Seaside star looking to make her mark

Kingston netballer keen to take advantage of Thunderbirds Academy opportunity

There is no denying Piper Stenner’s dedication to her sporting career. She trains diligently and also knows the value of recovery, often braving the icy cold Kingston ocean to ensure she is always in the best condition to train and play hard.

Piper is one of three Limestone Coast based netballers to have earned a spot in the 2023 Thunderbirds Academy – an Emerging Athlete program that sees the teenager working with elite coaches as one of the best 20 junior netballers in the State.

Piper was always destined to play netball with her parents and siblings paving the way through football and netball at Kingston – she first hit the court as a seven

The 14-year-old clearly impressed at the gruelling Thunderbirds Academy trial which was a six hour session held in Keith.

“A range of drills, exercises and skills were presented for us to follow and after that it was court play, with rotations in different positions, different teams and against different opponents,” Piper said.

Earning her place in the elite pathway program will only build on what Piper has already achieved, including her A Grade debut already this season for her Saints.

Piper is already on the radar of netball officials, having represented South Australia at last year’s national championships as part of the Under 15 State Schoolgirls team, and she has a resume already littered with individual awards, representative honours and club and school team success.

The Kingston Community School student has a clear passion for the sport, which no doubt, helps fuel

“I enjoy netball as it is a challenge, and builds my fitness and strength,” Piper said. “I enjoy team sports and leadership. Playing has helped to build my confidence and playing in a variety of teams and at different levels has resulted in me making many new friendships.”

Netball also keeps her busy, playing Division 1 (17 & under); A reserve and A Grade for Kingston in the 2023 Kowree Naracoorte Tatiara Netball Association season.

Circle defence is where she most loves playing but she is also honing her skills in mid court roles, mainly wing defence and centre.

“I train twice a week with Kingston seniors and once a week with the juniors and I have been involved in the 5km park runs and do my own running throughout the week,” Piper said.

And that’s before you factor in trainings for representative teams and the Thunderbirds Academy sessions – it is little wonder she has very quickly realised the need for recovery.

“I will often do my own recovery sessions - which involves the freezing cold Kingston ocean,” she said.

Piper has already shown good leadership qualities – she is a vocal team mate on court – and leads by example with her unrivalled determination, ability to read the play and her strong defensive mindset.

The Thunderbirds Academy opportunity, alongside the State’s best players, learning from the State’s best coaches, has Piper already identifying areas she hopes she will improve.

“I definitely want to work on my agility, speed and match day strategies,” she said.

Of course, none of this happens without support and Piper has had her share.

“My parents as they are my biggest supporters and have helped encourage and push me to achieve my goals,” she said. “The head coaches I had through the Thunderbirds Academy last year as well as Mark, my State coach.”

KNT Netball

ROUND TWO

A GRADE

Lucindale 58 (J Bittner, H Smart) d Kybybolite 52 (C Bull, E Ewer)

Border Districts 52 (E Hausler, P Moyle-Read) d Kingston 37 (B Clarke, K Ward)

Penola 49 (T Lythgo, K Egan) d Naracoorte 41 (G Gill, L Henschke)

Mundulla 36 (C Bernhardt, L Dawes) d Bordertown 33 (A Fuentes, A Langley)

A RESERVE

Kybybolite 43 (M Hole, T Lidums) d Lucindale 39 (M Gear, M Walker)

Keith 54 (P Pado, M Weaton) d Padthaway 31 (A Hoyle, A Haydon)

Kingston 50 (F Traeger, T Pink) d Border Districts 31 (T Solly, K Rata)

Penola 63 (K Wilson, S Skeer) d Naracoorte 50 (G Collins, C duRand)

Bordertown 50 (S Jarrett, M Jarrett) d Mundulla 47 (A Croser, A Eastwood)

B GRADE

Lucindale 43 (V Clarke, M Thompson) d Kybybolite 25 (J Vine, S Owen)

