Southern Institute Of Technology to partner Steel in 2015

November 26, 2014

SIT to partner Steel in 2015

With a focus on providing opportunities for students to learn in an elite international sporting environment, the Southern Institute of Technology has joined forces with the Ascot Park Hotel Southern Steel.

SIT Chief Executive Penny Simmonds said the Steel was a good addition to the stable of sporting and community organisations its supports, including the Zero Fees Southland Sharks and the Southland Stags.

“SIT is pleased to be sponsoring the Southern Steel Netball Team for 2015 and we wish the team and management well for next season.”

Netball South Chief Executive Sue Clarke – herself an SIT graduate – said the tertiary institute was a natural fit for the franchise.

“The environment we operate in provides an incredible array of opportunities for SIT students across such a vast range of subjects. Whether their chosen field of study is sport and recreation, digital film, journalism, massage therapy or even music, they can be involved with aspects of our team and wider franchise,” she said.

“Initiatives like their John Wright Scholarships reflect the value SIT places on an association with sport to connect with a wider market. We are looking forward to using our unique product of professional netballers to showcase both the SIT and Southland to a national and international audience.”

Netball South would also reap the rewards at the community level of the game.

“The sporting world is a very competitive space to operate in so its important netball continues to evolve. To ensure that happens, we need to look at innovative ways to engage our fans and an association with a tertiary organisation such as SIT provides a fantastic opportunity to grow, particularly in the area of social netball.”

The Steel team arrives in Invercargill on Monday, December 1, set to embark on an intensive pre-season campaign in preparation for the 2015 ANZ Championship.

The team comprises Silver Ferns Shannon Francois and Phoenix Karaka, New Zealand accelerant squad members Te Paea Selby-Rickit and Storm Purvis, Jamaican international Jhaniele Fowler, former Silver Ferns Wendy Frew and Katarina Cooper, together with Gina Crampton, Stacey Peeters, Brooke Leaver, Sophia Fenwick and Jane Watson.

Steel home games in 2015 are:

ENDS

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