The Cronulla Sharks Water Polo team has unveiled its latest imports as the Australian Waterpolo League makes its splash on the national calendar with a revitalised format designed to provide clubs, athletes, sponsors and broadcasters with more quality water polo.
Californian Mason McQuet and powerhouse Serbian Milos Maksimovic join Cronulla's woman import Dani Jackovich in shoring up the Sharks competitive tilt at the 2022 titles.
Cronulla is a club that players from around the world can come to pursue their Olympic dream, through a club rich in history in developing Olympians.
After a year's absence due to Covid restrictions,the season will kick start on Australia Day where teams will battle it out for the KAP7 Cup, as well as to determine their ranking for the second phase of the season.
Rankings from the KAP7 Cup will determine which teams progress into the Championships rounds, and every game will be critical.
Water Polo Australia General Manager - Performance, Charles Turner, said the new format is designed to give fans more quality water polo, and help player development .
AWL Advisory Committee Chair, Antony Green, said the new format is designed to position the Australian Waterpolo League as the highest level of competition in the country that will also help prepare players for international level competition.
"Our Australian team coaches want national players ready for international tournaments which involve numerous games in a short window. The new format caters for all and will lead to some exciting high quality water polo." he said
Mason McQuet's quest in Australia is to get more big game experience and play for the USA in the Olympics- like his father-he is studying for Med School and said he was attracted to Cronulla because lots of the great coaches he has had have spent positive time here.
Milos, the Serbian imports goals are focused around representing his country, who are the current Olympic gold medallists and the world number one team.
Dani,from Illinois is a Bio Mechanical Engineer and has travelled the world with water polo, focusing on growing her passion for the sport, previously playing in Hungry and Spain she is now becoming eligible to represent Australia -and wanting to pursue a Paris 2024 dream with a country where she looks to call home after a life lived in a suitcase.
Dani said the water polo community and social culture around the Cronulla club attracted her to the Sharks.
"Im looking forward to getting back into water polo.
" And I'm really excited to be surrounded by the family feel of the Cronulla club" she said at training.
The season will start on Australia Day where the men and woman Cronulla team play the Hunter Hurricanes at Sydney University.
With rankings from the KAP7 to determine which teams progress into the Championships rounds, every game will be critical.