KARLA Baker was six-years-old when she played her first game of hockey. She'd had a run at soccer the previous year, but wanted to try something different, so her dad took her into Taree to sign-on with the Tigers club.
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Twenty seconds into her first game Karla scored a goal. From that moment she was hooked on the game.
Now 12, Karla has been named in the NSW Primary School Sporting Association (PSSA) open girl's State merit team following the State championships at Wollongong.
Karla is the Manning River Times-Iguana Sportstar of the Week, earning a $50 open order at Iguana.
The road to Wollongong started with trials for the Manning side. After gaining selection there Karla headed to the Hunter championships, where her form was good enough to be named as striker for the Hunter squad bound for State.
Karla scored '12 or 13 goals' at State, where Hunter finished third. She said she was 'a bit surprised' when she was named in the NSW merit team.
She won't get a game in the Sky Blue, however, Karla's putting that on her to-do list for the future, to represent NSW in an Australian championship.
Karla now plays with Chatham Wolves in the Manning junior mixed competitions, turning out for the under 13s and 15s. The 15s are leading the comp, while the 13s are third.
The rep season continues this weekend when Karla heads to State championships with Manning under 15s. In a fortnight she's off to Grafton with Manning for the State under 13s.
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However, the season doesn't end for her when fulltime is blown on the Manning competitions. Karla is involved with the Mid North Coast Centre of Development (COD) squad.
This takes in associations from Manning to Coffs Harbour and runs from October to February. After attending training sessions in Taree, Port Macquarie and Coffs Harbour, Mid North Coast head to the regional challenge against other squads from around the State.
Hockey keeps her busy for much of the year. Karla dabbles in cricket and a few other sports at school, but says that hockey is the No. 1.
