SOMETIMES children take up a sport because their parents used to play too, sometimes they may have to chose because their mother and father may have played two different sports. Queanbeyan Public School student Claudea Andews decided she would play both and has been selected for both the NSW basketball and netball state squads.
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The 11-year-old only started playing basketball two years ago and was recently selected to play for the under 12s NSWPSSA (NSW Primary School Sports Association) basketball squad after dominating at the NSWPSSA Championships on the South Coast. She will compete in the Pacific Games in Adelaide in November, which will feature elite state teams, but also squads from Canada and China.
Claudea only has three years experience as a netballer and received an invitation to play in the under 12s NSWPSSA netball squad after a strong performance at the NSWPSSA competition in Tamworth late last month. The squad will travel to Perth for the national competition later this month.
The year six student, who plays for the Roadrunners, the Waratahs and under 14s ACT in basketball and Queanbeyan Netball Association in netball said she was "excited and happy" to be selected for the squads and make friends, but admits she was a "bit nervous".
Representing Australia or New Zealand in either netball or basketball is a long-term goal for Claudea, but at the present Claudea said she was happy just having fun playing both sports and she found it difficult to find a preference.
"I think I like basketball better, but I like netball a lot too," she said.
Claudea's mother, Sharon, said she is very proud of her daughter's achievements, but said she is looking forward to following in her footsteps again when she tries OzTag or touch football.
