New NSR hockey sensation, Savanna Gabriele is definitely the seasoned hockey player.
Savanna started playing from five years of age, but was interested in the game even before then!
The hockey talent shares that she would be in a pram watching her own mother play hockey.
“I’d go up and down the sidelines, and when I was old enough I couldn’t wait to pick up a hockey stick and play!” she said.
The 18-year old had finished High School, and still wanted to pursue both academic and sporting goals, but was at a loss for how she was going to juggle these two demanding areas.
“When this opportunity came up, I thought it was just so great and I just wanted to do it, it expands all your options,” she shared.
The young star jumped at the opportunity to get involved in NSR, yet admits she was nervous upon attending the trial.
“I was so nervous. I didn’t want to stuff it up,” she remembered.
Instead of succumbing to her nerves, Savanna decided to go into the trial with a positive mindset.
“I went for a couple of runs, did some practice and thought, ‘I’ve been doing this for such a long time, why should I be nervous?’”, she said.
Savanna went on to greatly impress coaches during her trial, leading to an acceptance offer with NSR Australia.
“I was in shock. I could not believe it was happening to me, to be honest, I was so happy,” she said.
Now, the young talent can’t wait to experience college life, continue studying exercise science and to play hockey over in the USA.
She looks back on her decision to trial as “definitely” the “best thing” she has “done so far”.
For her fellow hockey athletes that have made the decision to trial for NSR Australia, Savanna has some valuable advice that helped her keep her nerves at bay.
“It’s nothing to be scared of. It’s an opportunity, so go and do your best. It’s nothing you haven’t done before. Relax and have some fun, and do what you normally do,” she shares.
Valuable advice, Savanna! Thanks for the tip!