At the 2026 State Titles, our umpire awards were proudly awarded to Mia Kouzoumis and Peyton Olsson, both of whom have rapidly established themselves with a bright potential.
Mia Kouzoumis received the Umpire of the Tournament award, celebrating her exceptional skill, composure, and leadership on court. Peyton Olsson was honored with the Rising Star Award, recognising her impressive development and potential as a future high-performance umpire.
Mia Kouzoumis – Umpire of the Tournament
Mia’s journey as a netball umpire is one defined by passion, dedication, and a love for the game. She began umpiring in 2024 at Parkville Netball Association and has since expanded her experience across Essendon District Netball Association, the Western Football Netball League, the M League, and the 2026 Elmer Netball Region Umpiring Program.
Mia was drawn to umpiring because as a player and coach, she enjoyed seeing the game from a different perspective while helping maintain its integrity. Her progression has been rapid, earning her C Badge in 2024 and B Badge at State Titles in 2026, representing Elmer region. She also officiated the Opens Grand Final at the State Titles, an experience she considers incredibly rewarding.
Mia credits her growth to the support of her mentors and coaches.
“Getting feedback and guidance each week has helped me develop my skills quickly. Just as importantly, the umpiring staff at each association create a really supportive and encouraging environment where everyone is motivated to keep improving, “ she said.
Looking ahead, Mia hopes to umpire at the highest level and encourages newcomers to embrace feedback.
“The best way to progress is by communicating with your mentors, learning from their advice, and always looking for ways to develop your skills.”
Her story is a testament to the impact of dedication, guidance, and a genuine love for netball in shaping the next generation of umpires.
Peyton Olsson – Rising Star Umpire Award
Peyton passion for netball umpiring was inspired early, watching her mum, Nerolie Olsson, and her aunty, Naomi Williams, in action. Peyton began helping at their Thursday training sessions, umpiring small games before taking the step to her first full match at the Echuca District Netball Association.
“Seeing both my mum and aunty umpiring on the weekends made me realise that it was something I wanted to do as well,” she said.
Since starting in 2022, Peyton’s rise has been rapid. She umpired her first A Grade game in the Murray Netball League in 2023 and earned her C Badge in 2024, and by 2026 had been selected for the State Titles representing North Central region, earning her B Badge and officiating the Under 17 Semi Final and Under 15 Grand Final.
She reflected on the challenges along the way, particularly growing up in a regional town.
“Because there are fewer competitions and development pathways locally, it can sometimes be harder to gain experience at higher levels or be seen by coaches and selectors
“To overcome this, I’ve had to take every opportunity that comes up, be willing to travel, and work hard to keep improving my skills.”
Peyton credits much of her growth to the support of mentors and coaches.
“Their advice and encouragement have helped me build confidence, improve my decision-making, and continue developing my skills.”
Looking ahead, she hopes to umpire at the hope of joining the high-performance squad and one day umpire at the Nationals.
Her journey is a reminder that determination, support, and confidence can turn inspiration into achievement, no matter your age.
