Fever Signs up WAIS Youngster
The West Coast Fever has announced the signing of WAIS scholarship holder Kaylia Stanton for the 2014 season.
Stanton is a 19-year-old from Perth who is based in Canberra as a dual scholarship holder at the Australian Institute of Sport.
Next week she will head to Glasgow as part of the Australian 21U team which will compete at the World Youth Netball Championships in Glasgow from August 22 – 31.
“I am very excited and grateful for being given an opportunity to join an ANZ Championship team,” Stanton said from Canberra.
“Playing in the ANL (Australian Netball League) with the AIS this year has been great, but it is another step up again to play in the ANZ Championship and I’m looking forward to the challenge of pushing myself at that level.
“Living in Canberra, away from my family, for the past six months has been a real eye opener. I’ve had to be a lot more independent. But in saying that, I am really looking forward to moving back home now as part of the Fever squad.”
Adding to the attraction of playing with the Fever is the fact that one of her childhood friends, Courtney Bruce, remains a part of the Fever squad. Bruce will also be heading to Glasgow with Stanton for the World Youth Netball Championships.
“Courtney and I have known each other through athletics and netball since we were young,” she said.
“We are really close so it makes it even more special that I can join her back in Perth.”
Stanton is a natural athlete. The daughter of three-time Olympian and Commonwealth Games high jump gold medallist Christine Stanton (nee Annison), she never really wanted to choose between athletics and netball.
“I’ve kept doing both, but netball has sort of chosen me as it has given me opportunities like coming to the AIS and being part of the 21U team,” she said.
“Now I want to see if I can develop my game into being a versatile player who can play well at both goal shooter and goal attack.
The Fever has also signed Australian Diamond representative Chelsea Pitman as they look to bolster their playing roster ahead of the next ANZ Championship season.
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