Keith 67 (T Donaldosn, S Pese) d Padthaway 20 (C Wade, J Fretwell)

Border Districts 47 (M Kester, L Pitt) d Kingston 33 (B Lucas, T Braithwaite)

Penola 88 (T Galpin, J Lythgo) d Naracoorte 25 (M Hoare, M Clark)

Mundulla 45 (T Hiller, A Grosser) d Bordertown 36 (S Shillabeer, S Orrock) C GRADE

Lucindale 30 (A Buckett, T Ryan) d Kybybolite 20

Padthaway 32 (A Mangelsen, M Maynard) d Keith 24 (M Wilsodn, J Turnbull)

Border Districts 42 (E Landers, J Pretlove) d Kingston 37 (N Pink, S Daniel)

Penola 63 (A Auld, L Catlin) d Naracoorte 21 (H Sambell, K Meyers)

Bordertown 39 (A Deans, T Nixon) d Mundulla 37 (C Moore, T Schmidt)

PIPER STENNER FILES

2023

Adelaide Thunderbirds Talent Academy (Emerging Athletes Squad)

A Grade debut for Kingston

2022

Thunderbirds Talent Academy

A Reserve debut for Kingston, including playing

South Australian 15 & Under State Schoolgirls team that competed at the national championships in Canberra

Represented KNTNA at the SA Country Championships (15 & Under)

Part of the team that finished third in the South Australian Schools Knockout competition

KNTNA Division 1 premiers

Division 1 Club Best & Fairest

2021

Represented KNTNA, and was selected as captain, at the SA Country Championships (13 & Under) and made grand final

Played in the Upper South east SAPSASA team that went through championships undefeated and won overall South east Regional Academy development squad

Played both 13 & under and 15 & Under for Kingston

Won KNTNA premierships in both grades and named best on court in thew 15 & under grand final

Finished third in the 13 & Under KNTNA best & fairest count, as well as sixth in the 15 & Under

Won club best & fairest for both 13 & Under and 15 & under grades

Played 100th game for Kingston

DIVISION ONE

Keith 62 (M Evans, E Makin) d Padthaway 39 (L Mathews, M Rothe)

Kingston 51 (A Mules, T Pink) d Border Districts 40 (A Mahney, G Oster)

Penola 40 (T Lythgo, T Porter) drew Naracoorte 40 (E Modra-Ryan, M Hoare)

Bordertown 46 (S Barras, G Lusher) d Mundulla 43 (A Mock, M Davis)

DIVISION TWO

Kybybolite 44 (E Barker, A McKenzie) d Lucindale 22 (J Pike, M Theron)

Keith 47 (L Clark, T Evans) d Padthaway 24 (E Ward, J Frick)

Border Districts 77 (G Oster, K Miller) d Kingston 11 (L Terrington, G Miller)

Naracoorte 38 (A Anderson, M McCarthy) d Penola 20 (M Gartner, N Lear)

Bordertown 52 (T Ballinger, A Blackwell) d Mundulla 21 (L Morris, K Moreton)

DIVISION THREE

Kybybolite 57 (P Rasheed, A Castine) d Lucindale 14 (L Wilkin, E Schubert)

Naracoorte 31 (K Thomson, S Keller) d Penola 5 (L Lambert, C Neale)

13 & UNDER A

Kybybolite 29 (M Brewin, S Morros) d Lucindale 9 (R Williams, M Kerr)

Keith 29 (O Smart, P Makin) d Padthaway 9

Border Districts 38 (P Harvie, M Mueller) d Kingston 26

Naracoorte 37 (A Bald, K Thomson) d Penola 34 (W Zadow, E Gosse)

Bordertown 30 (T Phillips, C Dahlitz) d Mundulla 10 (O Excell, L Bennett)

13 & UNDER B

Naracoorte 19 (L Foale, I Willson) d Penola 11 (E Copping, Z Zadow)

Bordertown 16 d Mundulla 14