LOOKING GOOD: Charlotte Jasprizza is back from another representative tournament. Photo: STEVE GOSCH 1001sgcharlotte1
CHARLOTTE Jasprizza has plenty of highlights from last week’s Australian Catholic Schools Open Netball Championships and finishing third is just one of the them.
The James Sheahan Catholic High School student was part of the NSW team which contested the national title in Adelaide last week.
In 2011 she helped NSW take out the under 15s title but this year was a step up to the open division for the 16-year-old.
“It was different because it was an older division. It was a lot more physical,” Jasprizza said.
The centre-court star played in every game for NSW and didn’t leave the court during the finals.
NSW finished in the top four after the round robin matches against the other state teams.
In the semi-final, Queensland, which they had played out a draw with earlier, secured the win and a place in the grand final.
Jasprizza said NSW saved its worst game of the tournament for the semi-final.
“We had most of the possession and our defence had heaps of turnovers but we couldn’t get it in,” she explained.
So, NSW took out South Australia in a physical play-off for third.
The NSW girls adjusted better to their opponents’ tough style of play and won 53-31 to finish third.
While Jasprizza was celebrating the win with her teammates, the Orange teenager enjoyed another highlight.
Australian representative Rebecca Bulley approached her and congratulated her on her game.
“After the game she came up and talked to me,” Jasprizza beamed.
Bulley had made contact with Jasprizza in November last year after the teenager injured her knee during the Netball NSW under 17 team trials.
Bulley now plays for the Adelaide Thunderbirds and the championships were played at their stadium.
Jasprizza said it was exciting to meet a player she looks up to.
The teenager said she learnt a lot from the championships, especially under coach Gabby Graham, who also coached Jasprizza in the St George division two State League competition.
“She taught me so much with State League but then she taught me more again with this,” Jasprizza said of Graham.
“I picked up a lot more defensive skills. We also talked about driving straight rather than angles.”
Jasprizza will have some time off from netball but her next challenge is the Netball NSW under 17 team trials in November.
