Ariana Dawson had a netball season to remember this year.

The talented 15-year-old defender helped the Whakatāne High School senior A team to victory in the Whakatāne Netball Centre premier grade final.

The team also took out the Upper North Island Secondary School B-Grade earning them a spot in the A grade for 2026.

Ariana was a big player in both victories.

She’s not only had a good year on court but is the only Eastern Bay netballer selected for a national development camp in January.

“This year was one of my favourite netball seasons, yet. I enjoyed being around the people and also knowing that we had a high-intensity team.

“The skill level we had definitely showed throughout the season, awarding us with beating Trident for the first time in a long time and to also win B grade at UNISS. We felt it was a bit unexpected for us but so grateful for the outcome,” she said.

Ariana admits there will be a few nerves when she attends the camp.

“I am very excited but also very nervous knowing that I haven’t been to something so big before. But I look at it as a learning experience, knowing I have another year to try to get to this point again.”

Strong form at UNISS saw Ariana as a player with plenty of potential and she is considered one of the top 30 players in the region.  

“From UNISS, the Waikato Bay of Plenty people selected were around, I think, 60 to attend a day camp in Whakatāne and Hamilton. So, 30 at each.

“From that they then selected 21 players and five reserves to attend the advanced camp in Tokoroa. Fifteen girls were nominated to Netball New Zealand for a chance to go to NDC (National Development Camp) and all 15 girls have been picked.”

At the camp, Ariana will battle it out alongside 29 other WaiBop players and 30 Aucklanders.

Also a talent on the athletics track, Ariana loves netball, she is excited at the opportunity.

“From this camp, I hope to get a lot of feedback, good and bad, so I know what I can work on and be better at for the future. With all my training that I will do leading up to the camp, I hope I can stay motivated to carry on with all of it, even if I don’t get into the next stage.”

As for what’s next, it’s going to be a case of one goal at a time.

“Going forward, I think I’m just going to take it one step at a time and with that comes a new goal. One of my main goals is to represent my country, knowing all the hard work I have put in beforehand.”

It’s difficult for her to name one highlight from the year.

“I have multiple highlights – beating Trident for the first time in a long time and winning B grade at UNISS.

“One of the best ones was when I found out about getting picked to be a NDC trialist. So many emotions were going through my head, I just didn’t know how to react but that was for sure my main highlight.”

Outside netball season, Ariana enjoys volleyball and running.

“I’m not just a netball player; I also play volleyball. When I found out (about the camp) I was up in Auckland helping coach the Whakatāne High School Junior A volleyball team.

“I knew it was coming sometime that week and I would constantly be checking my phone every minute of the day.”