The men’s and women’s national junior water polo teams have qualified for the 2025 World Aquatics Junior World Championships thanks in part to a pair of athletes from Delta.
Nicholas Furneaux from Delta, a member of the Fraser Valley Water Polo Club helped Canada’s U19 men’s team to the silver medal at the recent PanAm Aquatics Championships in El Salvador.
On the women’s side, Delta’s Isabella May, also a member of the Fraser Valley Water Polo Club, helped the national U19 women’s team for a fourth-place finish.
With their performances, both teams also qualified Canada for the 2025 World Aquatics Junior Men’s and Women’s World Championships to be held in Croatia and Thailand,
On the men’s side, Canada won its first five games before losing 10-7 to the United States in the gold medal game.
“I am extremely proud of this group of athletes for the way they played and came together, which was nothing short of admirable,” said head coach Pat Oaten in a news release. “Water Polo Canada should be very proud of this accomplishment and how they represented the federation.”
On the women’s side, the Canadian team recorded three wins in five games, notably defeating the United States 12-10, before losing to that same American squad in the bronze medal match, by a 4-2 score in the shootout following a 10-10 tie game.
“After a slow start to the tournament, we were left in a tough situation,” said head coach Sam Donaghue. “Despite great performances, especially in our win against the USA, we found ourselves in the bronze medal game. After a hard-fought game that we are quite proud of, it came down to a shootout.”
Held every two years, the PanAm Aquatics Water Polo U19 Championships showcase athletes who are 19 years old and younger (i.e. born in 2005 or later). A total of 15 teams, eight on the men’s side and seven on the women’s side, took part in the tournament.
