Rising netballer stands tall

Year 12 defender Emma Weenink can expect plenty of advice as she takes rapid steps towards netball stardom.

Still only 16 years of age and with a year to play in her school's senior A team, the determined Wellington Girls' College student has been named in the New Zealand under-21 squad.

Sporting success has come at regular intervals to the wider Weenink family, and they will no doubt keep the young defender's feet on the ground.

Weenink's mother, Karen Harvey, represented New Zealand Universities at netball and was a record-breaking long jumper. Her uncle, Scott Weenink, was a Wellington all-rounder in cricket.

Weenink, however, appears on a path to eclipse these achievements. Also named in the under-21 squad were trans-Tasman regulars Te Amo Amaru-Tibble and Te Huinga Reo Selby-Rickit.

Promising Tactix shooter Ashleigh Smith, from Southland, also got the nod.

The group are being primed for the Silver Ferns.

Weenink was shocked to learn she would be sharing the company of these trans-Tasman players.

Her dedicated approach to training paid dividends, she said.

"Most of what I've accomplished this year is just because of how hard I worked at the beginning of the year," she said.

"I think they see my potential because I'm willing to work really, really hard."

Weenink stands at 1.83 metres and feels comfortable in her towering frame. She hopes to grow at least a couple more centimetres.

Extreme height in the defence circle can translate into success and Weenink's favourite player, Silver Ferns captain Casey Williams, currently stands five centimetres taller.

Weenink was a member of the Wellington senior B team at last month's national championships in Invercargill, and was sent along with fellow schoolgirl, Gina Crampton, to learn what they could from the bench.

Weenink admitted to being starstruck during the tournament.

"It was a really fun team and it was just one of those tournaments where I could learn from watching the experience and enjoying it," she said.

"Gina and I, we were walking around and there was Vilimaina Davu and Anna Scarlett and we were sort of like, wow."

The New Zealand under-21 squad will have its first training camp in November.

- © Fairfax NZ News