At the September 2018 Council meeting, Tiana Krilcic was recognised for her achievement in sport and given a certificate of recognition. Tiana is 15 years old and lives in Bannockburn, and was selected to represent Victoria in the Australian Underwater Hockey Championships held in Perth in January this year. Tiana’s team won the under 15s national title, defeating Western Australia six to five. This was a huge win – we’re told Victoria had not won for 15 years or even come close.
Underwater Hockey is a globally played sport, where two teams compete to manoeuvre a puck across the bottom of a swimming pool to score a goal. The sport is often called ‘Octopush’.
Tiana says she loves that underwater hockey is different to other sports. She also loves how it keeps her fit, and how fresh and energised she feels during and after playing.
Tiana has been playing underwater hockey for two years now, but it was after just one year of playing that she made it to Perth to participate in a national competition.
Tiana's committed approach to training is also key to her sporting achievements. Training involves warming up and holding her breath, doing laps, practicing all the different kind of drills, and as Tiana says, “really pushing herself”.
Outside underwater hockey, Tiana loves animals – she looks after chickens, birds and a dog every day – and also has two part-time jobs.
She plans to participate in trials to represent Victoria again in the National Championships held in January 2019.
Golden Plains Shire Council was delighted to recognise Tiana for her extraordinary achievements in underwater hockey and we wish her all the best in the National Championships.
Photo credit: John Krilcic (Tiana’s dad!), The Surgeon Photography