Orange young-gun Annie Miller has been picked in the NSW under 17s side to play in the National Netball Championships in Adelaide in April.
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The former Life Studio centre made the cut in a field of over 300 athletes, with trials held in Orange, Armidale, Canberra and Sydney.
Only three regional players made the cut and while Miller would normally make it a fourth, the former James Sheahan Catholic High School student now lives and plays her nebtall in Sydney.
The state gig, which was confirmed in November, adds another representative feather to Miller’s cap after she wore the green and gold in the Australian squad at the 2017 International Schoolgirls Netball Challenge in Fiji.
Miller has also excels at basketball, representing Australian Country at the Junior Basketball Cup in New Zealand and has played for NSW Country before she moved to Sydney last year.
Netball NSW under 17s head coach Nerida Stewart, who traveled to all of the selection trials, said she was amazed by the talent on show across NSW and congratulated the athletes selected.
“I would like to say well done to our 2018 under 17s team for making it this far,” Stewart said.
“It was a very hard selection process because we had so many fine, aspiring netballers hoping to represent our great state – so enjoy the moment before we gear up for the nationals.
“I would also like to thank everyone who tried out all over NSW. Just because they didn’t make it this time out doesn’t mean that state honours aren’t a possibility down the line.
“Just keep working hard and enjoying our great game. When we play in South Australia next year we will be playing for you, and everyone else in NSW, as much as ourselves.
“I also would like to thank Netball NSW’s High Performance and coaching staff for engaging in what was a widespread and all-encompassing selection process.
Margaret Hamley, State Pathways manager at Netball NSW, echoed Stewart’s sentiments.
“This was a rigorous selection process but we were rewarded with a fantastic insight into the depth of talent we have across NSW,” she said.
“To have so many talented netballers engaged and showing a huge passion for representing NSW at National level is hugely heartening.
“We now start the process of preparing for the nationals in April and I know Nerida, her players and her support staff can’t wait to get started.”
Miller most recently played in Orange with the Manly Sapphires as part of the 2017 HeartKids Cup last February.