While Jess Healey starred on the court at the Under 13 Indoor Hockey Championships in Goulburn last week, Orange had plenty of stars off the court as well.
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Annie Pakinga, Karen Ferguson and Nic Milne were in the coaching booths and managerial roles for the tournament, with Milne and Ferguson coach and manager of the boys’ NSW Stars side, with Pakinga the manager of Healey’s Stars.
While the girls’ chances at the under 13 titles slipped through their grasp after leading into the final day, Milne and Ferguson were able to taste success with the boys’ side as the Stars went through undefeated.
They claimed the title for the week after a draw against NSW Lions and a 4-2 win over Victoria.
Pakinga said under the guidance of former Australian player Nicole King she was shown a whole new world of managing and loved every minute of it.
“Nicky was fantastic, I learned so much,” she said.
“It was really good.”
The indoor championships continue this week as Confederates’ Eva Reith-Snare prepares to line up in the under 18 series as part of the NSW squad.
Reith-Snare will head into the tournament on the back of winning an extremely sought-after NSW Institute of Sport Scholarship for hockey. Her games begin on Monday.
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