Sunshine Coast’s next generation netball talents revealed
A number of rising Sunshine Coast netball stars are a step closer to their Lightning dreams after making it to the elite Queensland level. See who made the rep teams here.
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The region’s next batch of future Sunshine Coast Lightning stars have been uncovered.
Nine players from the USC Thunder were selected in the under-17 and under-19 Queensland Squads and a further three under-12 superstars represented Queensland at the Australian Netball Championships.
The three under-12 players from Matthew Flinders Anglican College, Mountain Creek State High School and St Andrew's Anglican College competed at the Illawarra Sports Stadium from September 10-16, taking home gold with a tournament record of nine wins and one loss.
Five players in the under-19s and four players in the under-17s were selected after their performances at the state titles in Brisbane on September 18-20.
The Sunshine Coast players will join their squads, consisting of 27 athletes each, and trial throughout November before a cohort of 16 players is selected.
Those squads will then complete a final selection process in January where the final team and training partners are chosen for the 2023 Netball Australia National Championships.
Read below to find out what the players had to say.
UNDER 19s
Georgia Butt
Position: Centre, Wing Attack
“I’m honestly still a bit in shock and disbelief, it’s amazing to have your hard work and dedication rewarded and I’m very excited for the opportunity,“ Butt said.
“I’m hoping to further develop my skills and knowledge of the game, it’s amazing to have such close access to some of the leading coaches in Queensland.”
Butt said she was excited to share the court with her USC Thunder teammates.
“The Thunder girls are my family so it is great to share this experience with them, I know we will all put in our best and hopefully further develop the Thunder club also,” she said.
Baylee Boyd
Position: Centre, Wing Defence
Boyd said she was excited after back-to-back years of tournament cancellations and injury.
“I am very proud and honoured to be announced in the under-19 Queensland squad knowing that my hard work at training, the early mornings in the gym and the work behind the scenes has paid off,” she said.
“It’s my third year campaigning to play at the national level having been selected in the Queensland team the past two years and experiencing disappointment both years.
“In 2021 just a week out of competition nationals was cancelled due to Covid-19, then in 2022 I was selected again to go away to nationals and named captain but a week out of competition I was ruled out for injury with a stress fracture in my foot.
“The disappointment of these past two years has made me more determined than ever to keep striving to reach that next level.”
Poppy Gatfield
Position: Goal Attack, Wing Attack
“I’m super proud of my efforts, it’s always such an honour to hear your name be called out because you know how hard you have worked for it,” Gatfield said.
“You want to make not only Thunder proud but your family proud too.”
Gatfield said she hoped to learn and grow her game under the tutelage of high level coaches.
“I’m hoping to improve my skills and to continue to develop my game, keen to take in all the knowledge they have to provide,” she said.
Mia Smalley
Position: Goal Defence, Goalkeeper
“I am so thrilled, and honestly couldn’t believe it when I heard my name get called out after the competition,” Smalley said.
“I have trained so hard for this selection, but this is only the beginning, the hard work starts now.”
Smalley said she was excited for the coming weeks.
“I’m hoping to learn from these elite level coaches and other athletes who I know I will come up against in the future and hopefully play alongside,” she said.
“I not only want to further develop my skills as a defender on the court but also develop my skills as a teammate in the elite level environment.”
Kiesha Muckan
Position: Goalkeeper, Goal Defence, Wing Defence
“I’m really proud of how I‘ve done during the tournament and the little goals I’ve achieved throughout the games improving my skills,” Muckan said.
“I’m hoping throughout the training sessions with the high-level coaches I improve my netball skill levels to be more professional on the court, in my positions but also building connections with the other netball girls especially in my positional group.”
Muckan was also named USC Thunder player of the tournament alongside Mia Smalley and said she was excited to play alongside her Sunshine Coast teammates again.
“It’s so exciting getting to play with the girls that I trained and played with throughout the tournament,” she said.
“I’m so proud of their effort they put in and can’t wait to see how much further they can go.”
