Dunsborough netball player Charlie Allen claimed the Busselton Freight Rising Sports Star award last Friday night. The award recognizes the achievement of young sports people aged between 13-18 in the Shire of Busselton.
Allen was nominated for participation in netball which included being selected in the 2019 19U State Team where she played in the National Netball Championships, her form so impressive it earned her selection in the 2019 19U Australian squad.
To cap off a big year, the goal attack is also playing in her first Gold Industry Group West Australian Netball League with the Souwest Jets.
The award came as a shock for the 18-year-old, who told her mum not to attend the awards because she thought she didn’t have a chance at winning.
“My parents were rapt, mum was a bit mad because I told her ‘don’t bother coming because I wasn’t going to win’, so she was at home when I called her, she was stoked for me,” Allen said.
“I’ve kind of being struggling a bit with the whole idea of playing netball for a while and it kind of gives you that little bit extra confidence boost and letting me know if I work hard I can do it, if I put in that work.”
A year earlier Allen had decided to take a break from netball before returning to play in last season’s 18’s competition, she said this season she was prepared mentally to in her first GIG WANL season, despite the nerves.
“For me I made a statement like I want to do this, I want to be the best, I think it was that determination and drive,” she said.
“Mentally I think, I just get quite intimidated knowing that I’m going up against a Jess Penny, all of those great people, but once I get on there (the court) it’s not much different to when I went to Nationals; it’s just about keeping calm, that was the issue for me, I’ve just got to trust my skills.”
Allen is juggling her final year of school, which includes plenty of exams and credits the support of her family as well as her teammates and coaches for getting her through the competition which has seen the format condensed due to COVID-19 delaying the start of the season.
“It’s tricky, but you do get that time in the car to study if you need and coaches and players are also supportive if you need that extra time to study for exams.”
The goal attack said the award has given her the opportunity to look at move to Perth next year to pursue netball, work and even University.
“At the moment, I’m thinking of heading up to Perth and living up there, but in terms of netball I’m just going to see how the rest of the season pans out and see what next year has to offer, whether it’s playing WANL or taking a break to working or uni.”
