sport, local-sport, tennis, kaitlin staines, cup, mater dei, primary, wagga, avril grintell
Mater Dei Primary School produced a clean sweep of the Kaitlin Staines Cup at Jim Elphick Tennis Centre on Friday. In just the second year of the event, Mater Dei proved too good for five other Wagga schools to take out both the junior (years three and four) and senior (years five and six) divisions. Staines was on hand to watch the action and loved seeing so many kids enjoying their tennis. “It was an honour to talk to the current students of Wagga about my tennis journey, who are also passionate about tennis,” Staines said. Avril Grintell, founder of the gala day, said it was a brilliant day of tennis. “It was great to see primary school children being able to represent their school in tennis on a local level,” Grintell said. “It’s also a wonderful opportunity to show appreciation for our local sports heroes who are creating a path to success at an international level. “The city of Wagga is very proud of our sports athletes such as Kaitlin who are achieving great things and started their journey locally.” Staines recently arrived back in Australia after a freshman year at the University of Tennessee, where she is on a tennis scholarship. Her university team finished the year with 22 wins and only four losses, while Staines was also selected to play in the NCAA All American tournament, where you had to be one of the top 30 college players for both singles and doubles. READ MORE
ROLE MODEL: Kaitlin Staines with Mater Dei's Kade Lyons, 11 and Sebastian Budde, 12, and Lutheran's James Culley, 10 and Archie Grintell, 11, on Friday. Picture: Les Smith
Mater Dei Primary School produced a clean sweep of the Kaitlin Staines Cup at Jim Elphick Tennis Centre on Friday.
In just the second year of the event, Mater Dei proved too good for five other Wagga schools to take out both the junior (years three and four) and senior (years five and six) divisions.
Staines was on hand to watch the action and loved seeing so many kids enjoying their tennis.
“It was an honour to talk to the current students of Wagga about my tennis journey, who are also passionate about tennis,” Staines said.
Mater Dei Primary conquer Kaitlin Staines Cup | Photos
Turvey Park's Heath Elliott, 12, in action at the Kaitlin Staines Cup at Jim Elphick Tennis Centre on Friday. Picture: Les Smith
Turvey Park's Emily Campbell, 11, in action at the Kaitlin Staines Cup at Jim Elphick Tennis Centre on Friday. Picture: Les Smith
Kaitlin Staines with Mater Dei's Kade Lyons, 11 and Sebastian Budde, 12, and Lutheran's James Culley, 10 and Archie Grintell, 11 at Jim Elphick Tennis Centre on Friday.
Kaitlin Staines with Mater Dei's Kade Lyons, 11 and Sebastian Budde, 12, and Lutheran's James Culley, 10 and Archie Grintell, 11 at Jim Elphick Tennis Centre on Friday.
Kaitlin Staines with Mater Dei's Kade Lyons, 11 and Sebastian Budde, 12, and Lutheran's James Culley, 10 and Archie Grintell, 11 at Jim Elphick Tennis Centre on Friday.
South Wagga's Mimi Russell, 12, in action at the Kaitlin Staines Cup at Jim Elphick Tennis Centre on Friday. Picture: Les Smith
South Wagga's Mimi Russell, 12, in action at the Kaitlin Staines Cup at Jim Elphick Tennis Centre on Friday. Picture: Les Smith
Lutheran's Lincoln Bowcher, 11, in action at the Kaitlin Staines Cup at Jim Elphick Tennis Centre on Friday. Picture: Les Smith
South Wagga's Mimi Russell, 12, in action at the Kaitlin Staines Cup at Jim Elphick Tennis Centre on Friday. Picture: Les Smith
South Wagga's Jude Vennell, 11, in action at the Kaitlin Staines Cup at Jim Elphick Tennis Centre on Friday. Picture: Les Smith
Lutheran's Lincoln Bowcher, 11, in action at the Kaitlin Staines Cup at Jim Elphick Tennis Centre on Friday. Picture: Les Smith
South Wagga's Jude Vennell, 11, in action at the Kaitlin Staines Cup at Jim Elphick Tennis Centre on Friday. Picture: Les Smith
Lutheran's Sydney Wilks, 11, in action at the Kaitlin Staines Cup at Jim Elphick Tennis Centre on Friday. Picture: Les Smith
Turvey Park's Emily Campbell, 11, in action at the Kaitlin Staines Cup at Jim Elphick Tennis Centre on Friday. Picture: Les Smith
A look at all the players from Friday's Kaitlin Staines Cup. Picture: Avril Grintell
Avril Grintell, founder of the gala day, said it was a brilliant day of tennis.
“It was great to see primary school children being able to represent their school in tennis on a local level,” Grintell said.
“It’s also a wonderful opportunity to show appreciation for our local sports heroes who are creating a path to success at an international level.
“The city of Wagga is very proud of our sports athletes such as Kaitlin who are achieving great things and started their journey locally.”
Mater Dei Primary's winning senior team.
Staines recently arrived back in Australia after a freshman year at the University of Tennessee, where she is on a tennis scholarship.
Her university team finished the year with 22 wins and only four losses, while Staines was also selected to play in the NCAA All American tournament, where you had to be one of the top 30 college players for both singles and doubles.
