Talented teenager has more than one string to her bow
While she may be only 15, Pareraukura Gilmartin-Kara is clearly playing at a level beyond her years in netball and basketball.
The St Paul’s Collegiate pupil fondly remembers her experiences back at her marae, Maugatautari, where she became familiar with netball, sparking an interest she has maintained..
“When I first started playing netball my marae, Maugatautari, got me into playing there first and gave me all the knowledge about the game – started me off with the basics.
“As I grew as a player they started giving me more things to work on..
“I think personally, they made me the player I am today.”.
No stranger to representative sides, Gilmartin-Kara featured in the Tainui under-17 netball team who were crowned champions at this year's Aotearoa netball tournament.
She was also a member of the under-17 Hamilton netball squad that competed in Christchurch where she was selected in the tournament teams for both competitions..
In addition to her netball accomplishments, Gilmartin-Kara went on to play for New Zealand at last month's Fiba Oceania Youth 3x3 Championships at which they finished runners-up to Australia..
If that was not enough, the talented student has represented Waikato in basketball at the under-21 and under-19 levels – winning a national title with the under-19s squad..
The former Cambridge native admits she relishes the chance to play both sports but she does have a preference. "I definitely enjoy doing basketball more..
However, she is quick to point out that netball could possibly provide more opportunities in New Zealand..
"I think [netball] is going to get me further [than] basketball..
“I think netball [in New Zealand] is more developed as a sport and there are so [many] more girls who play netball..
The duel athlete says the mental aspect is what she loves about sports, but like many sportspeople, she dislikes working on her fitness..
“[I'm] definitely not a fan of fitness,” she jokes..
“I think maybe it's the thinking side of things and just playing sports that gets you out there and keeps you fit – keeps you good looking too,” she said..
Gilmartin-Kara is under no illusions a time will come when she will have to choose one sport over the other.
But for now she is enjoying her time in both and has a fair idea where she would like to go in the future.
She hopes to work hard and gain selection for a provincial side – even play for the Silver Ferns one day.
Alternatively in basketball, Gilmartin-Kara would love the chance to play for a college in the United States.
For the teenager, off-season training with the St Paul’s netball side is the priority with national competitions completed.
The pace is set to pick up in term four when she will look to trial for further representative sides with the major focus on making the New Zealand side to travel to Sydney in January.
“I'll be pushing hard for that [New Zealand selection] and hopefully next year looking at Aotearoa Maori for netball.
“After that maybe another national title – a three-peat for under-17s for Tainui – and hopefully get us up there for Hamilton City.
“It's all about the teams.”
