DESPITE being part of the NSW Combined Catholic College (NSWCCC) open girls’ team in 2013, 17-year-old Tania Jachi was surprised when her name was called out again this year.
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Jachi was selected after representing Bathurst Diocesan at the NSWCCC selection trial in March.
“It was pretty exciting to get named again, I wasn’t sure I’d done enough to make the side,” she said.
“I just want to have fun with the girls really. It’s my last year with the girls so it would be great to just have a good time, and maybe win if we can.”
After moving to Orange from New Zealand in 2010, Jachi linked with women’s Premier League Hockey side Kinross-CYMS and is now in her second season with the club.
She said the CCC team will be out to redeem itself at the 2014 NSW All Schools Hockey Tri-Series Championship, at the Sydney Olympic Stadium in a fortnight, after a lacklustre performance last year.
“We got trashed last year,” she laughed.
“Especially by NSWCHS (Combined High Schools), it would be really great to beat them.”
Jachi won’t need any extra motivation against NSWCHS, a team containing three more of Orange’s best. Kinross-CYMS teammates Madie Smith and Chloe Barrett, along with Ex-Services’ Haley Butcherine, will play for the public school team.
“There will be that extra bit of rivalry there I think,” Jachi laughed.
“I’m in my second year now, I’d like to help bring the younger girls through a bit. It was a daunting thing for me last year, playing for NSW at the Olympic ground, so I want to help them out, show them it isn’t all about winning and make sure they enjoy themselves.”
Barrett was also named in an extended 2015 NSW under 18 girls’ squad last week, with Wanderers’ midfielder Hayden Dillon named in the corresponding boys’ squad.
Barrett was selected from the Orange under 18 girls squad, which competed in division one at last weekend’s state championships. Because Orange competed in division three at the boys’ championships, Dillon competed for Lithgow in division one to allow him a better chance at selection.
