State hockey team has South West flavour

One third of the State women’s under-18 hockey team will be from the South West when they head to Tasmania for the National Championships next month.

Charlotte Massey, Georgina Dowd, Meg Read, Shannon Dyke, Ashleigh Barbetti and Jacqui Hutton have all been chosen in the squad, with Boyanup Hockey Club’s Tom Harvie the only South West representative in the boys team.

The South West Academy of Sport athletes will all head to Launceston for the championships, which run between March 13 and 21.

SWAS hockey program head coach Russell Harvie said it was a great result to have seven players play for WA.

“We have a lot of talent down here, but it also comes down to hard work and commitment,” he said.

“All of these players are all really keen to learn and are dedicated to their training programs.”

Harvie said Australian representatives Tristan Clemons, Jake Harvie and the now-retired Jayde Taylor, showed that South West athletes could make it all the way to top.

“That is the beauty of SWAS, we supplement the training they do in Perth down here,” he said.

“Those guys making it show that you can make it from here.

“It gives these kids a bit of a pathway and something to aspire to.”