Name game for lacrosse

A best selling author is helping raise funds for a New Zealand team via a Trade Me auction.

David Baldacci. Photo: John Groo

David Baldacci is auctioning the chance to name a character in his next novel.

And the funds will help the New Zealand at the Asia-Pacific women’s lacrosse championship world qualifier in Queensland next January

The Waipā link to the story is through teenager Piper Russell, who has been selected for the team.

Baldacci’s 50 novels have sold 150 million copies. His first novel, Absolute Power, was published in 1996 and adapted into a film directed by and starring, Clint Eastwood.  His latest book is To Die For.

In an email, the author said, “using character names to promote wonderful causes has been a priority for me, and I look forward to crafting a great character”.

The auction had a starting bid of $1000 and offered the winner “fictional immortality”, a chance to have their name “known across the globe” and an autographed copy of the finished novel.

Piper, a 17-year-old Cambridge High student, said it was “pretty cool” to have the support of an international celebrity.

She is the youngster player in the squad

“A lot of the older girls have been to American universities on scholarships – it’s pretty big over there – so I get to play with them and see how that’s helped their lacrosse.  I’ve been looking at opportunities to do that myself for six months and I’ve had a handful of good offers I’m looking into.”

Piper has represented Waikato and New Zealand at U18 level  and played in the world women’s U20 championships in Hong Kong in August.

Her goal is to represent New Zealand at the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.

A top four finish for New Zealand in January across the Tasman  will qualify the team for the World Cup in Japan in 2026.

Piper is joined in the team by two former Cambridge High School students, Alice Wheatley-Wilson, 26, and Alannah Mouat, 24.

Piper Russell

 

More Recent Sports

Hautapu go top of the table

Hautapu premiers demolished Morrinsville 64-20 scoring 10 tries in front of home fans at Memorial Park in Cambridge in Waikato club rugby on Saturday. With the green machine Hamilton Marist being beaten by University, Hautapu…

Special outing for ‘premier’ clubs

Special Olympics Waikato hosted a two-day regional football tournament at Sherwin Park in Te Awamutu this month. Parents, volunteers and 42 players attended from places across the Central North Island, including Auckland, Cambridge, Hamilton, Ngāruawāhia,…

Football popularity on the rise

Cambridge High School has attracted a record number of football players this year. Football committee member Jo Kelk said 216 players had signed up to play in the school’s blue and white jersey in 2025…

Running for 75 years…

Seeing Roto-o-Rangi farmer Bruce Wallis compete in the Cambridge Harrier Club two persons’ walk relay with his 1980s partner in crime Gary Christie was one of several highlights during the 75th anniversary celebrations on Saturday….