Queen’s Birthday weekend has been a royally magical one for the Marist Magic Women. They have regained their crown as Queen of NZ Womens Water Polo, by winning the 2022 NZWP Suzuki National Water Polo League Championship for the 9th time.

2022 Marist Magic Sisterhood:

  1. Jess Milicich
  2. Ella Barakat-Stanage
  3. Abbey Keyte
  4. Gabbie Milicich
  5. Ricci Ferigo
  6. Sammy Milicich
  7. Jess Shorter Robinson
  8. Emmerson Houghton
  9. Sophie Shorter Robinson
  10. Jordan Milich-Misikini
  11. Natalia Rankin-Chitar
  12. Lucy Bramwell
  13. Malia Josephson
  14. Holly Roberts
  15. Gabryel Oloapu
  16. Kate Henderson

Coach: Paul Swindells
Assistant Coach: Rachel Swindells
Manager: Janet Masina

Marist Magic women went 8-2 in the round robin competition to finish top of the table and earning the #1 ranking going into the semi-finals. Magic took on #4 Canterbury in the first semi-final, coming away with a 13-6 win. In the second semi-final, #3 North Harbour Hammerheads defeated #2 Sea Wolf in a tight tussle resulting in an 8-7 score line.

On to the final match of the season and the Marist Magic sisters were nervously confident but also wary of what the wily Hammerheads would bring to the game as they were coming off two wins against the #2 seed. Magics defence has been key to their success this season and in this final game it really came to the fore, with the team recording a total of 43 Blocks/Steals/Turnovers and Ejections in their favour, with Jess contributing 13 from in goal. Despite being punished with a total of 13 exclusions by the referees, the sisters defence held strong for 10 of these. On 3 occasions they were faced with a 6 on 4 situation, that the Hammerheads were unable to capitalise on.

It was a tentative start to the game, taking nearly 3 minutes for the Magic to score the first goal but by the end of the first quarter Magic were ahead 4-2. The Hammerheads came out with purpose at the start of the second quarter scoring first but were unable to keep the momentum. Magic doubled their lead to 8-4 by the half-time mark. The start of the third quarter once again had the Hammerheads scoring first but as with the previous quarters Magic remained composed and increased their lead to be ahead 11-6 at the end of the third. A spate of exclusions against Marist at the start of the final quarter gave the Hammerheads a glimmer of hope, again allowing them to score first and giving them several opportunities to threaten Magics defence line but goals from Gabryel and Malia were enough to settle the sisters and Magic went on to secure the 2022 Championship in fine style with a final score line  of 13-8. A real team effort with every field player putting up a shot on goal.

Goal Scorers: Malia (3) Emmerson (2) Kate (2) Abbey Gabbie Sophie Jordan Holly Gabryel

Assists: Malia (4) Kate (3) Sammy (2) Gabryel (2) Abbey Emmerson

This is a comeback that has been 5 long seasons in the making and what a sweet result for this dedicated and loyal group of young women and for Marist Clubs Womens programme in general. Senior Club National Water Polo championships have been held in New Zealand since 1956. The National League, as it is known today, has been played every year since 2003 except 2020 when it was cancelled due to Covid-19.

Prior to this 2022 Championship, Marist Magic held the record for:

  • Most Championship Titles – with Eight (8) successful campaigns and
  • Most Consecutive Championship Titles – with Five (5) titles in a row from 2004-2008
  • Magic also held Championship Titles in 2010 and a 2-peat 2015-2016.

Sadly, the end of the 2017 season, saw the retirement of a significant number of highly regarded and talented senior players.

