Haumaha a step closer to Black Sticks goal

Few could underestimate the elation Casey Haumaha felt when she was named in the New Zealand under-18 hockey squad.

"I ran to find my parents and started crying and jumped up and down with my Dad, who is one of my mentors," recalled the John Paul College Year 12 student.

"I was just so excited."

Haumaha is one of three Rotorua hockey players whose fitness, on-field leadership and skills caught the eyes of national scouts at various tournaments throughout the year.

The 17-year-old will be joined by fellow Rotorua players Kiisha Gurran and Hoete Mitai-Ngata in attending January's National men's and women's under-18 Coaching Camps in Auckland.

And looking at her impressive sporting resume for the season it's clear to see why. Haumaha not only captained her JPC First XI team and played defender in both the Midlands under-21 and Bay of Plenty under-18 sides, but she also played a key role in the Aces senior women's hockey team who won the 2005 Intercity crown, represented Waiariki at last month's National Maori Hockey Tournament in Napier and was further rewarded by being named as a triallist for the Maori under-21 team

In addition she was awarded the Dux Ludorum prize for top Senior Sportswoman at John Paul College and made a prefect.

While the energetic all-rounder is "still over the moon" about making the squad, she admits she has set her sights even higher.

"I hope to one day make the Black Sticks - just look at 15-year-old Charlotte Harrison - she's awesome," said Haumaha, who also plans to study a business management and law degree at Victoria University.

"But I know I've a long way to go - you have to be at the peak of perfection fitness wise and extremely dedicated."

Which is why the Rotorua teenager is stepping up her fitness training over the next few months - running and completing regular gym work-outs - to ensure she is in top shape for January's gruelling camp which will be taken by head coach Paul Derham, the southern high performance manager and Black Sticks coaching staff.

She attributes her background in rowing and supportive family for teaching her discipline to achieve at all levels.

The national selection also capped off a stunning year for both Gurran, a student at Western Heights, and Mitai-Ngata, a student at Te Kura O Te Koutu.

Gurran, who debuted in this season's National Hockey League for Midlands, was selected for Bay of Plenty senior women's team, Aces senior women's team, the national Maori senior women's side, was named as a triallist for the under-21 Maori team and named the Junior Wahine Player of the Tournament in Napier.

Mitai-Ngata, who also boasts a swag of provincial and national honours under his belt, was named as a non-travelling player in the national Maori senior men's side and a triallist for the under-21 team.

The Bay of Plenty was further represented in the under-18 squads by Tauranga players Kate Savory, Stella Torvelainen, James Hawley and Sam Elliot.

* New Zealand women's under-18 squad (two players still to confirm).



Katie Glynn, Lucy Talbot, Holly Huddleston (Auckland), Casey Haumaha, Kiisha Gurran (Bay of Plenty), Fiona Morrison, Harriette Cambridge (Canterbury), Erin Weber, Jaime Edwards (Hawkes Bay), Cathryn Finlayson, Alice Naylor, Verity Sharland, Michelle Walker (Manawatu), Anita Punt (Nelson), Natalie Duley, Natasha Fitzsimmons, Ashli Kemp, Petrea Webster (North Harbour), Ella Gunson, Nicola Howes, Stacey Michelson (Northland), Kate Stewart (Otago), Kate Savory, Stella Torvelainen (Tauranga), Lymarah Wharerau, Lizzie Holmes (Waikato), Wendy Hull (Wairarapa), Sophie Devine, Niketa Bhana, (Wellington), Anna Wetherall (West Coast).

The New Zealand mens under-18 squad.

Jack Oades, Yahvant Masters, Steven OConnor, Ben Stevenson (Auckland), Hoete Mitai-Ngata (Bay of Plenty), Ashton Balderstone, Reuben Koorey, Warwick Allen, Nick Haig, Mark Coleman, Sam Wilkinson, Zach Staples, Sam Kumbaroff (Canterbury), Hitesh Dahya (Counties Manukau), Shaun Matthews (Manawatu), BJ Binnie (Mid/South Canterbury), Matt LHuiller (Nelson), Joseph Bartholomew, Ken Chou (North Harbour), Dean Gibson, Michael Delaney, Shay Neal, Sam Webb (Northland), Damian Watson, Matthew Young (Otago), Steven Davison (Taranaki), James Hawley, Sam Elliot (Tauranga), Rowan Yeo (Wairarapa), Jason Hilton, Stephen Jenness, Alex Schroder (Wellington).