No sport at The Scots College has enjoyed the same consistent success as Water Polo. With ten combined Athletic Association of the Great Public Schools (AAGPS)/Combined Associated Schools (CAS) premierships over 37 years of competition, along with numerous state and national representatives, our Water Polo program is considered truly elite.

Although Water Polo was only officially recognised as an AAGPS sport in 2015, its roots at Scots trace back to 1988. That year marked the beginning of the combined AAGPS and CAS competition.

Scots wasted no time making history — defeating Barker College, Trinity Grammar School, St Aloysius’ College and Newington College to become the inaugural AAGPS/CAS champions. A legacy was born.

Throughout the 1990s, Scots dominated the competition, securing four 1sts premierships and six 2nds premierships.

Key figures from this golden era include many well-known Scots athletes who went on to achieve higher honours.

Among them are four-time Olympian and former Australian Sharks captain, Thomas Whalan (’98), and the current Australian Water Polo Coach, Tim Hamill (’95).

This early period of success was shaped by the leadership of the College’s then Head of Water Polo, Mr Don Murray. A passionate coach, Mr Murray played a pivotal role in cultivating the Scots Water Polo culture. One of his most influential moves was organising a visit from Olympian Mark Oberman, whose encouragement that students join external water polo clubs helped instil a culture of dedication and hard work that continues to define the program.

Thomas fondly recalls a unique advantage Scots enjoyed during this era: their ‘home ground’ at the Watsons Bay ocean pool. With the natural harbour swell and the occasional rough wash from ferries, the pool offered a truly unique playing environment. “I don’t think we ever lost in that pool,” Thomas recalled.

That strong foundation carried Scots into the 2000s, where the Water Polo program maintained its winning tradition with three more 1sts premierships. This era was led by the coaching expertise of water polo sportsmen Mr James Moar and Mr Ryan Moar, and saw the emergence of state and national representatives, further cementing Scots’ place at the top of schoolboy Water Polo. During this time, Newington College rose as Scots’ fiercest rival, with matchups against the boys from Stanmore often circled on the calendar as the must-watch championship game.

Carrying the traditions of the 2000s into the next decade was the College’s Water Polo administrator, coach and all-round good guy, Mr Val Zele. Mr Zele served as the Master in Charge of Water Polo during a highly successful period from 2015 to 2019, when Scots secured three premiership titles across the 1sts and 2nds in just four years.

The pinnacle of this success came in 2018, when Scots achieved the elusive double – claiming both the 1sts and 2nds premierships not only in the AAGPS competition but also in the combined AAGPS/CAS competition. This golden run was further underscored by the selection of three Australian representatives and six New South Wales representatives.

Leaders in the pool such as Thomas Bedingfield (’19), James Kolenda (’17), Hugh O’Neil (’19) and Nathan Zylstra (’18) helped drive the team’s success. James, in particular, extended his Water Polo journey to the collegiate level, enjoying a successful career at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles.

From ocean pools to national podiums, the journey of Scots Water Polo has been marked by passionate coaches, exceptional players and a school community that believes in the power of sport to shape character. With a proud legacy behind it and bright talent ahead, Scots Water Polo is set to make waves for years to come.