Sky blue is a colour Hope Gibson is very familiar with, considering she’s rocked it for years at Orange’s Catherine McAuley Catholic Primary School.
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But donning that shade when it’s on a guernsey that also boasts a NSW Primary School Sports Association (NSWPSSA) badge will be a completely new experience for the 12-year-old, one she’ll have after being named to represent her state for the first time.
Gibson, in year six this year, helped her Polding side to a silver medal at the NSWPSSA Girls’ Touch Championship at Wagga Wagga earlier this month and impressed selectors enough to earn a call-up to the state side in the process.
“Now I go to Adelaide (for the School Sport Australia 12 and Under Girls’ Championship) in December, we play against all the other states,” Gibson grinned.
“It’s my first time in a NSW side, I’m pretty excited.”
Gibson found her feet at the state level as a year five student last year, using that experience and absolutely dominating this year’s NSW titles.
Switching in and out of her link and middle roles, Gibson helped Polding win 12 of its 14 games at the three-day carnival in Wagga.
Polding’s only preliminary stage loss was a hard-fought 4-2 defeat at the hands of Sydney North, the same side it lost the grand final to.
After progressing to the semi-finals with ease Polding scored a 3-1 win over Sydney East to earn a grand final rematch with Sydney North, going down 1-0 in a thrilling affair.
“It was a shame to lose that grand final but it was a really good game,” Gibson said.
It’s all really new to me, I’ve never made a NSW side in anything.
- Hope Gibson
“I thought I played pretty well, I played for Polding last year too but they were all older than me so this year I really put in and wanted to (take the next step).”
She’s done that, although she admitted she doesn’t know what to expect at the national titles, other than the competition becoming more fierce.
“It’s all really new to me, I’ve never made NSW in anything,” she explained.
It’s not just touch Gibson excels in either, she’s also a gun netballer and has helped her school to the Netball NSW Schools Cup finals this year too.
Catherine McAuley will contest the state finals in late September.
“I do a lot of running as well and play league tag for (Orange) CYMS too,” she said.
Gibson is joined in the NSWPSSA side by Polding teammate Alana Ready, from Sacred Heart Mona Vale, while Sydney North dominated the other selections, with four stars earning a call-up.
The School Sport Australia Girls’ Championship runs from December 1-10.
Gibson wasn’t the only Orange star in action at the state titles either.
Orange Public School’s Sadie Keegan, Ava Cole and Ellie Tamatea represented Western, along with Cargo Public’s Annabel Harrison.
Their side finished 13th and was unlucky not to score a win over the three days, securing three draws and going down in its other nine encounters.