Ottawa, September 10, 2025 – Water Polo Canada’s Women’s and Men’s Cadet (U15) National Teams respectively won silver and bronze medals at the 2025 15U Pan American Championships held September 1-7 in Bauru, Brazil. This was Canada’s first participation at this event.
With their podium performance, both Canadian Teams qualified Canada for the 2026 World Aquatics 16U World Championships.
On the women’s side, the Canadian Team lost its first two round robin games, 10-9 against USA and 12-8 against Brazil, before ending this phase with a 19-7 win over Argentina. The Canadian women’s squad, led by Paris 2024 Olympians Hayley McKelvey as Head Coach and Assistant Coach Rae Lekness, won their quarterfinals 28-2 against Mexico, and then won semifinals15-14 against Brazil.
In the women’s final, Canada lost against USA by a score of 14-8.
“I’m really proud of the girls’ progress over the last few weeks”, said Water Polo Canada’s 2025 Women’s 15U National Team Head Coach, Hayley McKelvey. “By the gold medal game, we saw glimpses of something special, even though it was a tough loss. The girls are already looking ahead with excitement, ready to show up at Worlds hungry for redemption.”
“I feel honoured to be able to help lead this amazing team by being one of the co-captains”, said Clara Milleker Shyiak. “I think we all played with heart and didn’t give up in crucial moments of the tournament. The Team got so close, so quick, and it felt like a second family to me just after a few practices together. Even though we didn’t end up reaching our final goal of winning gold, I am still extremely proud of what the Team accomplished in such a short period of time. We will use this experience to push us during our training and preparation for Worlds.”
Bronze Medal for the Canadian Men’s Team
On the men’s side, Canada started the round robin tournament with a 10-9 win over Argentina, before recording two losses: 16-5 against Brazil, and 15-9 against USA.
The Canadian Team won a close quarterfinal game, 9-8 against Peru, before recording its second loss of the tournament against USA, 22-17 in semifinals.
Canada came back with a 9-7 win over Argentina to earn the bronze medal.
“This tournament was a resounding success for our Team”, said Water Polo Canada’s 2025 Men’s 15U National Team Head Coach, Maxime Crevier. “They were able to experience everything that international competition has to offer: intensity, pressure, a faster pace of play than they are used to, etc… We have laid a solid foundation for our group for years to come. We are already looking forward to getting together again for the next chapter in our little story!”
“This was by far my favorite tournament I’ve ever played in”, said the Men’s Team Captain Nelson King. “The international experience is incredible, and the energy brought to every game was an unmatched feeling. It was awesome to meet players from all over the world and get connections.”
Canadian referees Nadia Rachid & Elena Barri also attended the Bauru 2025 15U Pan American Water Polo Championship in their first international event as referees.
Canadian Teams at the 2025 15U Pan American Championships
Women
BASTIEN, LIZOTTE, Raphaëlle (Montreal, QC-CAMO)
BOLOTEN, Kenzie (Calgary, AB-Calgary Renegades)
BOROWIEC, Aline (Ottawa, ON-Capital Wave)
CORKUM, Gillian (Ottawa, ON-Capital Wave)
COSTACHE, Sabina (Montreal, QC-CAMO)
JONES, Naomi (Nepean, ON-Capital Wave)
JOWSEY, Fiona (Ottawa, ON-Capital Wave)
KHRAMTSOVA, Dasha (Mississauga, ON-Mavericks Waterpolo)
LINTHICUM, Jennika (Estevan, SK-Water Polo Saskatchewan)
MARTENS, Dylan (Regina, SK-Water Polo Saskatchewan)
MILLEKER SHYIAK, Clara (Regina, SK-Water Polo Saskatchewan
ROTHEISLER, Alexis (Regina, SK-Water Polo Saskatchewan)
WARREN, Elspeth (Burnaby, BC-Surrey Water Polo)
XIA, Jing Jing (Surrey, BC-Surrey Water Polo Club)
Coaching & Support Staff:
Head Coach: Hayley McKelvey
Assistant Coach: Rae Lekness
Team Manager: Ethan D’Souza
Team Therapist: Sarah Hampton
Men
ANDERSON, Stanley Fraser (Ottawa, ON-Capital Wave)
BALL, Griffin (Calgary, AB-Calgary Torpedoes)
CHELIUBEEV, Aleksandr Mark (Surrey, BC-Surrey Water Polo)
HILLIER, Victor (Kirkland, QC-Tiburon Waterpolo)
KING, Nelson (Surrey, BC-Surrey Water Polo)
MURPHY, Jacob (New Brunswick and Québec-DDO)
PAVLOVIC, Lazar (Mississauga, ON-Mavericks Waterpolo)
PEREZ MENDIETA, Juan Francisco (Montreal, QC-CAMO)
PIRES SANTOS, Samuel (Montreal, QC-CAMO)
PIRUSCA, Dragos Matei (Ottawa, ON-Titans Waterpolo)
POPOV, Michael (Coquitlam, BC-Surrey Water Polo)
QUIJANO-BEAULIEU, Mateo (Montreal, QC-CAMO)
REYNA, Sebastian (Regina, SK-Water Polo Saskatchewan)
TARIGRADSCHI, Darius-Sterean (Laval, QC-Water-Polo Laval)
Coaching & Support Staff:
Head Coach: Maxime Crevier
Assistant Coach: Laszlo Hruza
Team Manager: Émilie Cassidy
Team Therapist: Lauren Santiago
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