sophie Smith (QAS); Nicola Zagame (NSWIS); Rowena Webster (VIC); Glencora Ralph (WAIS). Counter-attackers: Melissa Rippon, Jane Moran (QAS); Alicia Brightwell (NSWIS); Zoe Arancini (WAIS).
