Cardijn College netballer Tyler Orr takes out monthly award in Messenger School Sports Awards
MEET one of South Australia’s future sports stars.
WHEN Tyler Orr missed out on selection for SA’s team at the under-17 National Netball Championships grand final last year, she was gutted.
But the Seaford teenager used the snub to fuel her motivation to succeed.
Orr’s persistence was rewarded during this year’s under-17 nationals – where the Matrics midcourter helped SA claim back-to-back titles.
“The first year that we won gold, I played the whole tournament and then – in the grand final – I didn’t get to play because of a match-up,” Orr says.
“I was heartbroken.
“I learnt a lot from that and worked a lot harder to make sure I got that spot the next year.”
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The Cardijn College Year 12 student is the southern monthly winner for June in the secondary school category for this year’s School Sports Awards.
The awards, supported by Messenger Community News, recognise achievements of SA sportspeople aged 10-18 during the past year.
Nominations are open until October.
Orr, 17, plays for Matrics reserves and was on the bench for a league match last month.
Although she is becoming known as one of the state’s up and coming centre players, she began her netball career as a defender.
It was not until she made her debut in a state team at 15 that coaches told her she would be better suited to the midcourt.
“I do find it a challenge sometimes because some of the girls I come up against have been playing centre for a while,” Orr says.
“But I enjoy it.”
Orr is on a netball scholarship with the South Australian Sports Institute and juggles training up to seven times a week with her studies and a part-time job.
She hopes to help lead Matrics to grand final this season and has a long-term goal of playing for Australia.
The School Sports Awards, launched this week, are in their 21st year.
Any student enrolled at an SA school is eligible to enter.
Male and female finalists for primary and secondary school categories will be announced later this year.