NZ selection takes student by surprise

St Matthews Collegiate fifth former Kylie Henderson was "pretty surprised" by her selection in the New Zealand under-16yrs girls hockey team to play Queensland in a three-game series in Auckland.
Henderson, 16, had been happy with her form for Wairarapa, at national tournament during the last school holidays, but those who had made the national side were told letters informing them of their selection would be arriving just a few days after that, and when nothing was received she thought she had missed out.
"I think it took about 10 days for my letter to come so I was fairly certain by then I wasn't in the side," she said. "I was pretty surprised when I found out I was."
For Henderson it is the first time she has been selected in a New Zealand age group side but provincial honours have often come her way since she took up hockey at the age of six.
She was just 8yrs old when she made the Wairarapa under-11 side, and she played in both the Wairarapa Rawleigh trophy and Collier trophy teams while of primary school age, captaining the Collier team in 2002.
The following season she was part of the Wairarapa under-15s, and last year she skippered that side and was named to attend a coaching clinic taken by Back Sticks assistant coach, Chris Leslie.
Last season also saw her play some matches for the Dalefield club side which won the Wellington premier division club title, and she made the Takitimu Maori women's team coached by Black Stick, Caryn Paewai.
And in 2005 the St Matthews College first XI player has made the Wairarapa under-18s and now the national under-16s.
A prolific goal scorer who plays either at centre forward or inside right, Henderson has a "take it as it comes" attitude when it comes to her hockey ambitions.
"I don't really aim to get in any particular teams, I just love playing the game and what will be will be," she said.