Matt Sharp

I have reached regional, state and national levels for various sports (swimming, basketball, shot putt, and water polo) so far during my school career, and I have been selected in the Australian junior water polo team every year since 2015. I am a natural leader, excelling at public speaking - something which many people are scared of, even though I also love computer gaming- so part geek. My parents and all of my extended family are athletic, including my Aunt who was a world class Australian gymnast and my Uncle who still does 70km cycling races at 50 years old. All are tertiary academic graduates. My sister plays Futsal at National League level, went to the Maccabiah Games for soccer in 2013, and is at university in Sydney.

I started water polo in late 2012 by accident. My school sports teacher thought that, because I was a good swimmer and basketballer, I might be good at water polo. My very first game I scored a goal............ with my head ............. backwards!

I made 14s TAP camp (State Talented Athlete Program) after only 3 months of playing in club competition in early 2013, the only player from a 'B' team to do so, and the following year was named in the 'Tournament 7' at the State tournament. I made the top state team for my age group, which was the winning team at the East Coast Challenge 2014 ( a national competition involving 5 of the 6 states/territories who are active in water polo in Australia), for which I was also top goal scorer. I have since made the top state team for my age group each year. I have been applauded for being very coachable and a team player, with great offensive and defensive strategies. I was awarded the coveted Lanesman Award in grade 6 (2012) - the highest leadership in sports award in our Primary school, the Junior Sportsman of the Year in middle school (year 9, 2015) and MVP and 'players player' for my winning GPS school team in my final 2 years.

I was voted House captain and prefect for our middle school in 2015 (year 9) and lettered in 2 sports. That year I had to choose between my 2 favourite sports: basketball and water polo: and decided that I would be more competitive at water polo. This was after I was selected for the Australian team (born- 2000) for water polo, and had the awesome privilege of traveling to Croatia and Serbia for the internationally acclaimed IX Darko Cukic Memorial Water Polo Tournament in August 2015. Selection to the Australian team also meant access to the highest water polo training program in the state (NSWIS Talent Squad). For this and other achievements I received the 'Honours blazer' at school, the highest overall award you can attain at Reddam House, junior and senior.

2016 was a good year for my waterpolo development; I moved schools mid school-year to balance my sport and academics, and was again selected for the Australian team to play in multiple Trans- Tasman tournaments as well as the 17s School Sports Australia All Schools State Representative Team for the Australian All Schools Tournament. I was highest goal scorer in the NSW 16s State Club tournament for the whole competition, was awarded MVP at the Canberra Cup tournament ( an U18s, national- eastern states club, competition), and named in the Tournament 7 at the schoolboys Trans-Tasman Championships.

2017 shaped up well, being undefeated in all school competitions for which I was named MVP for my team. I was selected to represent Australia this year at the All Schools international tournament, following initial selection into the State Representative All Schools water polo Team, and earning 'Colours' ("letters") at school. I was also awarded the GPS badge ("letters") for being a member of the School Senior Swim team, which won the GPS All Schools competition. At club representative level my teams won 18s and 20s State club competitions, as well as the 18s metropolitan competition and so were ranked the top club in our state for 18s Club Nationals, eventually winning the silver medal at National level. I was then honoured by Maccabi NSW and named Junior (Jewish) Sportsman of the year (an honour which has in the past been awarded to then-future Olympians such as Steve Solomon and Jessica Fox). I won a bronze medal in Israel in July with the USA junior Maccabiah water polo team at the Maccabiah games, and another bronze medal in December, as well as named in tournament 7, in the schoolboys international competition.

 I was again selected  into the Australian born- 2000 team for the European tour in August 2017, continuing with selection to the Australian squad for 2018 for the Youth World Championships, and another Tournament 7 nomination followed a gold medal performance in the 2018 Sate championships, where I was also top goal scorer for the whole tournament, as well as for my team.

However , school is my priority for 2018 and hopefully College in the USA in 2019. This means missing the Youth World Championships, even though I am on track to make the team, but the way the Australian School system works, it is necessary for me to change my focus this year if I want options in the future. This means spending a lot more time on academics, at the expense of my sport.

My father was born in the USA, so I am eligible for residency/citizenship.

National Representation (Australia and USA)

2018
Australian Junior Water Polo Roster.

2017
Australian Junior Water Polo Team: competed in Comen Cup - Montenegro, Balnea cup - Slovakia: Bronze Medal.
Australian Schoolboys Team: competed in International Tournament V New Zealand Schoolboys: draw.
USA Maccabiah junior Water polo team: competed in 20th Maccabiah (junior) Games, Co-Captain: Bronze Medal.

