It didn’t take long for Darley’s Olivia Cawthray to make her mark on the national scene on the mixed netball court.
Having played mixed netball for a number of years, Cawthray’s first foray into the Victorian state team has led her to earning an Australian squad camp call up.
Cawthray said it was a crazy feeling to have been picked to head to the camp in Canberra in August.
“It’s really exciting, I was very surprised,” she said. “I’m very happy.
“I got an email saying congratulations.”
Cawthray said she first heard about the Australian camps at the national championships when others were speaking about the under-17 national team being announced.
Being her first year at nationals and representing Victoria, Cawthray said this was beyond her wildest dreams.
“I was happy with how I did, but there’s still some room for improvement,” she said. “It was my first year and I didn’t know what to expect.
“I loved the national environment and had never done anything like that. It was another step up.”
Cawthray’s introduction into the Victorian mixed side came through her good mate and Darley coach and teammate Shannon Blackman.
Blackman has been involved in the Victorian team for a number of years.
“I was talking about wanting more training and she asked had I looked at mixed,” she said. “They were looking for a shooter and I fell into it that way.
“She coached me in under-15s and has always been there. She’s a great coach and great person.
“It was a confidence booster.”
Cawthray said she would look to follow this pathway as long as she’s having fun.
She said mixed was a completely different game to just female netball with a lot more physicality on court.
It’s been a whirlwind couple of years for Cawthray since returning from an ACL injury.
She said it’s been crazy how everything has fallen into place and she’s able to do more than what she had beforehand.
At Darley, she has been part of the side that has made the past three grand finals under Di McCormack, who has been there through most of her career.
The side currently sits second on the ladder, with Blackman coaching this season.
“Hopefully we can finish it off this season,” Cawthray said. “We don’t want another second place.”
If she wasn’t already busy enough, Cawthray has been playing for the North East Blaze in the Victorian Netball League 23 and under side.
The side was knocked out in the preliminary final on Wednesday night.
Cawthray herself backed up team of the year selection last year, with winning the hot shot award as the division’s leading goal scorer this year.
“I love the Blaze and can talk for hours and hours about the amazing girls and people around us,” she said.
“I’ve been happy with my season but it comes down to other people around me and I couldn’t ask for a much better amount of support behind me.”
