Four from Saints in Central Gauteng u19A water polo team
The Central Gauteng girls’ u19 A team to contest the 2024 Schools Water-polo South Africa Inter-Provincial (IPT) in East London, from 7 until 11 December, is, on paper, a powerful outfit.
Four Stithians College girls are in the 13-player squad: Courtney Calenborne, Tori Tanner-Ellis, Emily Carle, and Isabella Imbriolo, who was awarded the Best Defender at the Saints Invitational Tournament.
Saints finished fourth in that event, which took place at the end of October, after going down 3-5 to Herschel in the third-place playoff.
At the beginning of October, St Stithians won the Parktown Spring Sports Festival, edging out Reddam House Bedfordview 3-1 in a penalty shootout after the teams had finished regulation time level at 4-4.
Boksburg’s St Dominic’s Catholic School for Girls provides two players, Ruby Carlson and Ogechi McMurray. St Mary’s Waverley has also contributed two players, Amy Smith and Julia Joseph, to the lineup, while Anastasia Hambakis, from Reddam House Bedfordview, cracked the nod, too.
Roedean, the winners of the Saints Invitational, has three players in the squad, namely Francesca de Villiers, Mia Loizides, and Emma Pelicot. Loizides was a key performer for Central Gauteng when they won the 2023 IPT, scoring five of their 12 goals in a narrow 12-10 win over Western Province in the final.
Loizides, Carlson, and De Villiers were members of the winning team at last year’s event, with Loizides and Amy Smith, who played for the Central Gauteng B team, going on to be named in the SA Schools side. In March, the Central Gauteng u18 team captured the Currie Cup honours in East London.
In September, Loizides, Hambakis, Smith, and McMurray represented South Africa at the World Aquatics Women’s u18 Water Polo Championships in Chengdu, China.
Saints’ Courtney Calenborne, who was named to the All-Star Team after the Saints Invitational, will be playing in a Central Gauteng A team for a sixth consecutive year. Reflecting on that achievement, she told SuperSport Schools Plus: “This achievement not only highlights my commitment but my dedication and passion for the sport. Being chosen for such a prestigious tournament is a significant milestone in my water polo journey.”
She added that she is “looking forward to competing against the top provincial water polo players in South Africa” as it will test her skills and performance while improving her self-confidence and personal growth within the sport.
Preparations for the IPT are going well, Calenborne said, and the team is gelling. “I am thoroughly enjoying training and collaborating with my teammates, learning from our coach Kelsey Thompson, who is an outstanding South African water polo player, and it is such an honour,” she added.
“Kelsey has a profound ability to refine our skills, and keep us motivated and fit while building on team chemistry with one another as we work together on our goals.”
Saints’ captain Tori Tanner-Ellis said she was ecstatic to be selected to represent the province. “I felt extremely grateful and accomplished,” she shared. “The u19 A team is a very experienced and talented team and I was extremely happy to be selected to be part of that team.”
Tanner-Ellis is an experienced player at inter-provincial level and will be participating in her fourth IPT. She was a member of the Central Gauteng u16A team, which claimed the national title. As a member of the u15 squad, she won a silver medal, while Central Gauteng finished in third place when she played in the u14 age group.
Emily Carle echoed Tanner-Ellis when she said being selected for the Central Gauteng u19A team was a great honour. “It’s something I’ve worked hard to achieve,” she explained. “Being part of such a talented group is amazing, and I’m excited to represent my province at this level. This opportunity inspires me to keep improving and give my absolute best in and out of the pool.”
She added: “This isn’t my first IPT, but it’s still a privilege to be selected. My previous IPT experiences were unforgettable. I learned so much and grew as a player.”
Turning to the forthcoming event, she concluded: “This year feels special because it’s another chance to represent my province, take on strong competition, and contribute to the team’s success. I’m eager to apply what I’ve learned in the past and make this tournament the best one yet.”
The fourth member of the Saints’ quartet, Isabella Imbriolo, weighed in: “I feel honoured to represent my province and play at the highest level within schools in South Africa. This is my sixth IPT, and I’ve always enjoyed experiencing the different provinces and watching polo, all while building a bond with my team over the years. It’s always a lot of fun and a great learning curve.”
Central Gauteng A kicks off their title defence on 7 December against the hosts, Buffalo City. They face Western Province A in a key clash on 8 December, and then tackle a a double-header, playing KwaZulu-Natal and Nelson Mandela Bay on 9 December.
Central Gauteng Pool Stages Fixtures:
7 Dec: Central Gauteng A vs Buffalo City A
8 Dec: Western Province A vs Central Gauteng A
9 Dec: Central Gauteng vs KwaZulu Natal
9 Dec: Nelson Mandela Bay vs Central Gauteng
Central Gauteng U19A Girls
Courtney Calenborne (St Stithians), Emily Carle (St Stithians), Ruby Carlson (St Dominic’s), Lucy Davis (Kingsmead), Francesca de Villiers (Roedean), Anastasia Hambakis (Reddam Bedfordview), Isabella Imbriolo (St Stithians), Julia Joseph (St Mary’s), Mia Loizides (Roedean), Ogechi McMurray (St Dominic’s), Emma Pelicot (Roedean), Amy Smith (St Mary’s), Tori Tanner-Ellis (St Stithians)
Non–travelling reserves
Eryn Doyle (Beaulieu), Rachel Rostron (St Peter’s), Angela Smith (Parktown Girls), Shannon Spitsbaard (Crawford Lonehill)
Coaches and Manager
Head coach: Kelsey Thomson
Assistant coach: Michaela Boaventura
Assistant coach: Wade Brand
Manager: Nicola MacLeod
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