Netball’s best young players: NSW Swift’s training partner Sophie Fawns profile
She’s a young NSW netballer with a big future in the game. But this Swifts training partner admits she wasn’t always so good and also does something quite unusual in her spare time.
The Wagga News
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Country netballer Sophie Fawns has been on the radar of netball coaches for some time and tipped by many to be a big hit in the sport.
We take a look at how this talented shooter has made it into the Swifts as a training partner, her goals in netball and what makes her tick away from the sport.
QUICK FACTS
Just 17, Fawns hails from Wagga Wagga and is a talented attacking player who is now one of the NSW Swifts training partners for 2021. She played her junior netball with Nixon’s Netball and Kooringal Netball and her senior clubs include Mangoplah Cookardinia United Eastlakes (MCUE), south coast Blaze and the Penrith Panthers
HOW SHE GOT HERE
Fawns, who started the sport when just nine, is a product of the impressive Netball NSW pathway programs.
She has represented NSW at underage national championship level.
But when asked how good she was as netball when younger this was her response.
“Pretty average, especially when I was playing centre.’’
HER BREAKTHROUGH
Fawns was invited by Swifts coach Briony Akle to join the side before the COVID-19 lockdown last year to train with the senior side playing in the Super netball competition.
Her she trained alongside the likes of English star Helen Housby, Sophie Garbin and Trinidad’s Sam Wallace.
Fawns rates training with the Swifts and getting to play in Goulburn against Giants as her “best moment in netball so far’’
LIKES AND DISLIKES
Fawns loves all music and chocolate is her favoured treat.
Her favourite move is The Little Prince and her favourite sport flick - She’s The Man
Basketball superstar Lauren Jackson and Diamonds and Swifts midcourter Paige Hadley are her favourite athlete and netballer.
Spiders are high on her list of dislikes.
BEST ADVICE
Her best advice form a coach - “Trust your abilities, be determined, play without fear of failure. Stay relaxed and enjoy.’’
And the best advice from her parents - “Have confidence and have fun.’’
WHAT YOU DIDN’T KNOW
Away from the game Fawns is also a pianist and enjoys playing, reading and also competing in basketball.
Growing up she wanted to be a doctor but believes if she wasn’t so involved in netball she’d be playing basketball.
2021 QBE Swifts Academy: Alisha Cairns – Eastwood Ryde, Alison Miller – Eastwood Ryde, Amelia Kirgan – Bankstown City, Audrey Little – Manly Warringah, Brooke Paterson – Randwick, Charlotte Raleigh – Armidale District, Charlotte Smith – Sutherland Shire, Chelsea Mann – Manly Warringah, Courtney Castle – Blacktown City, Dakota Thomas – Newcastle, Elle Bennetts – Northern Suburbs, Emma Smith – Sutherland Shire. Erin Asquith – Newcastle, Kara Styles – Sutherland Shire, Kristen Kessler – Wyong District, Laura Towell – Sutherland ShireLili Gorman-Brown – Sutherland Shire, Madeline Eaton – Sutherland Shire, Olivia Coleman – Eastwood Ryde, Papi Alaalatoa – Liverpool City, Sophie Fawns – Wagga Wagga, Tarsha Hawley – Newcastle.
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