Netballer’s Ready to Shine at 21/U Nationals

The countdown is on for the WAIS Netball program with six athletes preparing to travel to Launceston, Tasmania for the 21/U National Championships which begins March 7.

 

Jessica Anstiss, Natalie Bright, Sophie Garbin, Annika Lee-Jones, Nicole Lendich and Kimberley Shepherd will head to Tasmania looking to better their fifth place finish from last year.

The National competition will see the West Australian team face off against other respective states in a round robin format before finals in the last two days of competition.

 

The team of 12 will be lead by Anstiss who was named co-captain of the team based on a combination of peer and coach votes.

“We have a very diverse group of girls in the team who all bring something special to the group so leading them is an easy job,” she said.
 
 

“The girls have been training well with our focus lying not just on the court but in the values we have created together to live and breathe.”
 

 

Preparation for the competition has not come without hurdles for the team with fellow teammate and WAIS athlete Phoebe Wilcox withdrawing from the team in the past week due to severe glandular fever.
 

 

“The team has obviously suffered a great loss but the main thing at the moment is Phoebe’s health and making sure that comes first,” Anstiss said. 
 

 

Coach Karly Hoar credits the depth of the team and said the girls are, “Looking confident and ready to compete.”
 

 

“We have a talented list of players that all have a role to play in the tournament,” she said.
 

 

Bright and Garbin also form part of the 19/U State Team, alongside Wilcox, whose illness will prevent her from playing in the National Championships to be held in Perth this April.
 

 

Team statistics and results will be updated on the Netball Australia and Netball West Australia websites and social media.
 

By Nicole Lendich