Nichola Lowe has big plans. She’d like to play for not one, but two national teams – in indoor and outdoor netball to be precise.
“It’s been my goal since I was 10. It would be nice if I could achieve that,” the 17-year-old from Springwood said.
Recently home from representing Australia in indoor netball at the Junior World Series in South Africa in July, she can now tick one of those goals off the list.
In December Nichola was selected in the Australian under 17 team much to her delight, and her team were crowned champions, undefeated in their 12 games against New Zealand and South Africa in Johannesburg.
The grand final against South Africa was a nail-biter, going into extra time, with Australia winning by two goals.
“The experience was amazing,” Nichola said. “To go away and play for your state that’s amazing and to play for your country that’s a whole new level of excitement and nervousness.”
As it was her indoor netball national team debut, Nichola wasn’t expecting too much time on court, and was pleasantly surprised to spend the majority of the game time on court.
She was fortunate to have family who made the long trek to South Africa to watch her play, including her grandparents Don and Noelene Nott.
Playing centre and wing attack, the Winmalee High student loves the speed of the game.
Training in preparation for the tournament had stepped up to five times a week in Sydney.
Nichola also plays outdoor netball for Blacktown, and had played for the Blue Mountains Netball Association since age six. At 12 she took up indoor netball as well, and has been selected on NSW teams.
“I love them both for different reasons. I love the pace of indoor and I love the more complicated outdoor [netball],” she said.
She hopes to make state teams again when trials are held later this year.
