Two Forbes netballers have got big plans for 2018.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Aurella White has been chosen for the Western Region Academy of Sport representative squad and Ellie Flick has been selected for the NSW Echidnas.
It means a busy and exciting summer for the young players, with Ellie now preparing for the Australian Indigenous Schoolgirls Carnival on the Gold Coast in January.
This is the second time Ellie has been selected in the Echidnas team, this summer she’ll represent NSW in the 14s squad at the carnival, meeting other state teams across five intense days of competition.
Ellie, who started playing netball at age nine, is an all-rounder in sports but her mum Kristy says netball is her main passion.
Between training and competition she was on the courts six days a week through the winter, she also played league tag.
The Echidnas only get together the day before the competition starts, so all of Ellie’s preparation will be done right here at home.
She keeps fit through the summer with swimming – with her eyes on the goal of one day playing for Australia.
The Echidnas team isn’t a bad place to start, selectors for the Australian Budgies Indigenous team will be in attendance at the January carnival.
In February, Aurella White will start training with the Western Region Academy, the 14-year-old joining the squad of up to 16-year-olds.
The Academy team trains in Orange and Bathurst to compete against other Academy sides throughout the year.
Aurella, also a Forbes representative player, took up the sport when she was eight.
She put her hand up for Academy this year and made it through several rounds of selection process.
Newcomers had an initial trial before being tested against last year’s Academy players.
They then played in a round robin competition in Bathurst with selectors in attendance.
Selection capped off a great year for Aurella, who also achieved her B level badge for umpiring this year.
That qualifies her to umpire at the State Age carnival and state championships as well as train other young players in umpiring.
“The best thing about playing is just being surrounded by a good group of girls,” Aurella said.
“The competition is really good too.”