MOUNT Gambier netballers Jordyn Adams and Molly Watson will don the South Australian colours after the duo was selected in the 17 and Under state team recently.
Former South East player Nyah Allen has also made the cut.
The trio will be under the guidance of Lee-Anne Cummins who will hope to lead by example and claim the third consecutive 17 and Under Underage National Netball Championships title at the competition held from April 17 to 22 in Adelaide.
Watson and Allen were selected as part of the 2017 championship team, while South Gambier netballer Adams is a new inclusion.
It was a gruelling trial process to reach the top 12 in the state as the 16-year-old’s tested themselves against some of the best through fitness, ball skills and trial games.
“We did two weekends of trials with the city girls and then they made a cut to a squad of around 20,” Adams said.
“From there we had five weekends in a row and a camp before they selected the team and development squad.
“We were chosen in the team of 12 and there is a group of 12 girls in the development squad as well.”
The trial process was familiar to Molly Watson, who was selected in the 2017 side as a bottom-age player.
However, that security did not stop the nerves throughout the selection process this time around.
“I was really nervous to go to trials because I just wasn’t sure how it would all go, but I was really hoping to make it again,” she said.
“It was a really good experience.”
Since winning the 2017 national championships, the defender said her game overall has improved.
“Just training with the girls last year, they were incredible, so learning off them was a great way for me to improve,” she said.
“Being part of a team that level is great, it is a completely different game to what it is down here in Mount Gambier.”
Adams, who hopes to take up a position either in defence or the mid-court, was unfortunate to miss out last year, which only drove her to improve more throughout the 2017 season.
“I was so driven to make it,” she said.
“I hated not making it last year, but what can you do.
“I got to play centre for South down here, which was good for me.
“It helped increase my foot speed, which assisted in my defence.
“It increased my confidence and I went into trials with a whole new outlook, just really wanting to make it.”
The young netballers will have a busy schedule over the championships, playing two full games each day.
“With it being in Adelaide, hopefully more people can come and support us,” Adams said.
“I am excited for it the championships.
“There are five girls from last year that Molly knows and the I know some players from Under 15s, so we will gel pretty well.
“I think we will be pretty good.
“The girls that have been selected are really talented.”
Watson agreed with her team mate and said she is excited for championships to kick off.
“We have only had two trainings so far, but I think we have gelled well,” she said.
“We are now training every weekend up until the nationals.
“I think at the moment we have areas we can improve on as a team, but over the next few weeks we will develop a lot.
“I think we will be strong and there is a bit of added pressure with the state going for its third 17 and Under title in a row.”
