Gippsland Storm Elite Development Netball Club is well on its way preparing for another successful year at the Waverley Netball Centre.
The autumn season has just began with all 10 Storm squads butting heads with some of the best junior tournament squads Melbourne has to offer.
Late in 2023 Gippsland Storm had three junior squads win their respective grand finals.
Simon O’Shanassy’s team drew first blood with a convincing win in the 17-Under Division One grand final.
This was followed by two premiership wins in the 13-Under competititon.
Division one, coached by Christina Rigoni, and division two, coached by Nicole Van Brakel and Simon Kaye, both capped off terrific seasons with great performances in their respective grand finals.
This is David and Goliath level; Storm winning both divisions in the same age group is an unheard-of performance.
This is made even more remarkable by the fact that many of the opposing 13-Under squads are association tournament squads, picked from hundreds of applicants from Melbourne’s southeast corridor.
Storm also just completed its annual “Storm Camp” this year held at the “Golden Valleys” Adventure camp on the Mornington Peninsula.
Head coach Simon O’Shanassy and all 10 coaches agree that that this annual camp is invaluable for bonding; and coaches building a rapport with their players.
Players were put through their paces in activities such as hiking, obstacle courses, wall climbing and high ropes.
The highlight of every three-day camp is the “Talent” competition on Saturday night, with all squads rehearsing their routines, which usually consists of dancing, singing or both.
A fun time was had by all, with the 15-Under Division One squad winning the judges vote.
Storm is now looking forward to another successful 2024 autumn and spring season.
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