Gippsland Storm Elite Development Netball Club juniors Keeley Burgmann and Kaylah Loulanting were part of the Victorian squad that took to the court in Queensland in the national championships.
They were chosen to represent Victoria in the School Sport Victoria (SSV) 15-and-under state team to compete in the School Sport Australia championships in Caloundra, Queensland earlier this year.
Keeley Bergman’s mother, Jacinta, was interviewed after their return from the championships and was asked how the Victorian squad preformed.
“Well the week of the championships was full-on – most of the state squads had very tall midcourt players, (and) Keeley was picked originally as a goaler,” she explained.
To counteract the height difference, Victorian coach Carolyn Turner placed Burgmann in centre.
She remained there as part of the starting seven for the whole championship, even though she had never played centre before, and compared to the other state centres she was only average height. That gives an indication as to the current trends in the sport, with taller players in the midcourt.
During the round robin games through the week Victoria lost to New South Wales but defeated the same side in the preliminary final 30-23, placing them in the grand final against South Australia.
South Australia was a very structured and polished squad of netballers. The grand final was particularly close until just before half-time when Tepaea Hobson, the Victorian goal-keeper, went down with a torn ACL, which put her out of the game.
The loss of Hobson seemed to unbalance the Victorian squad, with South Australia winning the grand final 45-23.
There were highs and lows in the championship series. The coaching and support staff made a comment that this year’s Victorian squad was one of the closest in recent years.
Players and parents alike got on so well, with the girls making lifelong friends. They are still in contact with each other on social media.
A highlight from the presentations was the naming of two of Burgmann’s Victorian teammates in the all Australian squad – Loulanting and Hobson. All up, it was a life changing experience for all the girls.
Victorian coach Carol Turner was very pleased with the Victorian team during the championship and congratulated the players on their performance.
Sarah Blackman, the Gippsland Storm president, commented: “It’s tremendous to see these young Storm netballers competing at national level and doing so well, and also to see Carol Turner – a former Storm senior player – coaching the Victorian squad. We now look forward to our annual tryouts which start on Sunday, the 13th of October.”
For more information, visit the website: www.gippslandstorm.com.au.
