The West Gippsland Hockey girls before their final state try out (from left) Bianca Zurrer, Marisah Mock, Regan Smith, Zizi Pozzebon and Mikayla McDonald.
West Gippsland has continued its tradition of supplying highly skilled players for Hockey Victoria’s state teams.
This year five girls made it through draft camp and were selected to the academy before making it through to the final assessment last weekend.
All the training sessions were held at the State Hockey Centre in Melbourne which meant a lot of early starts and late finishes for the young aspiring future Olympians and their parents.
Of the five girls, four were trying out for the under 15 state team and one for the under 18 state team.
Mikayla McDonald made the Under 18 state development team and will represent Victoria in Tasmania in April. For the Under 15 team Bianca Zurrer was selected to the state team while Zizi Pozzebon and Regan Smith both made the state development team which will play in Goulburn also in April.
West Gippsland Hockey president Stephanie Gourley said she was incredibly proud of the girl’s efforts.
“I am so proud of these girls and everyone who tried out for all the state teams. It is a big commitment to make and to see so many make state teams is testament to their hard work but also the strength of local hockey in the region,” she said.
