Western Australian Netballers Selected for World Youth Cup
Four WAIS athletes have recently been chosen by Australian selectors as part of the Netball World Youth Cup squad. This squad is the starting point for the selection of the 2017 Australian Netball World Youth Cup team who will compete in Gaborone, Botswana next July.
Jessica Anstiss, Natalie Bright, Sophie Garbin and Annika Lee-Jones earned their positions following impressive performances throughout the 21/U National Netball Championships and Australian Netball League Championships earlier this year as well as the recent 20/U International Netball Series.
When asked about her selection Natalie Bright said that “It was a complete shock as there are so many good defenders, but I’m so grateful for this opportunity and I am so excited for our next camp in November. It’s even more exciting that I’m sharing this experience with Jess, Anni and Soph who I’ve been playing with for the last three years.”
The last time the squad members were together was at the 20/U International Netball Series, held at the Netball Centre of Excellence in Canberra earlier this month.
This tournament was part of an eight day 20/U Australian squad camp and was the final stage in the selection of the squad.
In attendance at this series were some of the best netballing nations in the world, providing each other with excellent competition in preparation for the World Youth Cup next year.
The teams involved, included two teams from the Australian U/20 squad, separated into Australia Green and Australia Gold, an Australian SISSAS team, a team made from members of the U/20 English squad, the U/20 New Zealand team and an Aoteroa Maori team, also from New Zealand.
With some of the best up and coming netball talent in the world in attendance, it was no wonder that every game was hard fought until the final whistle was blown.
At the conclusion of the tournament the 20/U Australian squad proved too strong for their competition with Australia Green and Australia Gold finishing first and second respectively.
Jessica Anstiss said the opportunities afforded through the camp and series had provided invaluable experience.
“Having the opportunity at the recent camp to play practice matches against other countries, such as New Zealand and England, is something I’ll never forget. It really challenged us as athletes to adjust to the different playing styles of the other countries. I really enjoyed the opportunity and am looking forward to our next camp.”
She also said of her World youth Cup squad selection, “I was so happy and overwhelmed when I received the phone call from the head coach saying I was through to the World Youth Cup squad. It’s been a dream of mine for a very long time now.”
Selection in the World Youth Cup team is a major step in the Australian netball pathway with five players from the 2013 team having since debuted for the Australian Diamonds.
WAIS athletes Courtney Bruce and Kaylia Stanton were also members of the 2013 World Youth Cup squad and have since played as part of the West Coast Fever in the ANZ Championship.
Bruce was also selected earlier this year as an invitee athlete for an Australian Diamonds training camp whilst both athletes were chosen to attend a ‘Future Diamonds Focus’ camp late last year.
The four Western Australian 2017 squad members will continue to train in Perth in the lead up to their next camp.
The 2017 World Youth Cup squad will next come together in November for a five day training camp in preparation for the selection of the final team for next year’s Netball World Youth Cup.