Five members of the QBE Swifts Academy have been named among the 12 athletes selected to represent the NSW at the 2020 17/U National Netball Championships in April.
Amelia Kirgan, Audrey Little, Charlotte Smith, Papi Alaalatoa and Sophie Fawns all made the cut after hundreds of netballers from across the state took part in a rigorous selection process.
This year the Nationals will take place in Hobart, Tasmania from the 18-23 April, at the city's Netball and Sports Centre.
Teams from each state and territory will contest the 17/U and 19/U age groups. Gold medal matches will be played on Thursday 23 April to decide the 2020 National Netball Champions in both divisions.
The National Championships have always been a gateway to the international netball stage with every current player in the Australian Diamonds squad representing their State or Territory at this event.
Last year NSW took home silver medals in both age groups and will be looking to go one better in 2020.
NSW Swifts Executive General Manager Nikki Horton said it was a very important milestone for every athlete selected.
“Nationals are one of the big benchmarks on along the Netball NSW pathway and to be selected for a state team is a huge achievement,” she said.
“Last year NSW was very competitive in reaching both the 19/U and 17/U Grand Finals and in 2020 we’ll be hoping to take the next step and bring silverware back to the state.
“I would like to commend every athlete who took part in what was a very long, and rigorous selection process, especially our QBE Swifts Academy athletes who have made it to the end.
“We now look forward to working with them and the coaching team as we get ready for Tasmania.”
Launched with the backing of Netball NSW and the NSW Swifts’ principal partner QBE Insurance, the QBE Swifts Academy looks to strengthen the foundations of Australian netball's most decorated club by providing further pathway opportunities to aspiring players from across the state.
The Academy provides a daily training environment for home-grown NSW athletes who have the potential to play for the club in the future. Read more on about the QBE Swifts Academy HERE.
2020 NSW 17/U Team
Amelia Kirgan (Bankstown City)
Audrey Little (Manly Warringah)
Charli Fidler (Manly Warringah)
Charlotte Smith (Sutherland Shire)
Ella Johnson (Ku-ring-gai)
Erin O’Brien (Northern Suburbs)
Jamie Podmore Taylor (Northern Suburbs)
Kyah Vaeila (Penrith District)
Millie Roach (Ku-ring-gai)
Papi Alaalatoa (Liverpool City)
Skye Gosby (Sutherland Shire)
Sophie Fawns (Wagga Wagga)
Coaches
Head Coach: Amber Cross (Wyong District)
Assistant Coach: Kath Tetley (Baulkham-Hills Shire)
Apprentice Coach: Kirstie Fuller (Gunnedah)
Manager: Jenny Gage-Traill (Northern Suburbs)
