Old hand nervous

Stratford High School student Lara Williams was shocked and excited to be selected for this year's New Zealand Under 18 hocky squad.

While Lara isn't new to the team, having been selected last year, she says she wasn't as confident during the selection process this time around.

"Heading into tournament that the squad is selected from I came down glandular fever, so I definitely didn't feel my best." However, if she has learnt anything from her years playing representative hockey it's that, "you have to give it 110 percent no matter what".

Lara says that it was a "big goal" for her to get into the squad again this year as, "this is the last year that I can play in an Under 18 team".

She looks forward to being a part of the squad this year as she knows a lot of girls in the team. "Throughout the years we have all either played together or against each other."

Lara plays in the Central North Island team with Toko-based Johanna Avery. "At least five of us players from Central made it into the squad which is exciting."

Lara says the next step - the selection of the team from those in the squad - will happen later this year. "Last year we went up to Auckland for a training camp that was attended by the team selectors."