AT pre school in Taree one day when Taya Hunter was about four, her friend Kurt Walters suggested she give hockey a try.
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“They were looking for players,’’ Taya explained.
Her family had a bit of background in the game, so Taya took up Kurt’s idea. It proved a wise move.
Next week Taya and Kurt will be heading to Tasmania with NSW teams to play in the Australian under 13 championships.
Taya will be a member of the NSW Lions squad. (NSW will field two teams in the boy’s and girl’s divisions – Lions and Stars).
Taya is the Manning River Times Iguana Sportstar of the Week, earning a $50 open order at Iguana. Kurt won the award a fortnight ago.
Taya first came to the attention of State selectors at the NSW under 13 girl's championships played in Taree in July. She was a member of the Manning team playing in division one.
It was a difficult campaign for the local combination, although they managed to retain their place in the elite grade for next year. Manning coach Janine Watts said that Taya was outstanding for Manning in all matches. The selectors obviously agreed because from here Taya was one of 64 players named in a squad to contest trials at Port Macquarie.
From there the two State sides were named.
Taya thought she played ‘pretty good’ at the trials and is now looking forward to representing NSW for the first time. Earlier this year Taya’s elder sister, Tilley, was named in the NSW under 14 girl’s merit team for touch football. Tilley is also a promising hockey player.
Taya will attend a two day training camp in Sydney this weekend where she expects to find out what position she’ll play in the championships. She’ll be happy if she gets a start in the halves.
The championships will start next Thursday and run until October 10.
“I think we’ve got a pretty good side, but I’m not sure how we’ll go,’’ Taya said.
Taya plays for Sharks under 13s and 15s in the Manning junior competition.
She also backs up to turn out with Town division three women in the same side as her mum, Kylie.
Town finished minor premiers but were beaten in a tightly contested grand final by Tigers.
Taya’s been a regular member of Manning representative teams since she was nine.
While hockey dominates her sporting life, Taya also plays touch footy in the Taree junior competition.
Taya was a member of the Taree under 13 side that played in the State Junior Cup in Port Macquarie last February and she hopes to gain a place in the 2019 team at trials next month.
Taya turns 13 soon and is in year seven at Taree High School.