Melton netball rising star Mel Oloamanu may not be hitting the court much lately, but her talents have not gone unrecognised.
Oloamanu was recently awarded a School Sports Victoria Blue, the highest award in school sports in the state with just one winner per sport, and she said she was blown away to be recognised.
“I was so surprised, I never expected to have something like this,” she said.
“My family were so excited. It feels like another accomplishment that I was trying to achieve this past year playing the sport that I love and good reward fo the hard work.”
The awards are normally presented in March at a gala ceremony at the MCG, but were pushed back and eventually cancelled due to the ongoing pandemic.
Oloamanu last year captained the Australian under 17 team in an international tournament in New Zealand, and has also been selected in the Victoria Fury squad (one level below the Vixens) and has a spot in the state development squad.
Now training in practice matches against senior Australian players, Oloamanu has hopes of joining them on the big stage one day.
“Since getting into the Fury they’ve improved my fitness heaps, and my knowledge of the court plays so it’s come a long way,” she said.
“We played a practice match against the Vixens, and was playing on (Diamonds goal shooter) Caitlin Thwaites, and that was a hundred times harder than what I’d played before.
“It’s a good challenge, and hopefully I can keep progressing. This season has been cancelled so hopefully I can get into the squad again next year and keep improving. Hopefully one day I’m in the Diamonds as well.”
Ewen McRae
