Lake Macquarie has a strong presence in the 2020 Hunter Academy of Sports netball program with the selection of 11 girls, five of which hail from the western side of the lake, in the all new 40-person squad.
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Jorja Brown, 14, from Cooranbong, Ireland Thomas, 13, of Kilaben Bay, Isabella Groves, 13, from Fishing Point, Indy Hilder, 13, of Speers Point, and Crystal Eade, 15, from Bolton Point, were among the 11 Lake Macquarie Netball Association members selected for this year's Academy netball program.
Lake Macquarie netballers Paulini Davis Dates, Ella Sames, Georgie-Annah Elder, Maggie Greentree, Jordan Parsons and Emma Wyborn were also selected for the 2020 program.
On Saturday, the Lake girls joined their new Academy friends at Hunter Sports High School in Gateshead where they put their skills to the test, going head-to-head against themselves and their Central Coast counterparts as part of an education and training exercise.
The aim of the Academy is to develop the skills of region's brightest young netball stars, aged 13-16, and guide them towards reaching the highest level in the sport.
Selection into the Academy squad is no easy feat.
Some 200 athletes vying for a spot in the 2020 program turned out to Hunter Sports High late last year to test for a spot.
Across two days the girls were put through their paces in front of a panel of selectors from across the Hunter netball associations.
The 40-person Academy squad, who are split into the 14 years' development or 15-16 years' talent programs, plus 10 umpires was announced at the start of February.
They attended Hunter Academy of Sports' orientation day at Hunter Valley Grammar School where they were introduced to the coaching staff and presented with their uniforms by former Academy member and now national netball league representative, Sam Poolman.
On Saturday, February 29, the squad returned to Hunter Sports High where they took part in an education seminar before hitting the courts in the afternoon for match play.
Central Coast Academy of Sports' netball squad travelled up for the afternoon to go head-to-head with the Hunter girls.
The Academy's netball talent development program gives young athletes from across the Hunter region the opportunity to receive training and tutelage in their sport without the need to move or travel to a larger city.
It also plays a vital role in the Netball NSW Athlete Pathway by identifying, monitoring and developing the skills of young netballers.
The Lake Macquarie girls will train weekly with the Academy squad in the lead up to the NSW State Titles in June where they will represent their association.
In April, they will represent the Hunter at the 2020 Your Local Club Academy Games at Maitland Basketball Stadium and later in the year will travel to Orange for the Greater Bank Academy Challenge where they will compete against 10 other regional academies of sport from across the state.
Greater Bank will continue its long-term association with the Hunter Academy of Sport in 2020 and will once again be the major sponsor of the netball program.
Brown plays the netball positions of Goal Attack (GA) and Goal Shooter (GS). Thomas is a Goal Defence (GD) and Goal Keeper (GK), Groves is a GD/GK, Hilder is a Centre (C) and Wing Defence (WD) and Eade is a GS/GA.
Ellie-Marie Watts
A journalist with 10 years experience, Ellie-Marie connects readers to the stories that matter in their communities. A Port Stephens-based news, sport and event writer and photographer with a passion for human interest features.
A journalist with 10 years experience, Ellie-Marie connects readers to the stories that matter in their communities. A Port Stephens-based news, sport and event writer and photographer with a passion for human interest features.
