Pavanello and Barracudas Women nominated among Queensland's very best
(Nov 8, 2011) This week the nominees for the 17th Annual Queensland Sports awards were announced and the Barracudas have shown just how phenomenal their achievements were last season with Fabio Pavanello and his Barracudas Women's National League team nominated in perhaps the two of the most hotly contested and tight categories - Coach of the Year and Team of the Year respectively. In a calendar year that has seen Queensland sporting teams bring home more championships and achieve never before seen incredible results, Pavanello and the Barracudas find themselves up against the likes of the Trans-Tasman conquerors the Firebirds and the A-League champions the Roar. Add to that the Queensland Reds and rugby League's Maroons and the magnitude of the Barracudas water polo achievements begins to measure up in comparison to some of the big name sports. While water polo is a small sport by comparison, the feat of winning Queensland's first senior women's national water polo championship was big three years ago but to then back it up for three consecutive years is something that we all should be very proud of. When asked about how it felt to be nominated as Queensland Sporting Coach of the Year in the company of such great names as Mal Meniga (Queenaland Maroons), Ewen McKenzie (Queensland Reds), Ange Postecoglou (Brisbane Roar) and Roselee Jencke (Queensland Firebirds), Fabio could only muse "...its a huge honour and demonstrates how great what we as a team achieved in the 2011 season and the two seasons before." In rating his chances Pavanello could only chuckle saying "it could be a bit of a long shot but the acknowledgement for our club and sport to be given such exposure in such esteemed and deserving company, is quite significant". The Awards Night will be held Monday November 21st at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre. The Finalist for the Sports Star of the Year will be announced in the Courier-Mail and on Channel 7 on Monday Nov 14.