Stellar Sports Staff at Saints

May 04, 2016 | Girls’ College | Author: Stellar Sports Staff at Saints

We would like to introduce you to our sports staff at Saints...

SPORTS DIRECTOR - NATASHA PANZERA

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Natasha Panzera

Natasha has been involved in a variety of sport on different levels but her main focus has always been swimming. Competing on a provincial level from the age of nine, she has captained and managed provincial nationals’ teams and provincial schools’ teams, holding many provincial swimming records over the years.

Natasha also holds numerous open water records and is a seven times winner of the Midmar Mile. She was selected to represent South Africa at the 1994 World Championships for the 25km open water swim. Natasha also coached the first South African school team to successfully cross the English Channel in 1996. As an SSA accredited coach, she has coached at many schools and ran her own swimming school from 1992-2009.

Natasha has also participated in many other sporting disciplines receiving provincial colours in Life Saving (SA record holder), Biathlon (Junior Springbok colours), Triathlon (winner of many SA Team competitions), as well as playing 1st Team and district level tennis, hockey, netball and athletics while still at school. As a side-line, Natasha enjoys road running having completed many marathons and half marathons as well as the Two Oceans Marathon.

Natasha believes in producing well-rounded, balanced individuals who will be motivated and able to compete beyond their school years, thereby promoting and contributing to sport in South Africa.

MIC - WATER POLO - PIERRE LE ROUX

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Pierre le Roux

Pierre started playing Water Polo at the age of 12 at St John’s College, where he finished his schooling. While at school he was selected for the South African Men’s Water Polo Team at age 16 and represented his country for the first time in 2003 at age 17, making him the youngest Springbok Water Polo Player ever. He has been a member of the National team ever since. His career of over 13 years playing, 7 years as captain and over 100 caps for his country, is another South African record.

Pierre has also coached Water Polo since he left school. From 2004 until 2009 he coached at St John’s College, winning numerous National titles across multiple age groups. He also played an integral part in the start-up of Water Polo at both Roedean School (SA) and St Mary’s (Waverley). Pierre then moved across to St Dunstan’s College, where he won the Co-Eds National Tournament with the Boy’s 1st Team in his first year there as the Master in Charge of Water Polo. While at St Dunstan’s College, Pierre was offered a professional contract to play Water Polo in France for NCA Angrien. He took the contract and moved to France for one season to go play in St Jean d’Angely. Pierre has also worked and coached Water Polo down in Cape Town at Reddam House, Constantia where he won one National title and one Western Province Championship. Whilst doing his part in the pool as a Water Polo player and a school coach, Pierre has also coached several Provincial teams for Gauteng and is a qualified FINA Referee. He has won 3 silver medals to date for Gauteng as a provincial coach.

Currently Pierre is the Master in Charge of Water Polo at St Stithians Girls’ College, has been selected as the South African U16A Girls’ Coach and continues to play for both his Province and his Country. 

 

MIC - ROWING - JAMES BUCHANAN

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James Buchanan

As a rowing coach with more than 6 years of experience, James has just finished off his second season as Head Rowing Coach at St Stithians Girls’ College on a high note, winning almost double the amount of medals at the 2016 SA Schools Rowing Championships than what was won at the same event last year.

James has both rowed and coached for the South African National Rowing squad. He rowed in the St Albans 1st quad in 2009 and 2010, winning the junior men’s 1st quad title for both years. In 2010 he was selected for the Junior National Rowing Squad which competed at the Junior World Rowing Championships in the Czech Republic in the junior men’s pair. He started his coaching career at the end of that year, starting at the bottom teaching the U14 boys how to row. In 2012 James made the U23 National Rowing Squad where he competed at the U23 World Rowing Championships in Lithuania in the lightweight men’s double.

In 2013 James was selected to coach the U17 SASRU Development Men’s Quad which toured Belgium where they placed 2nd at the Belgian Rowing Championships. In 2014 he coached the U16 Men’s Quad in the same event where they also won silver out of 36 crews. Based on these results, James was asked to coach the Junior Men’s Quad in the 2014 World Championships in Hamburg, Germany.

It was also in 2014 when James started coaching at St Stithians Girls’ College where he had incredibly big shoes to fill in the wake of former Head Coach, Jamie Croly. Learning to work with girls was a new experience which James excelled at. The highlight of his first season was winning the bronze in the Junior Women’s 1st Quad event at the 2015 South African Schools Championships. Later that year, James was asked to head up the men’s sculling section in the Junior National Rowing Squad. The 2016 season continued to be very successful at Girls’ College with the highlight being a bronze medal in both the Junior Women’s 1st Single Scull and in the 1st Quad at the 2016 South African Rowing Championships.

 

ASSISTANT SPORTS DIRECTOR - NICKY WHITE

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Nicky White

Nicky White grew up in the Eastern Cape and went to school in Queenstown for her whole school career.  She was very involved in sport from an early age. Nicky represented her province, Border, for Netball and Athletics in primary school.  At high school, Nicky played in the First team Netball, Second team Hockey and First team Athletics.  She was selected to play Netball for her province, Border, during her high school career.

Nicky’s main sport was athletics. Here she excelled and held numerous provincial  records for many years. Her main event was the hurdles and 200m sprint. She was selected to join the provincial team taking part in the SA Championships in her Gr 11 and Matric year. Nicky was awarded colours and honours for four consecutive years for Athletics.

Nicky applied to the University of Port Elizabeth (now Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University) to study Human Movement Science and Education. While she was still in Matric she competed in the athletics team for the University.

While studying in Port Elizabeth Nicky played U21 Netball for her province, Eastern Province, for two years. She then played senior netball for her province for another two years and was selected to attend Nationals Trials. Here she made the development team and played against the touring New Zealand team. Nicky was awarded University colours for Netball.

Nicky is married to Brad White, a CSA Umpire and ex-professional cricket player. They have two beautiful girls who are also very talented on the sports field.