2018 found Marist in the extremely daunting situation of not having enough experienced players to be able to enter a team into the National League Championship. Fortunately, a core group of senior grade players resolutely led by Gabryel Oloapu were intent on this not being the case and were determined that the legacy left by earlier Marist Magic alumni would continue. The concerted efforts of Gabryel, Nicole Lewis, Ricci Ferigo and Jess Milicich gave rise to what some refer to as the Marist Magic Sisterhood. These seasoned seniors, alongside players graduating from or still playing lower age grade teams – Mikayla Eruera, Ella Harford, Christina Harrison, Branwen Hastings, Malia Josephson, Abbey Keyte, Gabbie Milicich, Caitlin Mary Parker Allen, Ellie Tomoana – as well as player-coach Frankie Painter-Snell and Head Coach Phil Howat, ensured that Marist Magic was represented at the Senior level that year and went even further by winning a silver medal in the Championship Final.

2019 brought the return of club stalwart Jordan Milich-Misikini from the USA and the addition of long time Marist club sister/friend Kate Henderson. Add to the line up our newbies Louise Ford, Chelsea Oliver and Rachel Speir and the Magic Sisters rebuild was slowly taking form. The team was Head Coached by Jez Sherman

In 2020 the National League Championship was cancelled due to Covid-19, but the sisterhood continued to expand, bringing on board baby sister Sammy Milicich, old girl Charlie Wilkinson plus newbies Tessa Birch, Ella Grabenheinrich and Holly Roberts. The team was coached by Lionel Randall at the Inter-Club Championship.

2021 The Magic welcomed back Paul and Rachel Swindells as the Magic coaching team. They had led previous successful Magic campaigns and fortunately for the sisters, when invited back the age-old mantra “Marist for Life” held true. Paul and Rachel understood the culture and support the sisterhood needed to thrive and under their tutelage, Magic achieved a silver medal placing in the 2021 Championship Final.

2022 Emmerson Houghton, Natalia Rankin-Chitar, Jessica Shorter-Robinson, Sophie Shorter-Robinson, Lucy Bramwell and Ella-Stanage Barakat were welcomed to the ranks of the sisterhood. The Magic sisters and coaching team have had one focus this season, to win the Championship and bring the National League Cup back to Marist. Marist Magic Women now have 9 National League Championship titles to celebrate. Emmerson was named 2022 MVP.

The rebuild of the Marist Womens programme has also seen the entry of a Marist Makutu Womens team in the 2022 Div. 2 competition resulting in a 2nd Overall placing, a great result for such a young team! Congratulations from the Marist whanau to these players and management team of Paul, Rachel and Toni.

2022 Marist Makutu:

  1. Ella Barakat-Stanage
  2. Lizzie Worth
  3. Chelsea Oliver
  4. Neila Halstead
  5. Riaan Bryant
  6. Taylor Fisher
  7. Bella Jacka
  8. Rachel Swindells
  9. Louise Ford
  10. Bailee Swindells
  11. Jess Keyte
  12. Scarlett Mildenhall
  13. Lucy Bramwell
  14. Mia Bryant
  15. Charlotte Smith
  16. Mia Willis
  17. Kessia Veal

Coach: Paul Swindells
Assistant Coach: Rachel Swindells
Manager: Toni Jacka

National Honours:

Kate, Emmerson, Malia, Gabbie, Jess and Sophie – FINA Senior World Champs in Hungary
Holly and Paul – FINA World Youth Champs in Serbia
Abbey Keyte Sammy Milicich Chelsea Oliver – NZ National Womens Squad
Natalia Rankin-Chitar – NZ 2022 Youth Womens Squad
Gabryel – NZWP Development Coach
Frankie – NZWP Athletes Leadership Team Liaison Officer
Natalia our Athletics star – Athletics World U20 Champs in Colombia.

To our Table Duty crews, there are not enough words to express our gratitude for your support- to those who were roped in as you arrived for the game, we appreciate you as well.

Our team photographer Jo Milich – thank you – love your work!

To our families, friends and the Marist Committee and Marist whanau at large, a huge heartfelt thank you for keeping the faith with us throughout the season.

We would also like to acknowledge our sponsor Penny Homes and thank them for their generous support.

Looking forward to what 2023 brings – Marist Magic Sisters for Life