Three St Columba’s Catholic College students are in contention for selection on a NSW Catholic schools cricket team.
Ryley Smith, Ben Tracey and Ethan Muller attended under 15s trials last week with 70 cricketers from Sydney metropolitan Catholic schools.
Only 24 made it through and the boys, all aged 14, were happy to make the cut.
The next round takes the trio to Campbelltown on December 4 and 5, where they’ll be thrown into a bigger pool of NSW cricketers.
They will all be battling to make the final two teams representing NSW Combined Catholic Colleges in Brisbane next February.
This competition will pit NSW’s best Catholic schools cricketers against the best cricketers from Catholic schools in all the other Australian states.
A batter and keeper, Ryley plays for Springwood and fifth grade for Penrith Cricket Club.
He’s been playing cricket since age four.
“I want to play as high as I can,” Ryley said.
Living in Winmalee, Ethan plays for North Richmond and fourth grade for Hawkesbury Cricket Club. He’s an all-rounder.
A bowler, Ben also plays for Springwood and sixth grade for Penrith.
Lisa Nyburg, the head of PDHPE and sport at St Columba’s, said it was the first time the school had been represented by three cricketers at this level.
She said the school was very proud of the three cricketers.