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A teenager says it is “a dream come true” to be picked to represent a top-level netball club’s youth side.
Ava Wincott, who is in Year 11 at Homewood School in Tenterden, came through trials to be selected to play for one of Vitality Netball Superleague club London Pulse’s under-17 teams.
In addition, Ava, from Benenden, was chosen to take part in the National Premier League trial for the main team, but just missed out.
“It was very intense,” said the 15-year-old of the original trials.
“When I looked at all the other girls, they were just phenomenal. I didn’t realise I was that good!
“I came out of it and I just thought, ‘Wow’. It (the trials) was to a very high standard.
“Then late that night, I went to sleep and my mum woke me up and said, ‘You have got in’.
“I’m very excited for this opportunity. All my hard work and training has paid off, and it’s just a dream come true.”
Ava attended her first training session on October 5 and revealed she has been playing the sport for just shy of a decade now.
She said: “I have been playing netball since I was seven when I joined a club in Ashford called Breakaways. Then, in Years 8 and 10, we were asked to do county trials.
“Then I was asked to do the London Pulse trials and I got in. I only found out earlier this year that I had the Pulse trials in September.”
Ava prefers playing at wing-attack - but is prepared to be versatile on the court.
“I play either centre or wing-attack,” she said. “I prefer wing-attack, but I got called up to play centre.
“I’m one of the fitter ones, so I think I find it easier to keep up with the play than maybe some others do.
"It has been a very big part of my life. I’m incredibly grateful to my parents for all the money and hours they have put into it.”
Her schedule is certainly intense. “I play virtually every day,” she said. “Tuesdays, I have Pulse training. Wednesdays, I have school matches.
“On Thursdays, I have matches in Maidstone. On Fridays, I go to the gym. On Saturdays, I have training in the morning and a game in the afternoon.
“Then I have matches in Rainham on Sundays.”
Ava conceded it can be difficult to balance all her commitments as she prepares for a big year in her school life.
She said: “I do struggle with trying to keep up with everything sometimes. I have to have my priorities right, being in Year 11 with my GCSEs.
“I have found it not a struggle, but it’s definitely an extra pressure.”
Kat Beament, one of Ava’s PE teachers at Homewood, said the school had taken part in the ‘This Girl Can’ initiative - hoping to inspire other girls to follow in Ava’s footsteps.
“Ava’s success is really good because it allows girls at school to look up to her,” said Miss Beament. “She shows what you can achieve.
“It’s really important for the school to have a role model, particularly a female one, who other children can look up to.”
