Local Sports Star Award nominee Jessica Nagy makes the grade at touch football for Scorpions
JESSICA Nagy has plenty going for her in several sports, including touch football, athletics, netball and AFL as she savours a highly successful year.
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JESSICA Nagy has plenty going for her in several sports, including touch football, athletics, netball and AFL as she savours a highly successful year.
The Asquith teenager has been busy across all these sports but would not have it any other way, saying the icing on the cake was selection for the Sydney Scopions under-16s touch footy side and then scoring the first try in the competition.
The modest 15-year-old, who is our Local Sports Star nominee, cannot get enough of touch footy, with her mum saying she lives and breathes it.
Jessica’s massive nerves before her debut for the Scorpions Under-16s proved unfounded — not only did the team win the title with an unbeaten streak but she also won the Coach’s Award for sportsmanship and leadership.
Even better, Jessica was chosen for the prestigious State Merit team, a rare achievement for a rookie.
“I don’t think I could ever describe how ecstatic I was to make the Scorpions team,” Jessica said.
“It was a dream come true, I put a lot of effort into training and getting prepared for the trials and when I saw the email that I had made it, my goodness, it’s the happiest I have ever been.
“I definitely learned from that experience (at the competition) to use your nerves to your advantage and keep pushing — if you put the work in, it will pay off.
“My all time favourite sport is touch football and I first started it when I was in Year 4.
“I could barely catch the ball, let alone play it properly. But as I progressed, I enjoyed the sport more and more.
“I have had incredible coaches over the years, every single one of them have been so supportive.
“My short term goal is to be selected in the woman’s Scorpions NTL (National Touch League) team.
“I also want to be selected for the Australian touch football team, but I have a lot of hard years ahead to make that a reality.
“I got into AFL umpiring through a coaching program I did at school.”
In cross country, Jessica was a member of the champion under-15 independent Girls Schools Sports Association team and also represented the Combined independent Schools.
Jessica has done long jump for the IGSSA, netball and basketball for her school, Abbotsleigh, while being a registered umpire with the AFL.
Her dad Paul said Jessica has beaten injuries and works very hard in her sports, even running at night after her regular training in the morning.
Jessica, was also the 2013 Athletics Champion at Hornsby North Public School.
The Local Sports Star Awards are now closed.
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