2016
Australian Junior (born 2000) Water Polo Team: competed in the AUS V NZ B'2000 series - Gold Medal, 3 wins from 3 games; the Pan Pacs International Tournament - 6th (of 14 teams) - 20s tournament, 4th (of 18 teams) -18s tournament.

2015
Australian Junior Water Polo Team:competed in the IX Darko Cukic Memorial (international) tournament --competed in in Serbia.


General

2018

• 18s Nationals Club Water Polo Championships - highest percentage wins and conceded least number of goals overall; 5th place, top goal scorer for team, UNSW Wests Magpies
• 18s State Club Water Polo Championships - Gold Medal; Tournament 7; Top Goal Scorer for Tournament: UNSW Wests Magpies.
• 22s State Club Water Polo Championships - Gold medal : UNSW Wests Magpies.
• AAGPS/CAS (Schools) water polo competition- Players' Player award of winning team, highest goal scorer;  undefeated premiers of the 2017/2018 season; Newington Firsts.
• AAGPS (Schools) water polo competition- Players' Player award of Newington Firsts, highest goal scorer. undefeated premiers of the 2017/2018 season; Newington Firsts.
• Mens Division 1 (M1/2), Metropolitan Summer Competition – Silver Medal; UNSW Wests Magpies (top b'2000 goal scorer in team )
• 18s Metropolitan Summer Competition -Gold Medal; UNSW Wests Magpies (top scorer in entire season with 54 goals)
• Mens Division 1 (M1/2), Metropolitan Winter Competition – Gold Medal; UNSW Wests Magpies

2017

• School Sport Australia 17 and under waterpolo Championships Australian Team; Draw; awarded meritorious 'Blue with Honours Award'.
• School Sport Australia 17 and under waterpolo Championships - Co - Captain; Gold Medal; All Schools NSW Representative Team. 
• Canberra Cup (Eastern States Mens Tournament); Silver Medal. UNSW Wests Mens.
• 20s State Club Water Polo Championships - Gold Medal; UNSW Wests Magpies. 5th top scorer in team/top 2000 scorer in team (1 of 3 born 2000 players in the ’97 team)
• Trans Tasman ('99) Schoolboys Water Polo Cup 2017: Bronze medal; Named in Tournament 7; Newington Firsts.
• 18s Nationals Club Water Polo Championships - Silver Medal; UNSW Wests Magpies
• 18s (B '99) State Club Water Polo Championships - Gold Medal; UNSW Wests Magpies.
• 18s (B '99) Metropolitan Summer Competition -Gold Medal; UNSW Wests Magpies (6th top scorer in entire competition of 100+ players, top '00 goal scorer in team )
• AAGPS/CAS (Schools) water polo competition- MVP of winning team; Newington Firsts. undefeated champions of the 2016/2017 season; Newington Firsts.
• AAGPS (Schools) water polo competition- MVP of Newington Firsts. undefeated champions of the 2016/2017 season; Newington Firsts.
• Thomas Whalan-Cup (GPS Schools water polo Tournament)- Gold medal for Newington (Firsts, Seconds and 16As- combined competition)
• AAGPS (Schools) swimming competition -Gold medal, Newington Senior Swim Team
• Maccabi NSW - Junior (Jewish) Sportsman of the Year Award.

2016

• Canberra Cup U18s ('99) Eastern States junior Tournament- MVP of tournament. Gold medal; UNSW Wests team.
• Trans Tasman ('98) Schoolboys Water Polo Cup 2016: Named in Tournament 7. 5th (of 18 teams); Newington Firsts
• 18s National Club Championships - Silver Medal; UNSW Wests Magpies – (1 of only 2 born 2000 players in the ’98 team)
• 16s State Club Water Polo Championships- Top goal scorer for the tournament. Silver Medal, UNSW Wests Magpies
• School Sport Australia 17 and under waterpolo Championships - Gold Medal; All Schools NSW Representative Team,
• NSW All Schools 17 and under waterpolo championships- Gold medal: CIS regional All Schools Team,
• World Club Water Polo Challenge - Gold Medal, 16s team; UNSW Wests Magpies
• 18s State Club Water Polo Championships: top born -'00 scorer in tournament {tied with 1 other '00}/11th top score overall/ top scorer in development team. (NOTE: there were 8 teams in the tournament, each with up to 13 players, age range born '98-'01). UNSW Wests Magpies Development team (age range: born '98-'01)-
• Mens Division 1 (M3), Metropolitan Summer Competition – Gold Medal; UNSW Wests Magpies
• 16s Metropolitan Summer Competition 2015/16 -Gold Medal; UNSW Wests Magpies (top season goal scorer for team)

