Solihull Water Polo

westmidlandswimming.org.uk

U18 WEST MIDLANDS REGIONAL TRAINING 🤽

Swim England West Midlands are excited to announce the U18 Open and Women's Regional Training dates for this season!

📍 Venue: Alan Higgs Centre, Coventry
🕗 Time: 8:00pm – 10:00pm
🎂 Age group: Players born 2009/2010
🗓️ Sessions run bi-weekly during term time, in line with Talent Centre dates & times

💷 COST
£10 per month, payable by standing order to Swim England West Midland Region. Please set this up at least two weeks before the term starts.

Account Name: Swim England West Midland Region
Account Number: 82080768
Sort Code: 30-99-50
Reference: Player's Name

📝 To register, fill out our form — link below 👇

https://forms.gle/5qXbVpcJFArMZAxB7

Better Late than Never 🎉🎉

Congratulations to AlexSolihull Water Polo

We're thrilled to announce that Alex has been awarded Young Player of the Year. His hard work, dedication, and skill development have truly shone through this season. Whether playing as a center forward or contributing to our U18 junior teams, Alex has proven to be an invaluable asset.

Despite his occasional forgetfulness, 😂😂 his commitment to giving it his all every game makes him a great member of our team

Congratulations, Alex! We can't wait to see how you continue to grow and develop!

Our next award goes to a player who has had an absolutely outstanding year — Josh Gardner, winner of our Most Improved Junior Water Polo Player Solihull Water Polo

Josh loves water polo, and that passion shows every time he gets in the pool. He puts huge effort into every session, always keen to learn more, always ready to play, and always bringing great energy to the team.

Josh has also done some volunteering coaching with our mini and development teams. He learnt so much from coaching — and what’s impressive is how he has applied that learning to his own development as a player. His improvement since joining polo has been remarkable.

This year, Josh made the exciting decision to specialise as a goalkeeper, and it has proved to be a fantastic move. He earned his place at the West Midlands Talent Centre, competed at the Talent Games, and proudly represented the region at the InterRegional Competition.

When asked to step into goal recently, he delivered saves that were, in his coach’s words, “years ahead of him,” and he even received Man of the Match.

Josh’s cheeky personality, positive attitude, and commitment make him an absolute pleasure to coach. He gives his all in competitions, he works hard in every session, and he has been rewarded with incredible progress this season.

Josh, congratulations on winning our Most Improved Award.

We can’t wait to see what you achieve over the next year.

At our recent presentation night , we also awarded our Annual Water Polo Awards , lots of our players were actually competing that weekend so we have only just be able to present them with their awards Solihull Water Polo

Huge congratulations to Darcy Miller for being named the Most Improved Water Polo Player of the Year! 🏆 This recognition is so well-deserved. Darcy embodies what it means to be a truly great player—not just through her skills, but also with her incredible attitude in every training session.

Her willingness to learn and embrace feedback has truly set her apart. It's inspiring to see how her hard work is paying off, and she continues to make remarkable progress. 🌟

Darcy’s passion and enthusiasm light up the pool, making her an invaluable team player. Not only is she excelling in her age group, but she’s also stepping up to compete in women’s polo. Plus, her representation at the regional level, the England Talent Centre, and the Wales youth development squad showcases her dedication and talent.

Congratulations, Darcy! The future is bright, and we can’t wait to see what you achieve next! 💪

TEAM OF YEAR AWARD
U18 BOYS WATER POLO

This season has been nothing short of extraordinary for our Solihull Water Polo U18 Men’s Team. They have achieved something truly remarkable — a treble. Winning the Midland League, the Warwickshire Cup, and, most impressively, the international Labe Cup in the Czech Republic.

To win one major competition is an achievement. To win three, including an international tournament, shows the level of commitment, consistency, and determination this group has displayed throughout the entire year. Their success is even more impressive when you consider that many of these talented young players are already competing regularly for Solihull senior men’s team. They are not just the future of Solihull — they are already contributing at the highest level.

Leading the squad is their captain, Erik Buhaescu, a current GB international. Erik has been instrumental in guiding the team, inspiring his teammates, and setting the standard in some fiercely contested matches. In goal, Luca Prodan has been a commanding presence. His performances have given the team the confidence to press high, win possession, and launch devastating counterattacks. A strong goalkeeper can transform a team .

And behind this exceptional team is their coach, Phil Powell. Phil has created an environment where every player feels welcome, valued, and part of something special. The team’s culture — inclusive, supportive, and drive — is a testament to his leadership. They are a closeknit group, they play for each other, and yes… they even have their own TikTok page, which tells you everything about their spirit and togetherness.

To the Solihull U18 Men’s Team: your achievements this season have been incredible. You have represented the club with pride, skill, and professionalism. You have set a standard that inspires younger players and makes the whole club proud.
Congratulations on an unforgettable season.

Mini, development and youth training 🏐

In the first hour…

Head Coach Hannah put out youth squad through their paces with a swim set full of sprints 🏊‍♂️

Coach Georgia worked with Mini and Development on their polo strokes and continued to work on eggbeater technique. Ending the session with swimming with weighted balls, the players definitely went home tired this evening! 🤽‍♂️

In the second hour…

Head Coach Hannah worked on shooting body position and shooting after receiving a pass from different areas of the pool!

Josh did a great job in goal making some fantastic saves throughout 🙌

Get in touch on our website if your child would like to give water polo a go!

Tuesday night youth training 🙌

After an hour of swimming, Coach Dave started the polo session with eggbeater leg sets, jumps, and shooting!

A smaller group tonight so plenty of time to work on harnessing those key shooting, passing, and dribbling skills 🤽🤽‍♂️

🧡 This World Mental Health Week, we stand together — in the pool and in life.

Check in on your teammates, support each other, and remember: it’s okay to talk. 🌊🖤