Shooter O’Connell selected for Steel team

Jennifer O’Connell has ticked off a massive goal at just 19-years of age, by earning a place in the Ascot Park Hotel Southern Steel team.

The talented shooter will represent the Club in the 2017 ANZ Netball Elite League.

“I’m absolutely thrilled – I can’t wait. It’s definitely been a dream since I was a little girl,” O’Connell said.

“As a player I want to keep developing and just being in the Steel environment with quality team-mates and coaches will play a huge part in that.”

O’Connell is a member of the Silver Ferns Development Squad and was included in the national Pathway to Podium initiative, a partnership between Sport New Zealand, High Performance Sport New Zealand, national sports organisations and regional bodies. She is also eligible to represent the NZ U21 team at Netball World Youth Cup 2017.

Steel chief executive Lana Winders said O’Connell’s inclusion was testament to the pathways available to local players.

“Our local girls are being sought after by other franchises and it’s a reflection of the quality coaches we have in our Zone that players like Jen are in hot demand.”

O’Connell will be joined in 2017 by captain Wendy Frew, Shannon Francois, Te Paea Selby-Rickit, Jane Watson, Jhaniele Fowler-Reid, Gina Crampton and Te Huinga Reo Selby-Rickit.