ORANGE kicks off its campaign for a 20th straight Central West State League division one netball title tomorrow - a daunting task no matter how you look at it.
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Particularly if you weren’t even born when the unprecedented run began.
That’s exactly what faces Orange young guns Brigette Jasprizza, Brooke Burcher, Abby Tilburg and Katie Eslick, who have all been named in Orange’s top side for tomorrow’s State League opening rounds, in Bathurst.
At 16 years old Jasprizza is the second youngest player in Orange’s line-up behind Burcher, 15, and is making her State League debut - in the top division anyway.
For Orange it seemed inevitable Jasprizza, the younger sister of former Orange gun Charlotte, would eventually move into the top side, and with plenty of experience in junior Orange teams along with a HeartKids Cup appearance at the beginning of the year, she won’t be completely unfamiliar with the role she’s expected to play in defence.
That doesn’t mean she isn’t nervous though.
“Yeah I am pretty nervous,” Jasprizza said yesterday.
“I’ve been playing (Toyota Cup) for a few seasons now, and I’ve played for Orange before, but never in the top team.”
Jasprizza, who predominantly plays goal defence for club side CYMS, said she wants to bring a youthful enthusiasm to the Orange side, which she thinks will be expected of the entire younger brigade.
“I think (Orange coaches) Jacky (Lyden) and Em (Callaway) want us to be enthusiastic, and really provide a lot of encouragement for the team,” Jasprizza said.
“(Being a goal defence) I’ll mainly be trying to stop attacks and cut off the centre court.”
While pushing Orange’s title-winning run to two decades is in the back of her mind, Jasprizza said her side needs to forget about the streak and concentrate on each game as it comes.
In division one, Orange A clashes with Cowra, Bathurst A and Orange B, while Orange B takes on Bathurst B, Bathurst A and Orange A. Both sides’ games kick off at 9.50am, 11.55am and 3.15pm respectively.
Orange under 17s will look to overcome Bathurst (9am), Cowra (11.05am) and Blayney (1.10pm), while the under 15 side plays Lithgow (9am), Condobolin (11.05am) and Cowra (1.10pm).
Tomorrow’s opening round of matches will be played at the Bathurst Indoor Sports Stadium.