FINA World Championships Kick Off With 18 Trojans In Action

The pools in Gwangju, South Korea, are brimming with USC water polo representation for this 2019 FINA World Championships. In all, 11 Women of Troy and seven USC men are capped up for their countries to vie for a world championship and Olympic qualification in competition running July 13-27.

On the women's side, nine Women of Troy represent five different nations. All nine have already won at least one NCAA Championship as Trojans. Now, they are looking for world domination with their respective countries. For Team USA, which has already qualified for the 2020 Olympic Games in winning the FINA Super Final last month, there are four Trojans looking to help the United States claim a third consecutive World Championship. A two-time NCAA Champion, goalie Amanda Longan is joined on the USA roster by former teammates Paige Hauschild and Stephania Haralabidis, along with 2013 NCAA champ and 2016 Olympic Gold Medalist Kaleigh Gilchrist. Hauschild is one of two current Trojans doing battle in Gwangju, with her fellow 2018 NCAA Champion teammate Maud Megens leading the charge for her Netherlands team. The other four Women of Troy have all completed their USC careers. For Team Canada, veteran Joelle Bekhazi is alongside 2018 grad Hayley McKelvey. Australia has 2016 Olympian and 2013 NCAA champion Hannah Buckling back for more, while Spain boast two-time Olympian and 2013 NCAA champ Anni Espar.

For the men, team USA has two current Trojans on its roster in 2018 NCAA champs Hannes Daube and Marko Vavic — rising sophomore and junior, respectively. The other five Trojans competing on the men's side are all USC graduates. Australia once again has veteran goalie Joel Dennerley in the cage. Dennerley won four NCAA Championships as a Trojan and is a two-time Olympian. He has fellow Trojans Blake Edwards and Lachlan Edwards by his side for the Aussie squad. Germany's roster includes a three-time NCAA Champion in Tobias Pruess, while another three-time NCAA champ and 2016 Olympian — Kostas Genidounias — is capped up again for Greece.

This year's FINA World Championship also showcases a new event in beach water polo. A small-sided game featuring a shorter course and smaller goals offers a new look and new strategic approach with a faster game. On the women's side, there are two Trojans featured in the event. Rising sophomore Alejandra Aznar is playing on Spain's beach water polo team, and Team USA's squad has 2016 NCAA Champion Brigitta Games on the roster for the four-team draw.

http://www.fina.org/event/18th-fina-world-championships/results-1

TROJANS AT 2019 FINA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

WOMEN
AUSTRALIA
Hannah Buckling

CANADA
Joelle Bekhazi
Hayley McKelvey

NETHERLANDS
Maud Megens

SPAIN
Anni Espar
BEACH: Alejandra Aznar

USA
Kaleigh Gilchrist
Stephania Haralabidis
Paige Hauschild
Amanda Longan
BEACH: Brigitta Games

MEN
Australia
Joel Dennerley
Blake Edwards
Lachlan Edwards

Germany
Tobias Preuss

Greece
Kostas Genidounias

USA
Hannes Daube
Marko Vavic

Players Mentioned

Alejandra Aznar

Hannes Daube

Paige Hauschild

Amanda Longan

Hayley McKelvey

Maud Megens

Marko Vavic