Big tournaments don’t just reveal talent, they expose character. And on the opening day of the St Dunstan’s College Easter Sports Festival, Abigail van Gool showed she has both in abundance.

A natural centre, van Gool has built her reputation as the engine room of the team – the player who connects defence to attack, controls tempo and reads the rhythm of the game.

But when St Dunstan’s lost a goal attack to injury, she didn’t hesitate. She adapted and delivered.

Thrown into a scoring role, van Gool combined superbly with Lucy Cairns, helping power St Dunstan’s to dominant victories as they began their title defence with authority. It was a performance that underlined her versatility and more importantly, her value.

“I was starting at centre, but then one of our goal attacks got injured, so I had to step in. I tried really hard and it worked, so coach just likes to put me there now,” she explained.

That willingness to step out of her comfort zone is rooted in a journey that began almost by accident. Five years ago, she picked up a netball simply because her friends needed a centre.

What started as a favour quickly became a calling.

“I didn’t even know why I started,” she admitted. “My friends needed another teammate, so I just played. Then it just kept going up and up.”

From indoor courts to outdoor competition, from second team to first team midway through her first season, van Gool’s rise has been relentless.

By Grade 9, she had already broken into the first team and she’s been there ever since.

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Now a veteran at the top level of school netball, she brings more than just skill. She brings presence.

Whether at centre or in the shooting circle, her understanding of the game stands out. As a centre, she sees herself as the emotional and tactical barometer of the team.

“My job is to calm everyone down or pick them up. If we’re too slow, I lift us. If we’re too fast, I settle us. I just read the vibe and adjust.”

That awareness has naturally turned her into a leader – even without the title.

“I’m not captain, but they listen to me,” she said with a smile. “When I scream, everyone hears me. They know my voice.”

It’s that voice – sharp, demanding, energizing – that keeps St Dunstan’s aligned in high-pressure moments. It was evident in their opening match against Unity Secondary on April 2, where she rallied teammates to sharpen their passing and regain composure when standards dipped.

Off the court, the same unity defines the squad.

“We train every week, Monday to Wednesday, pushing hard,” she said. “We fight for each other. We’re not playing for ourselves — we’re playing for the whole team.”

That collective mindset, combined with van Gool’s adaptability, makes St Dunstan’s a formidable force.

Her ambitions remain grounded but clear. A future in university netball and potentially with top structures like the Gauteng Jaguars or Gauteng Golden Fireballs, is on the horizon.

Beyond that, the dream of higher honours lingers – but for now, her focus is simple.

“Just to stay healthy and keep playing,” she said.

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