UNDER 17s
Ellie Brice
Position: Wing Defence, Centre
“I am extremely proud of my efforts in attaining a position in the Queensland under-17 squad, as this was a goal of mine for 2022,” Brice said.
“I am now focused on the trialling stages and am doing whatever I can to better my netball skills.”
Brice was also named USC Thunder’s most consistent player at the tournament.
She said she was looking forward to the coming weeks.
“I am super excited to learn from coaches of such high calibre, as this experience will be valuable for my netball performance,” she said.
“My fellow thunder teammates, Kirra, Jada and Jasmine also made the Queensland squad and I’m super excited to work alongside them again, as they’re such dedicated and talented athletes.”
Jada Delaney
Position: Goal Defence, Goalkeeper
Delaney, who was named USC Thunder player of the tournament, said she was thankful for support she had received.
“It is exciting and you always hope to make it but are never sure so it was great to be part of the squad again,” she said.
“Thanks to my teammates and USC Thunder Ruby team as well, without being part of this program I would not have been able to achieve everything I have this year.”
“I’m so happy to see so many Thunder girls get through and will hopefully make us so much stronger for next year as well.”
Delaney said she was looking forward to learning under the high level coaching staff.
Jasmine Gill
Position: Wing Attack
Gill, who travelled from Brothers Netball Club in Bundaberg, said she was eager to grow her game at the next level.
“I’m really proud of my efforts and being selected, especially coming from Bundaberg,” she said.
“I am excited to be working with elite coaches and players and I hope to use this experience to improve my knowledge and skills.
“My Thunder teammates are all amazing players so it is great to be able to train and play with them again.
Kirra Tappenden
Position: Goal Attack
Tappenden said she was extremely proud of her efforts and the support she had received.
“I feel really accomplished and moving forward, closer to my end goal of playing professional netball,” she said.
“I’ve been lucky enough to play alongside and against these girls for several years now which has led to lifelong friendships and I’m so grateful to have this netball family to support me in this opportunity even further.”
She said she was eager to learn within the Queensland squad.
“I am excited to work with people I haven’t played with or met before and be coached by elite level coaches who will teach me skills to compliment my netball journey,” she said.
UNDER 12s
Summer Hassell
Position: Centre, Wing Attack, Wing Defence
Hasell said she was proud to have made it to the Queensland level and win the tournament against Australia's best junior players.
“I’m very proud and excited to have made the team and to have finished in first place in the competition,” she said.
“I had a lot of fun playing in a new team with players I competed against at State Trials earlier in the year.
“I learned a lot of new game plays from our coaches and made so many new friends from around Australia that I hope to keep in contact with and maybe play with one day.”
Hassell said she hoped to continue to improve.
“I never expected to make the regional or state team but was very excited when I did and it’s been an experience I will never forget,” she said.
“I hope to one day play for Sunshine Coast Lightning.”
Keira Blundell
Position: Goal Attack, Goal Shooter
“It was a great honour to represent Queensland and to come home with the championship, I’m very proud of the efforts of our team and of myself,” Blundell said.
“It was a great experience for me, I learnt a lot from the coaches and other players like how to adapt my game to opposing players.
“It was an experience I will never forget.”
Blundell said she enjoyed the off court antics with her Sunshine Coast teammates just as much as playing.
“It was really fun and a great opportunity because I got to learn more about them and we all had to drive to training together so we became better friends as well,” she said.
“Our car singalongs were awesome and Annabel loves Summer and I singing to her.”
Annabel Wedgwood
Position: Goal Attack
“Competing in the National Championships was truly the most amazing experience I have ever had,” Wedgwood said.
“From the moment we got there, every State Team was fierce and eager to get started.
“The competition was amazing and everyone, in every team, tried their absolute hardest the entire time and always put in 100 percent.”
Wedgewood said she enjoyed learning new skills alongside high level players and coaches.
“Knowing that you are amongst Australia’s best netball players and coaches was truly amazing,” she said.
“My coaches were amazing and supported my team throughout the incredible journey and I am so thankful for them.”
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