St Sthithians win again
ST STITHIANS Girls’ College, under the coaching and mentoring of director of sport Natasha Panzera, have won the Prestige Gala combined aquatic shield for diving and swimming for the third year in a row and the fourth time in five years.
Of the 30 gala events, Ststithians Girls’ College won 16, and were placed second in eight of the others. They also broke two records: the 4x50m junior backstroke relay set by St Stithians the previous year as well as the 4x50m U15 medley relay that had been set by St Andrew’s School for Girls 10 years ago. Panzera has a legacy of gold medals and success stories since she started at the college in 2015.
Her own sporting excellence is remarkable. She captained Transvaal swimming for 17 years at various levels from the junior to the provincial senior team. She has participated at the World Championships. For open water, she holds six Midmar Mile wins and was a record holder. She broke several 1 500m and 1 200m records for events for open water for five years in a row, but notably, she was South Africa’s 25km open water champion and record holder,representing the country in the 1994 World Championships in Italy.
She has her fresh water provincial colours for lifesaving and was the South African record holder in 1986.
She was part of the provincial modern biathlon team for four years and received her Junior Springbok colours in 1990. She holds a number of record triathlon wins, most notable being the Women’s Team National Final winner in 1989 and 1992.
Natasha is has also won many road running relay events and has completed the Two Oceans Marathon.
In 1996 she coached the first South African school team to swim the English Channel. SWIMMING
2015: Winners of St Peter’s Night Gala (co-ed gala where we swam with BC) Winners of Swimming Inter-high and overall Aquatics Trophy
2016: 3rd in Inter-high Swimming, winners of St Peter’s Night Gala (co-ed gala where we swam with BC)
2017: Winners of Swimming Inter-high and overall Aquatics Trophy, 3rd in National Aquatics Swimming
2018: Winners of Swimming Inter-high and overall Aquatics Trophy, winners of National Aquatics Swimming
2019: Winners of Swimming Inter-high and overall Aquatics Trophy, winners of National Aquatics Swimming
DIVING
2017: Winners of Inter-high Diving, Winners of St Mary’s Summer Splash, 2nd in National Aquatics Diving
2018: 2nd in Inter-high Diving, Winners of St Mary’s Summer Splash, Winners of National Aquatics Diving
2019: Winners of Inter-high Diving, winners of St Mary’s Summer Splash, winners of National Aquatics Diving
WATER POLO
2016: Winners of the Old Mutual Roedean Prestige Cup, silver medallists at Old Petrians National Tournament, second place at National Aquatics, winners of St Stithians Invitational Tournament, winners of Clarendon National Tournament
2017: Winners of the Old Mutual Roedean Prestige Cup, winners of National Aquatics Water Polo Tournament, winners of St Mary’s Summer Splash Tournament, winners of Reef Cup Tournament, winners of Reddam National Tournament
2018: Winners of National Aquatics Water Polo Tournament, winners of the Old
Mutual Roedean Prestige Cup, winners of St Mary’s Summer Splash Tournament, winners of Reef Cup Tournament, silver medallists at Old Petrians National Tournament, winners of Clarendon National Tournament
2019: Winners of National Aquatics Water Polo Tournament, winners of the Old
Mutual Roedean Prestige Cup, winners of Reef Cup Tournament, winners of Old Petrians National Tournament
NETBALL
2015: Winners of Roedean U14 Netball Tournament, winners of the Waterstone U16 Netball Tournament, U14A and U16A won gold at sistrict playoffs
2016: Winners of Roedean U14 netball Tournament, winners of the Waterstone
U16 Netball Tournament, U14A won gold at district playoffs
2017: U14A and U15A won gold at district playoffs, U14A won the league
2018: U15A won gold soccer
2016: Winners of the Sacred Heart Football Tournament SQUASH
2016: Winners of the Gauteng Top Schools Tournament (first time in GC history)
TENNIS
2016: Tie 1st place in Interhigh A
HOCKEY
2016: Qualified for Super 12 national tournament
2017: Qualified for Super 12 national tournament
2018: Qualified for Super 12 national tournament
2019: Qualified for Super 12 national tournament
ROWING
2015: Bronze medallists in the 1st quad at SA Rowing Champs
2016: Bronze medallists in the 1st quad at SA Rowing Champs
2018: 3rd place in overall points at SA Rowing Championships, Bronze medallists at Boat Race
2019: 3rd place in overall points at SA Rowing Championships, bronze medallists at Boat Race