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Barbara Woods
President
BORN: Saginaw, Michigan, USA
HEIGHT: 5'5"
POSITIONS: WD and GK
NETBALL CAREER: Started in March 2007 when a Brit I was working with, introduced me to the wonderfully energetic sport of NETBALL!! After I figured out that it wasn't basketball or volleyball, I gave it a try and love it! Now I just have to remember that netballers don't dribble!
WHY NETBALL IS IMPORTANT TO YOU: I started playing because it got me back into fitness, and stay because the women are all brilliantly amazing! And of course because... NETBALL ROCKS!
WORST JOB EVER HAD: Working Christmas season at a department store.
BEST JOB EVER HAD: My current job as a Bioassay Lab Manager at UCSD. I love my research and getting paid to live in Southern California. Who could ask for anything more!
Samantha Brooks
Vice President
Social Queen (with help from Rachel Wilkie)
BORN: Brisbane, Australia
HEIGHT: 165cm
POSITIONS: WA, WD, GA, GS, C (if I have to!)
NETBALL CAREER: I started playing netball when I was 7, barefoot on grass courts in Australia! I played in the local competition all through Primary/elementary School and then played for my high school team. After high school I joined the Brisbane Indoor Sports Netball Association where I played for Mixed Div 1 and Ladies Div 1 teams. Indoor netball is crazy….but I couldn’t get enough and played 2 nights a week with my regular teams and would turn up on any given night to see if I could fill in for other teams!
INTERESTING FACTS: I have a Yugoslavian grandma, an Italian grandma, an Irish grandpa, a Spanish grandma, my parents were born in Chile, I was born in Australia and I live in America with my American husband….don’t ask me where I’m from because I don’t know anymore!
WHY NETBALL IS IMPORTANT TO YOU: Netball is so exhilarating! The thrill of a play that comes together on the court with your teammates is such a satisfying feeling. So much fun.
WORST JOB EVER HAD!: Data input for the traffic department at a TV station. SO BORING!
BEST JOB EVER HAD!: This is a tough one. It’s between the one I have now (small, family owned advertising agency in Solana Beach) or my last job (large advertising agency in Brisbane).
Tanya Jewell
Secretary
BORN: Sydney, Australia
HEIGHT: 6 ft
POSITIONS: GA/GS and GD/GK
NETBALL CAREER: I played competitive club netball from primary school through university in Australia. After moving to the US, I had a 10-year break before joining San Diego United Netball Club in April 2006.
INTERESTING FACTS: I attended 12 different schools growing up.
WHY NETBALL IS IMPORTANT TO YOU: Fun social sport that helps me stay fit.
Heather Schafer
Treasurer
BORN: Los Angeles, CA, USA
HEIGHT: 5'9"
POSITIONS: TBD - I'm having a great time playing them all!
NETBALL CAREER: Started playing Spring 2007 with SD United.
INTERESTING FACTS: I like to swim in the ocean.
WHY NETBALL IS IMPORTANT TO YOU: It’s a fun game with a lot of action
and teamwork. I’ve met a lot of people and I’ve learned several new words/phrases!
WORST JOB EVER HAD!: Taking inventory at 2 past jobs-ugh. The jobs weren’t bad-just the inventory
BEST JOB EVER HAD!: I still love my old profession as a paralegal. I also taught handicapped children to ride horses-very rewarding.
Kate Davies
Marketing Coordinator
BORN: 1978 in Walsall, England
HEIGHT: 5'5"
POSITIONS: WA, C
NETBALL CAREER: Started playing when I was really young at school (as you do), and then it fell by the wayside when I went in Uni in favor of various other activities. Was delighted to find SD Netball Club!
INTERESTING FACTS: I am the President of a dog rescue, and have 5 of my own.
WHY NETBALL IS IMPORTANT TO YOU: It’s a great way to keep fit and meet some excellent people.
WORST JOB EVER HAD!: Taking phone orders for vegetables in a warehouse on the nightshift.
BEST JOB EVER HAD!: Haven’t got there yet!
Kate Edwards
Fitness Coach (with help from Lisa Chou)
Netball Coach
BORN: Bournemouth, UK
HEIGHT: 5'11"
POSITIONS: Anything bar Centre
NETBALL CAREER: Been playing netball for nearly 20 years. Played all the way through from school upwards in Bournemouth, Cardiff, Birmingham and now California. Ruptured my ACL in 2008, my first major injury, ironically suffered in my ‘retirement’!
INTERESTING FACTS: Zara Phillips (UK royal) used to say Hi to me on the eventing (equestrian) circuit.
WHY NETBALL IS IMPORTANT TO YOU: Netball girls have always been my best mates and kept me sane, keeping me on court even when I didn’t want to play ever again.
WORST JOB EVER HAD!: Handing out sick buckets at the finish line of the London triathlon.