2015

• Trans-Tasman Tournament- Silver Medal; NSW Water Polo State Team:
• NSW All Schools 17 and under waterpolo championships - 2nd ; CIS regional 2nds Water Polo Team
• World Club Water Polo Challenge -Silver Medal, U17s team; UNSW Wests Magpies
• 16s National Club Championships-Bronze Medal; UNSW Wests Magpies (1 of only 3 born 2000 players in the ’99 team)
• 16s State Club Championships – Silver Medal; UNSW Wests Magpies, (1 of only 3 born 2000 players in the ’99 team)
• Canberra Cup 2015– Bronze Medal: UNSW Wests Magpies (1 of only 3 born 2000 players in the ’99 team)

2014

• East Coast Challenge - Gold Medal: NSW Water Polo State Team: UNSW Wests Magpies (and top goal scorer)
• 14 State Club Championships – Named in Tournament 7, Gold Medal: UNSW Wests Magpies
• 14 National Club Championships – 4th : UNSW Wests Magpies

OTHER SPORTING ACHIEVEMENTS 2014/2015

2015

• Reddam House Junior Sportsman of the Year Award

2014

• Metropolitan League Basketball- 4th: Sydney Comets Basketball U16 Division 1 team (the only born 2000 player in the'99 team)
• State Championships: Sydney Comets Basketball U16 Division 1 Team (the only born 2000 player in the'99 team)
• Melbourne Classic National Tournament: Sydney Comets Basketball U16 Division 1 Team (the only born 2000 player in the'99 team)

ACHIEVEMENTS- in water polo

2018 (so far)

• Born 2000 Australian Water Polo roster
• NSW Institute of Sport - Talent Squad
• UNSW Wests Emerging Magpies Elite Program (identified National League club Pathway)
• UNSW Wests Magpies Mens (Division 1, M1/2) Water Polo Representative Team
• UNSW Wests Magpies U18s Team
• UNSW Wests Magpies U22s Team
• Newington College Firsts Water Polo Team,
• Newington 2018 Talented Athlete Support Program
• Newington Senior Swim Team

2017

• Born 2000 Australian Water Polo Team
• NSW Institute of Sport - Talent Squad
• Australian Schoolboys Team
• USA Maccabiah junior Water polo team (B'99)
• All Schools Representative State Team- Co- Captain
• UNSW Wests Emerging Magpies Elite Program (identified National League club Pathway)
• UNSW Wests Magpies Mens (Division 1, M1/2) Water Polo Representative Team
• UNSW Wests U20s Team
• UNSW Wests Magpies 18s Team
• Newington College Firsts Water Polo Team,
• Newington 2017 Talented Athlete Support Program
• Newington Senior Swim Team

2016

• Born 2000 Australian Water Polo Team
• NSW Institute of Sport - Talent Squad
• All Schools Representative State Team
• NSW State 16s (born 2000) Water Polo Team
• UNSW Wests Emerging Magpies Elite Program
• UNSW Wests U20s Squad
• UNSW Wests Magpies 16s, 18s and Mens (Division 1) Water Polo Representative Team
• UNSW Wests Magpies U17s team- World Club Water Polo Challenge
• Newington College Firsts Water Polo Team,
• Reddam Firsts Water Polo Team,
• UNSW Swim Club – training to assist with Water Polo goals

2015

• Born 2000 Australian Water Polo Team
• NSW Institute of Sport
• NSW State 15s (born 2000) Water Polo Team
• CIS Water Polo Team (Allschools regional team) for NSW (state) Competition
• UNSW Wests U20s Squad
• UNSW Wests Emerging Magpies Elite Program (identified National League club Pathway)
• UNSW Wests Magpies U17s team- World Club Water Polo Challenge
• UNSW Wests Magpies 16s, 18s and Mens (3) Water Polo Representative Team
• Sydney Comets U16 Representative Basketball Team: Metro region, Division 1
• Reddam Firsts Water Polo Team,
• Reddam Firsts Basketball team (U18 and U16)
• NSW Maccabi Swim Club – training to assist with Water Polo goals
• Futsal – local league

2014

• NSW State 14s Water Polo Team
• UNSW Wests Magpies 14 and 16 Water Polo Representative Team
• Selected for CIS 17 and under Water Polo Team (Allschools regional team) for 2015
• Sydney Comets U16 Representative Basketball Team: Metro region, Division 1
• Reddam Firsts Water Polo Team
• Reddam Firsts basketball team (U18 and U16)
• NSW Maccabi Swim Club – squad training to assist with Water Polo goals
• Futsal – local league