Two Cochrane youth continue to enjoy water polo and have now competed in their first National League Championship (NCL) of Water Polo Canada.

Travis Lester-Olivier, 14, won silver in the 15U national league championship of Water Polo Canada as a member of the Calgary Wild.

His sister Teagan, 13, played for the 15U Calgary Renegades that placed fifth in the girls' division. 

The Wild beat all comers except the Fraser Valley club, which went on to win gold.

"It was pretty close the first half of the game," says Travis, "but near the second half of the game, it sort of fell apart on our side, and they took the gold."

They played a total of seven games, three of them in one day, from Dec. 2 to 5 at Calgary's Repsol Sports Centre. The 15U boys championship included teams from Quebec, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, B.C., and two teams from Calgary.

Travis started the sport at age six and plays on both 15U and 17U teams. He plays six days a week and helps to coach a 15U team the other day. 

He's enjoying the stiffer competition offered in the NCL.

"I find it to be quite fun, and I enjoy the travel. When we went to Saskatchewan for our first tournament, it was nice to see new places, enjoy the bus ride with my teammates, and try some new food."

The 15U Wild won gold last month at the 2021 Sask Open held in Regina.

His ambition is to make the U19 national team.

Teagan also started the sport at age 6. It's her first year playing at the NCL level with the 15U Renegades.

"It was kind of scary at first playing against all of these teams I've never really heard of, but it was definitely worth it because I can get stronger now."

The grade 8 student became interested in the sport when watching her brothers Troy and Travis play.

"I used to sometimes go to the pool to watch them, and that's when I became interested," she says.

Now it's her favourite sport, and the only one she says she can sit and watch.

She particularly enjoys shooting at the net.

"I like throwing the ball. I'm not very good at kicking, and I'm a really strong swimmer, so this ties it all together. It's also a contact sport, making it quite fun."

If she remains interested in the sport, she'd like to pursue a scholarship to play at the university level.

The 15U Open Championships was Water Polo Canada's first national event in almost two years and attracted 19 teams from across Canada. 

Next up for the pair is a January tournament in Coquitlam, B.C.

All three children in the Lester-Olivier family have played water polo.

Allan, their father, says their children enjoy the sport, and it's a more affordable and accessible option for people to consider.  It's about half the price of registering for swimming lessons, and many of the same skillsets are taught while learning the sport.

He says water polo is one of the most physically demanding, but lesser-known sports.

You can find more information on water polo here.