BEST JOB EVER HAD!: Being paid to live in San Diego isn’t too shabby.
Celia Jenkinson
Equipment Coordinator
BORN: 24th January 1968
HEIGHT: 5' 9"
POSITIONS: WA, GA
NETBALL CAREER: School, University, Club
WHY NETBALL IS IMPORTANT TO YOU: Fitness, fun and socializing
WORST JOB EVER HAD!: Once worked on a prawn-trawler in Australia for 6 weeks
BEST JOB EVER HAD!: Working in a bar during America's Cup
Gillian Simcox
Web Guru (with help from Lei Lani Fera)
BORN: Cubria, England
HEIGHT: 5'7"
POSITIONS: GS & GA
NETBALL CAREER: I played years ago in school and am just getting back into netball after 18 years.
INTERESTING FACTS: I do tai chi several times a week to help with flexibility. I am vegetarian.
WHY NETBALL IS IMPORTANT TO YOU: Good exercise (tai chi isn’t exactly very cardiovascular)
WORST JOB EVER HAD!: Waiting tables
BEST JOB EVER HAD!: Current one. I teach at a charter school and also serve as a mentor teacher for new teachers.
Alison James
Committee Member
BORN: Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK
HEIGHT: 5' 8.5"
POSITIONS: All of them
NETBALL CAREER: Played at school from age of 7, then for University of Bradford. Claim to fame - I got onto the Eastern Universities Squad one year. After University, I moved around a lot and played in local leagues. Moved to the USA in '97, no netball 'til San Diego United started up in 2003 or was in 2002? Got my umpiring qualification in 2005.
INTERESTING FACTS: I was once a back-up singer in a blues band.
WHY NETBALL IS IMPORTANT TO YOU: I love the teamwork and the opportunity to meet new people.
Sharon Semple
Committee Member
BORN: Singapore
HEIGHT: 5' 9"
POSITIONS: Defense
NETBALL CAREER: I started playing at senior school (aged 11) as GA. Moved to Hong Kong between the ages of 12 and 14 and moved to WA. Continued to get taller once back in the UK, so moved to defense and have been there since. Played in the Gosport and Fareham League and North Hants league for Fleet Netball Club, before moving to Sweden and having a 4-year playing gap until I joined San Diego United in 2003.
INTERESTING FACTS: Nothing very interesting about me - I'm perfectly average!
WHY NETBALL IS IMPORTANT TO YOU: I love the camaraderie in the San Diego team and the fact that we all support each other. The game is absolutely conducive to that.
WORST JOB EVER HAD!: Never had a job I hated.
BEST JOB EVER HAD!: My current job - I only work 3 hours a day!
Catherine Arthur
BORN: Suffolk, England
HEIGHT: 5' 1"
POSITIONS: C, WA, WD
NETBALL CAREER: Started playing at Primary school as a GD (was the tallest then believe it or not!!). Played all through middle and high school. Played in local leagues in Suffolk. Moved to Brighton and played in local leagues there too. Before moving to US in 2004, I was playing 4 times a week.
INTERESTING FACTS: I won Victrix Ludorum at school for Sport.
WHY NETBALL IS IMPORTANT TO YOU: It's a great way of meeting people who also love the game.
WORST JOB EVER HAD!: I once picked carrots for a living!!
BEST JOB EVER HAD!: Well, I'd have to say my current one, or my sister (Justine) will kill me! Also worked for a conservation trust once which was a great job too - met David Bellamy.
Anthea Griffin alias Ants
BORN: In the decade of flares in "Blighty" to my parents
HEIGHT: 5' 10"
POSITIONS: Defending mainly - GK, GD, WD, although like C for a good run around every now and again!
NETBALL CAREER: Started when I was 8 with bunches and braces! Continued throughout school until I was 18. Went to University and played for my University until I stopped as my "social endeavors" got in the way! Picked it up again some 3 years ago after finding the team in San Diego...and no looking back, whey-hey!
INTERESTING FACTS: Am not Greek even though my name is. Am British born and bred but have lived in the US on and off for the past 18 years...oh, and have a publication in the British Journal of Nutrition.
WHY NETBALL IS IMPORTANT TO YOU: The perfect excuse to run around and enjoy a challenging game amongst peers and of course it also conjures up warm memories of being a kid and being footloose and fancy-free!
WORST JOB EVER HAD!: Cleaning tables and loading the dishwasher at Debenham's café...ooh the blisters from being on your feet all day!
BEST JOB EVER HAD!: My current one - am able to spend more time at home than ever before and thereby "have a life" outside of work!
Bev Pamensky Murray
BORN: Johannesburg, South Africa
HEIGHT: 5' 4"
POSITIONS: GA, GS, WA
NETBALL CAREER: Played at school from age 6.
