To be selected for a state netball representative team as a bottom-age player is no mean feat.
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That is exactly what 17-year-old Henty export Nakita Singe has done.
The A-grade defender, who was named the Ovens and Murray Netball Rising Star in 2016 for her standout season with North Albury, was named in the final 12-player squad for the Victorian 19 and under state team.
When she’s not playing for the Hoppers, she is involved in the representative system with the Albury Netball Association, which she first joined at the age of 12.
Singe was a part of the Albury Netball Regional Victorian Netball League team who are current state 17 and under premiers and was selected in the North East Regional representative team to compete at the State Championships in both 2015 and 2016, before this week being named to represent Victoria for the first time.
”It’s definitely an honour,” Singe said.
“I really love netball and I've been playing since I was five.”
Singe made the decision to come to Albury to play when she was 15 to get a better level of netball and coaching.
She was only local player to make the final state team, which was narrowed down from 65 to 12 players throughout the year, and wants to go as far as she can.
“There is a lot of travel, but my mum is really committed to it and helps me out,” Singe said.
“I’ve had plenty of support from everyone, coaches, family, it's been really great.”
Long-time Albury Netball Association and North Albury coach Fiona Boyer had no doubt Singe would be successful.
"Nakita has always shown a level of determination since being part of the under 13s representative program in Albury,” Boyer said.
“I love that she has worked so hard and stayed at it.
“She has done what she has needed to do to position herself a bit stronger each season and it has paid off this year.
“One of the great things about making a state team is the development and the opportunities that present themselves.”
The Victorian team will contest the National Netball Championships in Canberra from April 18 to 24, 2017.