Double international offers words of wisdom

Eva Goodisson (left) receives the senior sportsperson of the year award for Year 12 from Black Stick Emily Naylor.

A former Hawke's Bay double international has impressed on Woodford House pupils the importance of playing myriad sports.

Former White Fern and Football Fern Rebecca Rolls told the girls' high school at the annual sports dinner awards to have an alternative career plan and how to prioritise, rather than balance, sport and school work.

"Some teenagers are specialising too early, which increases the risk of burnout and code fatigue," said the 40-year-old who was a wicketkeeper/batsman and football goalkeeper.

Playing a range of sport would keep students' skill set wide and their brains fresh, said Rolls, a former police detective and drug squad member based in South Auckland.

Manawatu-born Black Stick Emily Naylor, of Kereru, joined Rolls at the awards to enlighten the pupils.

Born in Napier, Rolls emerged on the international stage in football but a few years later she picked up a cricket bat, entering into a long one-day international career that saw the wicketkeeper represent New Zealand women in 104 matches and a test match, second only to Debbie Hockley.

In 2012, after having retired from both codes, the Three Kings United goalkeeper made a shock come back for the Football Ferns.

Naylor is the most capped women's hockey player with 246 test caps. The 29-year-old is a three-time Olympian and is making a come back for the Black Sticks' squad for Rio next year.

Naylor coaches at the Woodford House Sports Academy while Rolls is the sister in-law of head of sport Chris McIvor.

Deputy head girl Prue Boult and her sister, Anna, interviewed the pair, seeking advice for the next generation of female athletes.

Woodford House year 12 pupil Eva Goodisson won the senior sportsperson of the year award while Molly Goodisson and Georgia Trent shared the junior sportsperson of the year award.

Aquathon world champion Goodisson received the principal's award for excellence.

MAJOR AWARD WINNERS

From the school's sports prize giving night recently:

Fairplay award: Emily Callaghan

Student coach of the year: Emily Callaghan and Imogen Mickleson.

Student official of the year: Pieta Parvin.

Principal's award for team of the year: 1st XI hockey.

NZ reps: Eva Goodisson (triathlon).

Sportsmanship award: Celebrating 100 years of sport (1911-2011) Milly Smith.

The principal's award for excellence: Eva Goodisson.

Craft and Hern contribution and performance for year 7-8: Tessa Burns. Year 7-8 sportsperson of the year: Samantha Cave.

Craft and Hern contribution and performance for year 9: Jessica Macfarquhar. Year 9 sportsperson of the year: Sasha Norris.

Craft and Hern contribution and performance for year 10: Georgia Trent and Molly Goodisson. Year 10 sportsperson of the year: Monique Way.

Craft and Hern contribution and performance for year 11: Ginny Gibbs. Year 11 sportsperson of the year: Farren McGregor-Smyth.

Craft and Hern contribution and performance for year 12: Eva Goodisson. Year 12 sportsperson of the year: Eva Goodisson.

Craft and Hern contribution and performance for year 13: Brona Turley and Jessie McNeil. Year 13 sportsperson of the year: Lucy McHugh.

Nimon and Sons prize for the overall junior sportsperson of the year: Molly Goodisson and Georgia Trent.

Nimon and Sons prize for the overall senior sportsperson of the year: Eva Goodisson.