Charlotte Raleigh has dominated the netball court across the region for the last few years but she now has the chance to make a name for herself on the national stage after being selected to play in the NSW under 19s.
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The New England Girls’ School student has played in both local and representative competitions as well as being part of the Northern Inland Academy of Sport’s squad.
Raleigh said her selection in the team of 12 to compete at the national tournament in Canberra in April surprised her but she ready to grab the opportunity with both hands.
"It is something I have been aiming for for a long time, or striving to be the best netball play I can,” she said. "It is a bit of a shock finding out but still such an amazing opportunity and experience to come.”
Raleigh’s home town is North Star and her selection makes her the only inland country athlete in the squad.
She has been part of the NSW development squad before but this is the first time she has been chosen to play on the court for the state.
With most of her teammates coming from metropolitan areas, Raleigh is looking forward to the opportunity to learn from her peers in Canberra.
"I have played at a representative level for several different districts and played with the development squad in Sydney. Just the experience, playing with such an amazing team, a team with such knowledge and being a part of that, being in that atmosphere of playing high level netball,” she said.
Raleigh has a long way to travel for training sessions before the tournament, but is aware of the commitment she has to show to continue to pursuing her dream.
"A lot of travel for training in the lead up but it is definitely worth it to play such level and to have these opportunities, you have got to take them while they last,” she said.
With her first taste of state representation just months away, Raleigh is eager to keep reaching higher in the sport and hasn’t ruled out a potential netball career.
"I think there are so many more opportunities now with the structure of the Australian competition.”