Emma Putt earns U19 State Netball Team selection
At the age of four old, Emma Putt, made the decision to join her primary school netball team and hasn’t looked back… Besides a little bit of water polo on the side.
“I do enjoy both netball and water polo but was drawn to netball because of the friendships that have come with the sport as well as the opportunities. I still play water polo where I can.”
The now eighteen-year-old, has accomplished plenty in her short career to date, making Western Australian State Teams at U15 and U17 level and now as an U19, who will compete this April at this year’s Nationals in Hobart.
Not to mention, her selection into the 2021/22 U/19’s Australian Squad, which landed the talented athlete a scholarship with WAIS at the start of 2021.
“I was pretty happy when I found out the news of my U19 State Team selection for this year, relieved I suppose. I have been in the program for a few years now, but really excited for this year as we get to go away as a team.”
The past two years have been difficult for pathway netballers coming through the ranks, as there has been limited opportunity for athletes to prove themselves on a national platform due to COVID-19 restrictions and the cancellation of two national competitions.
“It’s been pretty annoying not being able to go away, but there’s light at the end of the tunnel at the moment, where we will hopefully get to compete at the Nationals in Hobart in April.”
“I’m really hoping we finish top three at nationals, it’s a good team goal to strive for. Hopefully from this, I am selected into the Australian U19 squad again. It would be awesome to go to a camp in Canberra as the last two years the camps have been decentralised.”
Off the court, Emma enters her first year of university studying a Bachelor of Physiotherapy after completing her high school studies last year.
“It’s been busy juggling Uni and training, but I’d prefer to be busy that not. WAIS has also helped me with this balancing act. It’s also been really good having access to the gym and a program, especially now I’m playing against bigger bodies in open competitions.”
Across the past few months, Emma has also been put to work in a handful of West Coast Fever sessions in the lead up to the Suncorp Super Netball Season, which commences next weekend.
“It has been a really good opportunity being involved with Fever, it’s a confidence booster to know that we are getting looked at. It’s also great being able to play with and against some of the best players in Australia.”