By JARROD POTTER
VERY few Victorian players have ever received what Haileybury Girls College hockey star Rachael Guy has recently earned.
Guy, 15, from Berwick, has become one of a select few players from Victoria to achieve Australian selection after starring at the recently held School Sport Australia 16-and-under Hockey Championships in Adelaide.
While her Victorian team finished fourth at the championships after drawing their semi-final against Western Australia, Guy’s efforts across the defensive end – especially after a switch to central defender through the carnival – earned her the attention of national selectors.
Guy’s sister Rebecca – a champion hockey player as well – could not believe it when Rachael’s name was called out at the post-tournament presentation ceremony.
“They were just calling names out and just after the boys’ grand final they called out the team and said all about the team and what it’s going to do,” Rebecca Guy said.
“Very slowly they called out players and they delayed her name.
“Rachael… Guy from Victoria.
“Mum and I just looked at each other and started crying and Grandpa started crying and said ‘did I hear what I thought I’d heard?’”
Her selection as an Australian hockey player is still sinking in, but Rachael said the feeling was unbelievable that she’d become one of the few Victorians to ever earn an Australian schoolgirls’ call-up.
“I’m under-age and I don’t think anyone else would have thought I’d make it,” Guy said.
“Two boys from Victoria got selected and I got selected also.
“I don’t really know what to say as it’s a big surprise.
“My mouth was on the ground when my name was called out and I was shaking.”
“When we were back in Melbourne and on the bus going to the car park and I was asking mum questions not even realising I was actually in the team, I thought I was just in the squad.”
Her Australian duties will commence in May next year when Guy and the School Sport Australia under-16 hockey team travel to Europe to participate in a tournament and play teams including Germany, the Netherlands and France.
Guy will return to local hockey this week for Waverley Hockey Club – playing in the under-16’s boys team currently playing in Hockey Victoria junior finals series, set to play a semi-final against Camberwell.
She also plays in Waverley’s Women’s Premier League team alongside her sister.
Rachael wanted to thank her family – mum and dad Sue and Andrew, grandparents and her sister Rebecca – for their tremendous support of her hockey.
