Makenna Barnett-Suey has reflected on captaining NSW at the recent national under-15s hockey championships in Newcastle as one of the biggest thrills of her young career.
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The Tudor Wests young gun was appointed co-captain of the NSW Stars girls side, leading them to bronze.
She was one of seven Tamworth Hockey Association members that featured in the championships.
Lizzie Ray was also in the Stars side while Jack Marshall co-captained the Lions' boys, who were beaten by Queensland Gold for the bronze in a shootout.
Maggie Highlands, Alyvia Wilson and Hockey New England's Sophia Havas meanwhile suited up for the Lions girls and Blake Scicluna the Stars boys while Mackenzie Scott was drafted into the Northern Territory side.
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Barnett-Suey said being named co-captain was "a bit of a surprise" and "a huge honour".
"It was really good, I loved captaining the side," she said.
To lead them to a medal only made the experience all the more memorable.
"It was good because all the hard work everyone put in really showed," she said.
It was her third time representing NSW at the nationals and second year in the 15s after being part of the side that won gold in Bathurst last year.
"Making the NSW side was a big goal, I was really happy to be selected," the 15-year old said.
Playing in the midfield she managed to get her name on the scoresheet a couple of times and provided one of highlights of the opening day.
Receiving the ball near the top of the circle Barnett-Suey dragged it past the last defender and then on the run slammed the ball into the right hand side of the net.
Her attention now turns to the local first grade competition.
She is looking forward to pulling on the gold and maroon again after missing the first two rounds due to the nationals.
She will also suit up for the Tamworth under-18s and under-15s at the upcoming state championships.
The 18s championships are in Armidale on May 20-22, with the 15s the following weekend in Parkes.
For Ray, who also plays with Tudors, Newcastle was her first nationals and she loved it.
"It was really fun and I just learned a lot," the 14-year old said.
One of her "big goals" - being selected in one of the NSW sides - the experience has only whet her appetite to get another opportunity at that level again.
The medal was a nice bonus, Ray also finding the net a couple of times.
"It was really exciting, a nice memory from my first nationals," she said of the bronze.
An attacking midfielder/striker, she travels up from Murrurundi every week for training and games.
It is about one-and-a-half hours each way but Ray doesn't mind. She just loves hockey.
Due to the nationals she is also yet to turn out for Tudors this season but can't wait to.
After playing predominantly second grade, with the odd game of first grade, last season she is set to get a lot more time in first grade.
"I'm looking forward to stepping up," she said.
Tamworth also had involvement in the under-18s championships up in Cairns.
Dane James was the assistant umpire manager, Sarah Willis an umpire, Tracey Fischer a technical official, and Jenny Taggart the boys State boys team manager.
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