Students score Lightning session

Students at Mueller College, Rothwell, sharpened their skills for Friday’s Unitywater Lightning Cup by training with a netball star.

Sunshine Coast Lightning captain Steph Fretwell put Mueller’s year five and six players through their paces at a special session today.

As the first school in Moreton Bay to register for the tournament, Mueller won a session with the former Australian Diamonds player.

For Fretwell, it was a return to the region where her sporting career started as a 12-year-old with Pine Rivers Netball Association.

“It’s always exciting to help young netballers develop key skills so they can get out there and give it their best shot and especially rewarding to be able to give back in the Moreton Bay area where it all began for me,” she said.

Fretwell went through some “core skills including how to contest first ball in defence, then putting those skills together with a team drill”.

Joining Mueller College on Friday will be Southern Cross Catholic College, St Peters Catholic Primary School, Christ the King, Banksia Beach State School, Deception Bay North State School and last year's runner-up St Eugene.

Unitywater Executive Manager Strategic Engagement, Joshua Zugajev, said this years’ event would see 76 school netball teams in action.

They will compete for the Lightning Cup (Championship), Storm Cup (Boys) and Thunder Cup (Development – for those new to the sport or refining their skills).

“The Unitywater Lightning Cup encourages health, fun and participation and it is wonderful to see another fully subscribed event this year,” Mr Zugajev said.

“It is particularly pleasing to welcome back seven schools from Moreton Bay to join in to the day’s activities,” he said.

Unitywater will be in the tournament’s ‘Strike Zone’ promoting reusable water bottles – and reduce single-use plastic - for free refills at their Water on Tap van.