Year 13 St Paul’s Collegiate School student Kate Littlejohn has been selected as one of four training partners for the Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic in the lead up to the 2017 ANZ National League season.
As part of this selection Kate trains twice daily alongside professional netballers including Silver Ferns players. She also takes part in all pre-season preparations including camps and promotional work.
The 17-year-old says the new training schedule has been an exciting movement in her netball career but also a challenge.
“I am learning a new and higher intensity of the game. The sessions are very specific to key skills needed on the court,” Kate said.
Although challenging, her fellow Magic teammates have taken her under their wing to help her “learn and develop” new skills.
She says working with Silver Ferns and Magic players has given her a “taster” of what it is like to be a professional netball player and says it would be a “huge honour to play in a black dress and represent New Zealand.”
“As a little kid it’s something you always dream about but I'm just taking it a day-by-day and enjoying playing the game with an awesome group of girls.”
The budding netball star has also been selected for the Waikato Bay of Plenty Beko squad (Magic’s development team.)
As a member of the squad, Kate will play fixtures across New Zealand from March through to June.
