On Saturday, 10 March, 200 of Newington’s Water Polo community came together at the Water Polo End of Season Dinner to celebrate another hugely successful summer.  The annual function, which is organised by the hard-working Newington Water Polo Support Group, has gone from strength to strength and keeps growing in popularity every year.

Tony Principe, the Treasurer of the Support Group summed up the evening by saying: “It was great to see all teams so well represented on the night and everyone enjoying themselves after such a great season.”

The evening is an opportunity for parents, coaches, managers and players of all ages to come together in a casual setting away from the hustle and bustle of the swimming pool. 

The audience heard from Aidan Schmitt (12/MA), the 2017/18 Newington Captain of Water Polo, about how the Firsts team had trained hard in the pre-season and performed well throughout the competition to secure the Premiership. Throughout the evening, many more coaches and players shared the microphone and reminisced about the season past.

It wasn’t all about awards and formalities. There were plenty of thank yous and a bit of fun too. The Melba Photos Mirror Booth, complete with a range of props including some Water Polo related memorabilia, was a big hit.

A fitting conclusion to the evening was the presentation of the Evan Fraser Award for the student who contributes the most to the ‘Spirit of Newington Water Polo’.  This year’s recipient was Nico Maclean (12/KL) for his never-ending commitment, passion and service to the sport.

At the end of the night Eileen Rogan, 2018 Water Polo Support Group President said: “It’s been such a pleasure to be involved in Water Polo at Newington. Best barbecue at New, and such fun. There’s so much enthusiasm, it’s so inclusive of all the boys, and the buzz around the pool is so exciting. It’s always a thrill to see the boys loving the End of Season Dinner and getting acknowledged by the whole Water Polo Community. Go New!”

Ryan Moar
Director of Aquatics