Ottawa, August 21, 2025 – Water Polo Canada’s Women’s and Men’s Cadet National Teams are finalizing their preparation toward the 2025 15U Pan American Championships to be held September 1-7 in Bauru, Brazil.
The Canadian women’s squad will be led by Head Coach Hayley McKelvey and Assistant Coach Rae Lekness, both of whom represented Canada at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. On the men’s side, Maxime Crevier will be the Head Coach, supported by Assistant Coach Laszlo Hruza.
Both teams will aim to qualify the country for the 2026 World Aquatics 16U World Championships.
The Canadian teams will leave for Bauru tomorrow, August 21, for a training camp with local Brazilian clubs before the start of competition on September 1.
Women’s team in the Gold Division with Argentina, Brazil and USA
Water Polo Canada’s 2025 Women’s 15U National Team will play in the Gold Division with Argentina, Brazil, and USA.
The Canadian Team will start the tournament against USA on September 1st, then play against Brazil on September 2nd and then Argentina on September 3rd.
“I’m incredibly excited to have the opportunity to lead the 15U Girls Canadian National Team at the Pan American Championships in Bauru, Brazil”, said Water Polo Canada’s 2025 Women’s 15U National Team Head Coach, Hayley McKelvey. “This is a unique opportunity for our athletes to test themselves on the international stage, grow as a team, and proudly represent Canada. It’s also the first time for many athletes on this team to play internationally. I can’t wait to get to work with this talented group and see what we can achieve together.”
“I’m really stoked to play in Brazil and represent the country for the first time”, added Jing Jing Xia, a Canadian player from Surrey, B.C. “I’m excited to play with girls from around Canada and get to know them. I believe this will be a great opportunity for me to develop my water polo by playing internationally.”
“It’s an honour to represent our country at the 15U Pan American Championships”, said Sabina Costache from Montreal, QC. “This tournament is a great opportunity to learn and grow individually, while strengthening our team chemistry and competing with some of the best teams in the Americas.”
Men’s team in Gold Division with Argentina, Brazil and USA
On the men’s side, Water Polo Canada’s 2025 Men’s 15U National Team will play in the Gold Division with Argentina, Brazil and USA.
The Canadian Team will start the tournament against Argentina on September 1st, then play against Brazil on September 2nd and then USA on September 3rd.
“I am very honored to be able to lead this young group of athletes in their first international experience, which will certainly remain etched in their memories forever”, said Water Polo Canada’s 2025 Men’s 15U National Team Head Coach, Maxime Crevier. “The group is already aware that this represents the beginning of a long road to success, and the main objective will be to lay the foundations for our playing system and team philosophy for the coming years.”
“I am really excited to play for my country at the Pan American Championships”, added Mateo Quijano-Beaulieu from Montreal. “I don’t know how it’s going to go down there, but I know it will be a good experience for me. I can’t wait to discover more of the water-polo world outside North America.”
“I am very excited to go to Brazil”, said Samuel Pires Santos, also from Montreal. “I think it is an opportunity to forge new bonds with new people, improve myself, and discover the level of water polo internationally. I hope to perform well not only from a personal standpoint, but also as a team.”
Canadian referees Nadia Rachid & Elena Barri will also be attending the Bauru 2025 15U Pan American Water Polo Championship in their first international event as referees.
Canadian Teams at the 2025 U15 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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