Pool switch proves a golden decision

A FORMER state-level swimmer who left the sport, but not the pool, has won state and national titles in his new pursuit.

Connor Morgan, 13, of Marmong Point, made the switch to water polo in 2010.

And it started a golden run of success.

"Some of my friends were playing water polo and they encouraged me," Connor said.

"And I was getting bored with swimming, so I thought I'd give water polo a go."

The St Paul's High School (Booragul) student plays for the Lake Macquarie Dolphins Water Polo Club, at Swansea Olympic Pool.

He also plays for the under-14 and under-16 Hunter Hurricanes representative teams.

"I like the fact that water polo is a team sport, and the training is really fun," he said.

"It can be really rough at times, too, and I like that.

"But if stuff goes on under the water, you can usually get away with it," he smiled.

Connor was a member of the under-14 Hunter Hurricanes team which won the gold medal at the NSW Water Polo Club Championships, in Tamworth, in February.

The team recently contested the Australian Water Polo Club Championships, in Perth, and again brought home the gold medal.

At the NSW titles, Connor was one of 42 young players from NSW selected to take part in a week-long program for talented athletes.

From that program, held at Sydney Academy of Sport, Connor earned selection in the 13-man NSW Blues team to contest the East Coast Challenge, in Melbourne, last month.

The Blues took part in an eight-weekend training camp before the four-day competition where they proved unbeatable, defeating Queensland, South Australia and Victoria to win the title.

Connor said he looked forward to watching the Australian water polo team in action at the London Olympics.

"I hope that I can play for Australia one day," he said.

As a swimmer, Connor, then aged 10, was part of the NSW team which won gold in the 4 x 50m relay at the Pacific School Games, in Canberra, in 2008.

The NSW team's record winning time has not been bettered.