Western Province has assembled an experienced and talented team to compete for top honours at the Schools Water Polo South Africa (SWPSA) Inter-Provincial Tournament (IPT) from 5 to 9 December in Cape Town.
Last year, Province captured the silver medal, losing to Central Gauteng A in the final for a fourth successive year.
Coach Connor Whiting hopes that, spurred on by their home fans, his charges will be able to get over the final hurdle this time around.
“This group is super talented and super smart,” he enthused.
“Our job as the coaches is to facilitate getting the best out of them as much as possible, to let them express themselves in the pool. They are knowledgeable and understand the game well,” Whiting told SuperSport Schools News.
His faith is not without merit. Western Province’s side features a mix of players who reached the 2025 final with the U19A team, some who were members of the Province U19B team that finished fifth, and a handful who were part of the U16A team that finished fourth.
The list of players from last year’s silver medal-winning side includes the captain and vice-captain, Charlotte Wiltshire and Holly Strydom, as well as Emma Stevens and Summer-Lee Wain.
Aman Moonda, Jade Jarvis, Abigail Weatherall, Emma Stevens, Jemma Pearse, Olivia Figaji, and Anna van Aarde were members of the U19B team, and Micha Danilewitz, Jessica Bosch, and Carolyn Lord represented the U16A side.
“We have a very strong matric year this time around. Last year we had four grade 11s, and this year we have three,” Whiting revealed.
“The team has been playing together for a long time. So, we spent the first part of the training integrating the grade 11s into the team.”
The coach said Western Province will focus on playing with high tempo and high intensity because that pace suits the group of girls well.
The coaching staff has also emphasised the importance of mastering the basics and doing the simple things well for their approach to be effective.
Team:
Aman Moonda (Reddam House Constantia), Summer-Lee Wain (Reddam House Constantia), Charlotte Wiltshire (Herschel), Holly Strydom (Reddam House Constantia), Jade Jarvis (Rustenburg), Abigail Weatherall (Reddam House Constantia), Emma Stevens (Herschel), Jemma Pearse (Herschel), Micha Danilewitz (St Cyprian’s), Jessica Bosch (Herschel), Carolyn Lord (St Cyprian’s), Olivia Figaji (Rustenburg), Anna van Aarde (Herschel).
