St Patrick’s College Mackay to host QLD Independent Schools Sport Netball carnival

After winning three senior netball premierships in a row, St Patrick’s College has its eye on starring in a huge school netball carnival which along with another event will draw 1700 juniors and 6000 spectators to Mackay.

St Patrick’s College has three consecutive premierships under their belt, and it has done little to slow their determination.

Instead, they will again gear up for a thrilling run in the CQUniversity Queensland Independent Schools Sport Netball carnival that will draw 65 girls and five boys teams to Mackay.

The teams, from all over Queensland and combined with the Confraternity Shield is expected to draw more than 1700 junior athletes and 6000 spectators to Mackay in the last week of June.

St Pats coach Tracey McLeod said it was an exciting time for the school and for Mackay.

“We’ve never hosted QISSN before, it’s the first time it has been here in Mackay,” McLeod said.

“Combined with Confro, you’re not going to find anywhere to stay in Mackay in the first week of the school holidays.”

St Patrick's College Mackay Gold Netball team. Back row: Isabelle Sinn, Letitia Talbot, Jazmyn Gervinas, Phoebe Francis, Lilli Pryor, Rebecca Symons, Ysobel Maher. Front row: Lillian Newland, Paige Zeller, Ashlee Amos. Picture: Supplied.

After winning three years in a row in the Mackay District Senior Schools Sport Netball Open A competition, their attention now turns to the all-important carnival.

However, with the carnival drawing in some of Queensland’s most talented netballers, McLeod was hesitant to provide any pre-tournament predictions.

“We will have to wait and see. There are some very elite netball schools playing in the competition and girls that play at a much higher level, regularly,” she said.

“Our girls just have a lot of heart and they’ve got the skills, but they’ve just got to believe in themselves.”

When asked what makes the current group special, the coach said height was what distinguished them from more recent teams.

She added St Pat’s boasted a fighting spirit and high skill level across the court.

“My whole defensive end, Lilli Pryor, Phoebe Francis and Isabelle Sinn are all dynamic,” McLeod said.

“I’ve got a shooter in Rebecca Symons that never misses, she just drops the ball from the edge of the circle and just turns and shoots.

“And two very strong centre court players in our captain Ysobel Maher and our vice-captain Paige Zeller are just amazing little generals leading the ball through the court.”

(From left) Rebecca Symons, Teresa Draghorn and team vice-captain Paige Zeller ahead of the QISSN tournament launch night in Mackay, October 27, 2021. Picture: Matthew Forrest

In Pool A, they will be up against Matthew Flinders Anglican College from the Sunshine Coast, St Margaret Mary’s College from Townsville, Rockhampton Grammar, Sunshine Coast Grammar, Marymount College from Burleigh Waters, Coomera Anglican College and Canterbury College from Waterford.

As well as it being the first time Mackay hosts the QISSN carnival, it will be the first time they enter a men’s side.

“They (the boys) are very excited,” McLeod said.

“I don’t know if we would have got it off the ground if it wasn’t a home carnival but they were keen and they’ve been training since the start of the year.”

The men will be joining their women counterparts in the August Queensland State Championships after qualifying at the Capricornia Vicki Wilson Cup.

Originally published as St Patrick’s College Mackay to host QLD Independent Schools Sport Netball carnival