Summer Knowles in action. Photo courtesy of Click InFocus.
RYAN Knowles reports it’s been a blockbuster start to the year for Nepean Hockey, with a wave of local talent representing New South Wales across national and international arenas, in both indoor and outdoor formats.
Indoor Nationals – Canberra January 2025
The Hockey Australia Indoor Nationals held in Canberra this January saw an impressive Nepean contingent donning the blue and state colours, with standout performances from both players and coaches.
Player Highlights: Sienna Knowles represented NSW Blues in the U14s division, finishing a commendable 5th overall; Summer Knowles, captaining the U16s State team, led her side to gold in a thrilling shootout victory against Victoria. Summer successfully converted one of the critical shootouts in the final; Coady Stone competed in both the U21s and Men’s Blues teams, earning a bronze medal with the U21s squad; Ethan Sorenson showcased his skill in the Men’s Blues division; Erin Burns and Caitie Burns were both instrumental in their gold medal-winning Women’s State team performance.
Coaching Contributions: Ryan Knowles guided the U21 Men’s State team to a bronze medal finish; Melinda Brewin took the reins of the U21 Women’s State team, finishing just shy of a medal in 4th place; Kieran Knowles coached the U16 Boys State team to back-to-back gold medals, a testament to his consistent leadership; Josh Chapple, assistant coach of the U16 Boys, also shared in the team’s golden success.
Indoor World Cup – Croatia February 2025
The international spotlight turned to Croatia in February, where Erin Burns and Caitie Burns both proudly represented Australia at the Indoor Hockey World Cup. The team fought valiantly, finishing 10th overall and gaining invaluable experience on the world stage.
Outdoor Season & National Championships – April 2025
As the outdoor season kicked off, Nepean’s presence remained strong. Summer Knowles traveled to Adelaide to compete in the Hockey Australia National Championships, once again representing NSW with distinction.
Summer, part of the team’s leadership group, was voted ‘Player of the Tournament’ by her teammates and coaches — a remarkable honour that underlines her growing influence and talent. NSW narrowly missed out on bronze, finishing 4th after a close defeat to Victoria.
Capping off her achievements, Summer was one of just four NSW players selected for the U16s National Squad, a key stepping stone in the pathway to the Brisbane 2032 Olympics. Summer extends heartfelt thanks to her major sponsors, Unwind Penrith, Ray White Real Estate Ingleburn and JDH Hockey for their continued support in her journey.
With such outstanding performances across all levels, Nepean Hockey is firmly cementing itself as a powerhouse of talent and dedication in the Australian hockey landscape.
Join the action at Nepean Hockey — where champions are made! With games for U8s and U11s on Thursday nights, U14s on Friday nights, women on Saturdays, and men on Sundays, there’s a team and a time slot for everyone in the family.