INTERESTING FACTS: Due to my love for netball, I started the San Diego United Netball Club a few years ago.
WHY NETBALL IS IMPORTANT TO YOU: It is a great team sport and I have always enjoyed the administrative aspect of netball.
Nicole Robb
BORN: Germany. Immigrated to Aussieland, age 5
HEIGHT: 169 cm
POSITIONS: GA, GS, WA
NETBALL CAREER: Played netball since age 8. Played Saturday netball in OZ till 2002. Played mixed indoor netball for 10 years...LOVED IT!!!!! Have been playing for San Diego United for 4 years. Played for California in Nationals in Florida in 2004. Am now the President of the San Diego Netball club.
INTERESTING FACTS: Born in Germany, Australian Citizen, US Permanent Resident...Definitely have an identity crisis!!!!:)
WHY NETBALL IS IMPORTANT TO YOU: I have grown up playing netball and love being part of a team sport. Having netball in San Diego has definitely helped the homesickness. I think it's amazing how we have the opportunity to meet new people from our own country and all over the world, everybody with a different story to tell of how they ended up here in San Diego and love playing Netball. Every week there could be someone new to meet who could become a good friend! By joining United I have definitely made friendships that will last a lifetime. My netball friends have helped fill the void of having no family here.
WORST JOB EVER HAD!: Working as a customer Service rep for a magazine subscription company.
BEST JOB EVER HAD!: Primary school teacher and now being my own boss and doing what I love, "Scrapbooking."
Livy Osborn
BORN: 29 June 1979
HEIGHT: 5'9"
POSITIONS: GS/GA
NETBALL CAREER: Started playing at primary school and played on and off ever since.
WHY NETBALL IS IMPORTANT TO YOU: It's just such a fun sport and a greaet way to meet like-minded people when you move across to the other side of the world!
WORST JOB EVER HAD: Cleaning tractors!
BEST JOB EVER HAD: Working here in San Diego.
Caroline Knox Serrano
BORN: Brisbane, Australia
HEIGHT: 5'3" on a good day!
POSITIONS: I prefer attack positions but will play anywhere just to get on the court.
NETBALL CAREER: I was a basketball player all through high school, college and into my "adult years." My brother belonged to an indoor mixed netball team in which they were short a shooter - I filled in a couple of games and enjoyed myself so much I joined the team. Only until playing in San Diego have I ever played on a full sized court outdoors!
INTERESTING FACTS: I am a volunteer for the San Diego Bulldog rescue and I ride a Harley Davidson.
WHY NETBALL IS IMPORTANT TO YOU: Netball allows me to connect with other Australians living abroad. It is a real sense of home when you sound "normal" and no one has an accent!
WORST JOB EVER HAD!: My first job in the States I worked as a personal assistant to a President of a tire company!
BEST JOB EVER HAD!: I love the job I have now - but nothing can beat being a diplomat, at the ago of 21, in an awesome country like Brazil!
Justine Murray 
BORN: Some small town no one has heard of in England.
HEIGHT: 5'3" and a third!
POSITIONS: WA, Center on a good day.
NETBALL CAREER: Started playing at primary school - age 8 I guess, was WA then and have been ever since. Played through high school and for the town. Played local league 3 times a week until moving in '96 to the US. Had no idea that netball wasn't played here so was disappointed - found teams on the east coast but a bit too much of a commute! Found SD club in '04 - couldn't believe they had been playing for a year and I didn't know... especially as practice was 3 miles from my house! Not quite so streamlined on the court as I was 10 years ago but still chugging along.
INTERESTING FACTS: I design bridal accessories for a living - not sure if that qualifies for interesting but it's unusual all the same and my company has been featured in and on covers of many national bridal magazines, suppose that's quite exciting! Go The Tiara Room!
WHY NETBALL IS IMPORTANT TO YOU: When you have played it as long as you can remember, it is hard to imagine not playing again... those 8 years without playing felt like something was really missing. It's a bit of a giggle with the girls.
WORST JOB EVER HAD!: Cleaning lady for mean rich people - I was desperate!
BEST JOB EVER HAD!: Current - I love art and design and being paid to do by people that value your work is a wonderful feeling!
Lei Lani Fera
Webmaster
BORN: Manila, Philippines
HEIGHT: 5' 0"
POSITIONS: GS, WA
NETBALL CAREER: Started playing at high school in Brunei for 2 years. Got back to playing socially after discovering San Diego United Netball Club ten years later.
INTERESTING FACTS: Born in Philippines, raised in Brunei, studied in Malaysia for a year and finally settling in California.
WHY NETBALL IS IMPORTANT TO YOU: Fitness, fun and meeting people
WORST JOB EVER HAD!: Never had one
BEST JOB EVER HAD!: Having my own business in graphic design and video production working my own hours at home and being my own boss.
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