Just ask Northside Stingray Elih Mutsch.

"I'm usually up at 4:50am," he said.

"I've fallen asleep a couple of times during class, but it's not too bad when you're in a rhythm."

The 16-year-old Murray High School student has been selected in the cadet men's Australian water polo team for players born in 2005.

He's now part of Water Polo Australia's 'Launch to LA' program, which will act as a pathway for assembling the men's Olympic team for the 2028 games in California.

After standing out to selectors at state and national tournaments, Mutsch was invited to attend a camp in Canberra.

While Covid has meant he's been unable to train in Sydney with the team and compete in New Zealand, he said it has still been a dream come true.

"It always has been to make the Australian team and play for the green and gold," he said.

He's the only Ovens and Murray representative on the team, which is mainly made up of metropolitan players.

"They play all year round and we can't play in winter because we don't have any facilities," he said.

"They're a bit fitter and stronger than us, so it is daunting.

"Now we're just waiting and playing it by ear to see when our next training session is."

The young gun first took up water polo when he was 9, with his family all into the sport.

Earlier this year he played alongside his dad Scott and 18-year-old brother Tsyon in the men's A-grade grand final to break the Stingrays' premiership drought.

"It was very inspiring and exciting because my dad was in the last grand final they won," he said.

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"It was really nice to win as a family."

Tyson has coached Elih, passing on what he has learnt to his younger brother.

They hope to one day both play in Europe's water polo competition.

"Tyson has gone away to all of these camps and he's come back with what he's learnt and taught me," Elih said.

"Hopefully me and Tyson are on the same team playing for the green and gold one day."

Shannon Gould has coached Mutsch and believes he has a bright future ahead of him.

He joins the likes of O and M stars Bridget Johnson and Brooke Dickie who have competed at world championships.

"He's got a really good work ethic and has been a star since he was a young kid," Gould said.

"I think he's going to go a long way."

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