Four teams and five umpires will represent Port Stephens Netball Association at the State Age Championships this weekend.
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Association president Jodi Cassar said the teams were all excited and match ready for Sydney-based carnival, running July 7 to 9.
“The under-12s are nervous because it’s their first year but all the girls are excited,” she said.
“All the teams are match fit and ready. They’ve had some great sessions the past few weeks with Sam Poolman from the Giants.
“They’re [girls] are really looking forward to putting those skills into practice.”
More than 300 teams from 88 netball associations – about 3000 players – will take part in this weekend’s championship, which will be its 50th year.
Since first being staged in 1968, the championships have grown to become one of the largest female sporting events in the southern hemisphere, with four separate venues now required to host the 2018 competition.
Netball NSW’s head of netball, Nikki Horton, said it was wonderful to see communities from all over the state come together for three days of back-to-back action.
“When you see that we have almost 3,000 netballers alone taking part, that number is pretty staggering,” she said.
“All of the teams will also have coaches, team managers and lots of supporters meaning it is fantastic for the local economy.
“That we now have to take these championships to four venues really highlights how far we have come and the powerful place netball now holds in Australian sport.”
Liverpool City Netball Association will host the championship division, division two will head to Camden, division three will be contested at Eastwood Ryde and Inner Western Suburbs will host division four teams.
Port Stephens Netball Association, based in Raymond Terrace, will field teams in all age groups – under-12, under-13, under-14 and under-15.
Under-13’s will play in division three while the four other teams will all play in division four.
The teams travelled to Sydney by bus together on Friday.
Three Port Stephens teams, 12s, 13s and 14s, competed in division four at the 2017 State Age Championships and all finished the carnival in the top 10.
Under-13s finished eighth and under-14s in seventh spot. Its under-12 side, playing in their first State Age Championships, did the best and finished the tournament fourth on the ladder.
Team Lists
Under-12 Division
Port Stephens
- Cross, Sarah
- Gordon, Nyalla
- Harvey, Cloe
- Ingram, Tamia E
- Ivaschenko, Bella
- Lawson, Brooke
- Lennon, Kealey
- Levido, Lucy
- Tranter, Lois
- Vanderhelm, Zoe
Under-13 Division
Port Stephens
- Barrett, Ayla
- Beninga, Madelaine
- Dodd, Taleah
- Foster, Lily
- Mcgill, Annika
- Mchugh, Skye
- Middleton, Isabella
- Rooney, Brooke
- Teah-Wilson, Abigail
- Welsh, Imani
Under-14 Division
Port Stephens
- Greentree, Madalyn
- Jardine, Skye
- Langdon, Keely
- Papuckoska, Ashleigh
- Rumbel, Jessica
- Saunders, Jordan J
- Schumacher, Bethany
- Smith, Jacqueline
- Spelt, Trinity
- Verhaar, Poppy
Under-15 Division
Port Stephens
- Bennett, Caitlyn
- Chislett, Krystal
- Johnson, Dallas
- Leard, Nakittah
- Levido, Ellie
- McGrath, Angelina
- Miller, Grace
- O'Lone, Angela
- Simpson, Patricia
- Turner, Lily
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.
