The KwaZulu-Natal U19A girls’ team, set to compete at the Schools Water Polo South Africa (SWPSA) Inter-Provincial Tournament (IPT), is stacked with quality players.
The tournament, set to take place in Cape Town from 5 to 9 December, will bring together some of the country’s best water polo players.
Like other sides, KZN will head to the Mother City with a chip on their shoulder and a massive point to prove.
The side will be led by coach Cameron Wiid of St Anne’s DSG, assisted by Amy Pascoe, from Maris Stella.
KZN was among the title contenders last year and played some exciting water polo before narrowly losing 7-11 to Western Province A in the semifinals.
They went on to miss out on the bronze medal in a penalty shootout after playing to a 10-10 draw with Central Gauteng B.
A year later, coach Wiid expects a totally different outcome from his team. They’ve selected the best of the best from KZN, and it’s a 14-player squad filled with the confidence of players who’ve recently won silverware.
The squad includes five players – Keira Sim, Farrann Elliot, Hannah Savage, Inez Letschert, and Madison Beetge – who represented KZN at last year’s tournament in Johannesburg.
Sim, Elliot, Savage, and Letschert are all from St Anne’s, while Beetge attends Thomas More College.
The team also features three players from Durban Girls’ College (DGC): Jazlyn Moolman, Lara Nel, and the highly rated goalkeeper Ntabiseng Mathibeli.
St Mary’s DSG, Kloof, will be represented by Layla Dinsdale, while Amy Aaron will aim to do Maris Stella proud.
The rest of the team features players from St Anne’s who have performed brilliantly this season. Lorna Kernahan, Maggy Matthews, and Motloduwa Makwane have all contributed to their school’s successes, including lifting the St Anne’s Cup against an elite field from across South Africa and winning the KZN Top 10 title.
While individual brilliance and star power will be needed, coach Wiid will urge his side to play as a unit as they target taking down Central Gauteng and Western Province, both traditional powerhouses.
SQUADS
U19A
Amy Aaron (Maris Stella), Farrann Elliot (St Anne’s), Hannah Savage (St Anne’s), Inez Letschert (St Anne’s), Jazlyn Moolman (DGC), Jessica Bosman (St Anne’s), Keira Sim (St Anne’s), Lara Nel (DGC), Layla Dinsdale (St Mary’s), Lorna Kernahan (St Anne’s), Madison Beetge (Thomas More), Maggy Matthews (St Anne’s), Motloduwa Makwane (St Anne’s), Ntabiseng Mathibeli (DGC).
Head coach: Cameron Wiid (St Anne’s), Amy Pascoe (Maris Stella).
U16A
Carly van der Ruit (Thomas More), Emily Nienaber (St Anne’s), Jemima Parry (DGC), Lascala Pengelly (DGC), Leah Kent (DGC), London Remley (Reddam Umhlanga), Makayla Aylward (DGC), Michaela Russell (DGC), Mikayla Morrison (Danville), Olivia Cairns (DGC), Vida La Meme (DGC), Zoie Sibeta (St Anne’s).
Head coach: Pete Lavett (DGC), Bulelwa Mzimela (DGC).
U16B
Alexis Otto (DGC), Brianna Felt (DGC), Buhle Mdluli (Thomas More), Chloe Pomakov (DGC), Francis Wang (Ashton), Frankie Dewe (Danville), Jade Ferreira (DGC), Jessica Commons (Maris Stella), Jessica Meekin (St Mary’s), Lindsey Bromfield (Curro Hillcrest), Okwenko Ndimeni (Thomas More), Sarah Uys (St Mary’s), Tamma Stern (Reddam Umhlanga), Tay Ross (St Mary’s).
Head coach: Byron Briscoe (DGC), Brogan Reid (Maris Stella).
U15A
Aphelele Mhlongo (St Anne’s), Christina van der Walt (DGC), Ella Chalupsky (St Anne’s), Eva Berichon (Fatima), Justina Pellandini (Fatima), Kingsley Jones (Fatima), Lara Macqueen (Fatima), Lesedi Sefolo (St Anne’s), Lucy Harker (Fatima), Rebecca Grendele (Fatima), Riley Girodo (DGC), Saranya Govender (DGC), Sophia Da Costa (Fatima), Tylah Aitken (DGC).
Head coach: Matthew Bederson (Fatima), Jade Goosen (DGC).
U15B
Alexia Germanus (DGC), Charlotte Sutherland (St Anne’s), Elia Schoeman (St Anne’s), Farren Armour (Fatima), Gabriella Rautenbach (Westville), Isabelle Lorton (Fatima), Kathleen Morgan (Thomas More), Michaela James (Ashton), Olivia Reuning (Fatima), Reatlethile Selele (St Anne’s), Sage Moodie (Fatima), Taylor McGregor (DGC), Usiphile Khanyile (DGC), Zoe Smith (Maris Stella).
Head coach: Sam Spooner (Maris Stella), Teegan Hardwick (Maris Stella).
U14A
Alexa Engelbrecht (Fatima), Emily Wang (Ashton), Emily Wilson (DGC), Hlelo Thusi (Reddam Umhlanga), Juliette Brown (DGC), Karo Groenewald (Fatima), Mira Bugwandin (St Mary’s), Olivia Botha (Ashton), Olivia Cox (Amanzimtoti), Sasha Brown (DGC), Seneme Chiluvane (St Anne’s), Zibu Xulu (St Mary’s).
Head coach: Kaylin Shortt (Reddam Umhlanga), Kristine Ford (Kloof).
U14B
Abigail McHugh (St John’s), Amahle Ndungane (DGC), Grace Beaiteseth (Ashton), Grace York (Fatima), Holly Elliot (St Mary’s), Kiara De Rose (Fatima), Michaela Batho (Reddam Umhlanga), Natalie Spiers (DGC), Nkazimulo Mbongwa (Fatima), Riley Beuster (Danville), Sarah Howieson (DGC), Sophie Campbell (Fatima), Tatum van der Merwe (DGC), Thandokuhle Mathibeli (DGC).
Head coach: Cortney Whitfield (Ashton), Sophia Bentley (St Anne’s).
