Sydney Uni Women’s Water Polo Club (SUWWPC) representatives Lea Barta and Hannah Buckling have been awarded Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) scholarships for 2013 after sensational 2012 seasons.
Goalkeeper Barta and centre back Buckling (a former SUSF Elite Athlete Program scholarship holder) join 11 others in a senior national squad that includes eight members of Australia’s London Olympic bronze medal winning team, along with five players from the original 2012 national senior squad.
More players will be awarded scholarships later in the year with further announcements set to be made following the National Water Polo League (NWPL) finals in early May.
The national squad will take part in a number of training camps at the AIS throughout the year, as preparation for the FINA World Championships in Barcelona in July.
Barta and Buckling were both in fine form in Sydney Uni’s Sydney Premiership Grand Final win in December. The girls go to Perth next week for a training camp with China along with Sydney Uni teammate Keesja Gofers. Barta and Gofers will then prepare for the upcoming National League season, while Buckling will head off to play a season with USC in the NCAA competition in the US.
