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Decision time for rising squash star

Posted on December 18, 2009, 9:09am and updated on December 20, 2009 at 11:39 am

Steph Wighton
Promising squash player and all round sportsperson, Stephanie Wighton (pictured), of Mount Gambier, faces a number of challenges over the next few years.

Wighton, 19, is quickly approaching a huge decision as to whether she will move to Adelaide to live to further her career both on and off the squash court.

Having such a hectic schedule, she also has to choose whether she will continue playing hockey, netball and softball as well as squash.

Wighton is a keen athlete and quite good at all four of her sports being a member of the state country team in hockey amongst other honours and achievements.

Wighton, who received the Sport Encouragement Award at Squash SA’s Spring Pennant presentation night this month, is described as an outstanding talent in squash.

But she is a country girl at heart.

She enjoys her life in Mount Gambier where she works as a trainee administrator in a government department and has studied certificate courses in fitness and business.

Next year Wighton will study a certificate IV fitness course at the Australian Institute of Fitness in Adelaide in a bid to become a personal trainer.

“I haven’t lived in Adelaide for a lengthy period and I’ll see how things go before making a move,” Wighton said.

She regularly visits Adelaide for coaching sessions with state coach and Squash Academy head coach Geoff Davenport.

“I stay with him when I’m in Adelaide and he has been amazing to me,” Wighton said.

“My game has really improved since he started coaching me.”

Wighton is ranked sixth at Under 19 level in Australia and third in the state in the senior women’s category.

She was disappointed to miss out on representing South Australia in the Australian senior teams championships in Devonport, Tasmania recently because she had to work.

Making her disappointment worse, was the fact, the SA team won the national title.

Wighton has represented SA at a junior level with considerable success and she is aiming to play for the state senior team next year.

“I enjoy the challenge of squash because it is the only non-team sport I play,” she said.

“It helps to keep me fit and I have to rely on myself rather than other players as in the team sports.”

Wighton said she wanted to keep playing squash but was unsure how far she wanted to take it.

“I missed out on an overseas trip this year with the Australian junior team because my birthday was 30 days outside the requirement,” she said.

“I have played throughout Australia and I am keen to go overseas to play.”

Wighton started playing squash when she was eight at a sports centre in Mount Gambier which has since closed down.

She now plays at Squashbrook.

“I run a lot, go to gym and have a hit of squash at least three times a week,” Wighton said about her training regime.

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