Sunshine Coast Lightning has identified four outstanding Queensland-based athletes to be awarded contracts as Training Partners for the 2023 Suncorp Super Netball season.
Bridey Condren and Ava Black will return to the Club for their second year, after both being awarded their first training partner contracts for the 2022 season.
Bridey debuted for Lightning in Round 10 against the NSW Swifts in the 2022 regular season becoming the #27 Lightning player. Whilst Ava vice-captained the 2022 QLD 19/U squad with her strong performance resulting in her selection in the 2022 Australian 19/U squad.
Lightning will welcome two new faces in Martina Reekers and Leilani Rohweder who have also been provided the opportunity to improve their skills and train in Lightning’s high-performance environment.
Leilani has risen though the netball ranks in NSW being a NSW Swifts Academy and Training Partner in 2020 and 2021, before moving to the Sunshine Coast.
In 2022, Leilani was a member of the Sunshine Coast Lightning ANC and USC Thunder Sapphire Series teams, where she was awarded the Katie Walker Series MVP Medal.
Martina, a talented Queensland pathways player, was recruited in 2021 to New Zealand by Magic Netball team as a Training Partner, making her debut for Magic in the ANZ Premiership competition in 2022.
Returning to Australia later in 2022, Martina played for USC Thunder in the Queensland Sapphire Series and represented Lightning at the recent Australian Netball Championships.
Along with fellow Lightning player Annie Miller, Martina was selected in the 2022 Australian 21/U squad.
Head Coach Belinda Reynolds said she is pleased to have locked in the 2023 training partners and is impressed by the induvial skills they will contribute to the team.
“I am pleased we have now locked in our four nominated training partners for the 2023 season,” she said.
“Ava, Bridey, Martina and Leilani give us great balance in our training environment and coverage if required. I was able to observe these four athletes at the recent Australian National Championships and all bring a variety of skillsets and strengths to our program.”
