Teen takes on nationals

Tara Cecil is preparing to represent her state and country over the coming months. 29051 Picture: Stewart Chambers

By Marc McGowan
CRANBOURNE teenager Tara Cecil will take on Australia’s best 17-and-under netballers at this month’s National Netball Championships in Canberra.
The Year 10 Cranbourne Secondary College student is a regular competitor at national level for Victoria and will also represent her country for the first time in June.
But Cecil’s latest state selection was a surprise considering she is only 15 and can still suit up for the 17-and-under side next year.
“It was awesome when I found out. I really didn’t expect it, so it was great,” she said.
“They (her competitors for a position in the team) were all not much more advanced, but a lot better – or so I thought – so it was definitely hard.”
The wing defence/goal defence had to battle her way through four months’ worth of trials – often lasting up to three hours at a time – to book her spot.
The tournament runs from 15 to 20 April and all states and territories will take part.
Cecil will also head to Sydney for her first training session with the Australian schoolgirl squad this month.
The same side will compete against hosts New Zealand, England, Sri Lanka, Singapore and an Australian indigenous team from 2 June.
Cecil is looking forward to the experience, but concedes it will be difficult to establish strong team chemistry with limited exposure to each other.
“We haven’t met many of the girls yet, but we’d definitely like to go as best we can,” she said.
“It’s definitely hard to come together as a team without much training together.
“Most likely it will be the best (players on court) for most of the time, so I’d like to get on the court as much as I can.”
New South Wales mentor Joanne McDermott is the Australian coach, while Victorian under-19 coach Kristy Keppich-Birrell is her assistant.
Keppich-Birrell is also one of the coaches at Cecil’s new State League club Monash University Central.
Cecil previously played for Palladians, but Netball Victoria officials did not offer the club one of the 10 initial licences into the new Victorian Netball League.
She was invited to trial for Monash University through her association with Central East Zone Academy.
Cecil has played the first three games of the season for Monash University’s 19-and-under team, but hopes to break into one of its senior sides this year.
“It’s definitely something I’d like to work towards,” she said.
“The older girls are definitely hard (to play against), but the young girls are pretty good as well, so it’s just as good.
“I really love it down there – it’s really good.”