Melton Hockey star Chloe Schwarze will again get to test her skills against the best in the state.
For a fifth straight year, the Mustangs young gun has been selected in a North West Tigers team for the Junior State Championships.
This year’s championships will be the second time she’s been in the under-15 team, after three years playing in the under-13 team.
She’s been an integral part of the Tigers team each year and been among the goal scores in each championships.
“It feels good and I’m glad I got into the team again,” Schwarze said.
“It gets harder every year. Different people hear about it and come and trial.
“There’s players you don’t know. You have to trial for two hours and then wait a week to find out whether you’ve got in.”
After winning silver last year, Schwarze is hoping they can go one step further this year.
She said she thought they had a team that could win, with most of the team having played together before.
Schwarze, who plays centre forward, wing and centre half, said she was hoping to be selected in the Victorian team.
“I tried out last season but I missed out,” she said.
“This year I think I definitely have a better chance. I have more confidence in myself.”
On top of her representative duties, Schwarze has been combining playing senior and age group hockey for the Mustangs.
Last year she was the club’s leading goalscorer in both her under-14 team and in the Mustangs Vic League sides.
She’s received the club’s most outstanding junior trophy for the past two years.
Schwarze is now one of the leaders of the Mustangs senior side.
“I felt intimated when I first started,” she said. “I didn’t have the same ability as them.
“Being the leading goalscorer last season was good. I was really glad I got that.
“Most people in the team are young this year. They look up to me and my sister [Amy] as they aren’t used to this level.”
If not already busy enough with playing juniors and seniors, Schwarze co-coaches the Mustangs under-10 mixed team.
Mustangs’ Kellie McLaren said Schwarze showed commitment and sportsmanship beyond her years.
“She has committed to learning and improving her umpiring capabilities and can be counted on to umpire our juniors,” she said.
“Her bubbly personality certainly is encouraging many youngsters to continue further into ongoing hockey programs.
“Chloe is very much a favourite of our youngest juniors, always taking the time to encourage and mentor, or just a friendly chat.”
