20
Issue 52 – February 2015 – QUEEN MARGARET CALLING
Eye on the Ball
D
eslea studied at Mt Roskill Grammar School in Auckland,
of which she was Head Girl in her final year. Even back in
her schooling days, sport has always played an important
part of Deslea’s life, whether she was on the courts or on the sidelines.
Deslea comments, “I enjoy all sports and have given most of them
a go.”
This is no exaggeration. Deslea has played internationally for
New Zealand Softball, Basketball New Zealand (BBNZ) and New
Zealand Touch Football. Regionally Deslea has also played for
Auckland Softball, Auckland Basketball, Wellington Netball (Swiss
Maid League), Wellington Softball, Porirua Basketball and Porirua
Touch.
She counts winning the World Championships in Softball and
World Championships in Touch Football as two of her greatest
sporting achievements. She was also named in a World Touch Team.
Sports coaching, in particular Basketball, has also been an
important part of Deslea’s life. She has coached the New Zealand
Tall Blacks (NZ U19 Boys), BBNZ Under 18 Boys, BBNZ Under
16 Girls and has been mentor coach for the BBNZ U17 Boys and
Girls and the FIBA (Basketball International Federation) Oceania
Under 19 Girls. Deslea has also been New Zealand Maori Women’s
Basketball Head Coach, Assistant Coach to the Wellington Saints
and Head Strength and Conditioning Coach of the New Zealand
Breakers.
She says one of the highlights was receiving an international
Olympic Basketball Coaching Scholarship, of which only seven
were given around the world for Basketball in 2014. As part of
the Scholarship, Deslea went to the University of North Carolina
to work with two Hall of Fame coaches to gain an international
coaching certificate.
She also head coached at the prestigious Albert Schweitzer U18
tournament in Germany with the Junior Tall Blacks and was the first
and only female Head Coach in the 50 years the tournament had
run.
With such a vast array of sporting achievements, Deslea believes
There are few sports Deslea Wrathall has not
tried her hand at. The newly named Sports
Director has a wealth of coaching and playing
experience under her belt to share with Queen
Margaret College students in 2015.
strongly in the benefits of sport for young women.
“I believe sport can be used as a great tool to teach young women
about teamwork, leadership, culture, values and life.”
Deslea names the President of the World Association of
Basketball Coaches Patrick Hunt as one of her mentors.
“I have a number of mentors and that is the great thing about
sports, lots of people can help you.”
Deslea has a Masters in Applied Recreation & Leisure Studies
from Victoria University, two Post Graduate Diplomas from Otago
University; one in Sports Medicine (non-clinical) and the other
in Rehabilitation, a Diploma in Sports Studies and a Bachelor of
Education.
She leaves us with her favourite quote from late American
Basketball player and coach John Wooden.
“Discipline yourself so others don’t have to.”
Deslea is already impressed by how many students have
registered to play or coach sports at Queen Margaret College.
“The uptake of sport at Queen Margaret College is very high this
year,” Deslea comments.
“A number of girls are playing multiple sports and student
coaching is very high.”
Deslea has planned a number of initiatives for 2015 to
encourage students to take up and continue playing sport. This year
she is running a Student Coaching Development Programme in
conjunction with Sport Wellington.
The programme is a series of workshops and practical coaching
sessions with coach mentoring.
“We are hoping to develop well rounded coaching by giving them
leadership opportunities and community service opportunities
throughout the programme,” Deslea says.
There is also additional Sports Fitness Training facilitated by
specialist trainers for those budding athletes wanting to improve
their fitness.
Young Athletes In The Making
I
n November last year, 21 students were selected from the
Junior School to participate in a Sports and Physical Abilities
Initiative, as part of the Learning Enhancement Acceleration
Programme (LEAP).
In the Hobson Gym, the budding athletes spent the day doing a
range of activities including running technique drills, core exercises
and nutrition seminars. The highlight of the day was hearing from
our very own Commonwealth Games Medalist Barbara Beable. She
Junior sport at the College is thriving with a number of up and coming young athletes.
spoke about her time competing at several Commonwealth Games
in Pentathlon/Shot put.
High performance athletics coach Ali Dennis then led the
students in a practical session on biomechanics, speed and strength
skills, while CityFitness Personal Trainer Max Whiting talked
about injury prevention, core and conditioning for sports, and the
importance of stretching.
