EAST Kurrajong netballer Monique Clifton has been selected for the NSW under-17s team to play at the national championships in April next year.
Clifton said she was thrilled with the selection because it was the first time she would play at this level.
“I was amazed. I didn't even make the second team last year so to make it this year was a big achievement,” she said.
Clifton, 16, said she was excited to play at the national championships.
Clifton used to play club netball for Macquarie in the Hawkesbury City Netball Association.
She started her junior representative career with Hawkesbury’s state age teams but now plays netball in Blacktown.
She also attends Hills Sports High School and hopes to one day be a professional netballer.
She said her favourite players were Kim Greene and Sharni Layton.
Clifton said she had met Greene a few times, and she had given her some advice, which Clifton said had helped her.
“She has always talked about resistance and determination, and I think a few of her talks have helped me along the way,” she said.
Clifton said the fact she had not made the NSW team before was similar to Layton, who is renowned for being overlooked by selectors for a number of years before eventually turning into one of Australia’s best netballers.