Nga Tawa Year 13 student Charlotte Symes has made school history as she strives for higher honours.
The 18-year-old farm girl from Bulls is the first ever to be capped for any sporting milestones at Nga Tawa. Symes was awarded her Cap in recognition for playing 100 games for theNga Tawa School 1st XI hockey team and in the process made the New Zealand Junior Black Sticks side to play a five-match test series against Australia on the Gold Coast next month.
Before Symes' arrival in Year 9 at Nga Tawa five years ago, the rule was that no junior could be selected for the school's top senior teams, making it almost impossible to rack up a century of matches.
"They changed the rules the year I arrived and I managed to make the 1st XI hockey team and I've played every season since," Symes said yesterday.
"I've played hockey for the majority of my life and I'm really looking forward to joining the Junior Black Sticks for the trip to Australia.
"Everyone selected for the Junior Black Sticks have been training in their own provincial regions and we get together just before our trip in December.
"We haven't been told that much about the trip, but we are on the Gold Coast for nine or 10 days and play Australia five times, I think."
Symes said she was honoured to be the first ever to receive a Nga Tawa Cap
Nga Tawa director of sport and 1st XI hockey coach for the past two years, Paul Tessier, described Symes as an exceptional player and said being chosen for the Junior Black Sticks was reward for hard work and dedication over a long period.
"Being capped for 100 matches was also well-deserved," Tessier said.
"Actually Charlotte has probably played more than 100 matches, it's probably more like 110-115 even allowing for injury. We base it on the number of games in the Manawatu competition each season, quadrangular and other tournaments and interschool fixtures."
Tessier said her speed and ability to quickly read a game were her assets.
"She's a midfielder who can play striker.
"In fact, you could throw pads on her and she'd make a wonderful goal keeper," Tessier said.
