By BEN HARRIS
The 2014 National Youth Championships is hours away but for two Queensland girls, it can’t come quick enough.
Queensland Secondary Schools Touch (QSST) players Mia Johnstone and Emma Sykes will don the maroon jersey for this week’s event at the Sunshine Coast Stadium.
But more importantly, they will be playing in front of their family and friends.
Johnstone and Sykes are Sunshine Coast girls – Johnstone is from Twin Waters and Sykes from Sippy Down.
Playing in a big tournament in their own backyard is something the pair of 16-year-olds are looking forward to.
“It is pretty exciting because it is a really good ground and a massive stadium. Plenty of supporters, so it is going to be very exciting,” Sykes said.
This is Sykes’ debut at the National Youth Championships while Johnstone previously played for Sunshine Coast Pineapples.
“The experience will be awesome. Playing at a high level with a lot of girls I’ve grown up playing with, so that will be awesome. Every game will be challenging,” Johnstone said.
Having played in every girls division final since 1996 – winning 14 of the 18 finals including the past two years – there is a lot of expectation on QSST to maintain their incredible record.
“Playing for Queensland you have that expectation in the past about winning,” Johnstone said.
“You have to withhold that but I think you need to just get out there and have fun; make the most of it.”
New South Wales Combined High Schools have been QSST’s biggest threat each year, and 2014 will be no different.
“It is going to be really hard because, even from the under 15s, it was pretty tough competition. It is always hard playing New South Wales and other states,” Sykes said.
Sunshine Coast councillor Peter Cox said he would be coming out and watching the National Youth Championships.
“I came here last year and the competition was really tight and a great spectacle,” Councillor Cox said.
“Anyone out there who hasn’t got anything to do in the next couple of days they should come down here because they will see some quality football.”
Councillor Cox said the Sunshine Coast would benefit from the National Youth Championships, as well as the State of Origin series (played on Friday and Saturday).
“It’s a pretty special time for us and the Sunshine Coast. The players, officials, spectators and families all coming along gives our local economy a great boost, and it is great to show off our great facilities,” Councillor Cox said.
There are plenty of ways to keep up-to-date with all of the latest results, news and information from the 2014 National Youth Championships (NYC).
The Touch Football Australia and NYC websites will be updated regularly throughout the event with all of the latest information and can be found by clicking on the links below:
All of Touch Football Australia’s social media pages will be regularly updated throughout the NYC event, so be sure to ‘like’ and ‘follow’ us by clicking on the links below.
Facebook – www.facebook.com/touchfootballaustralia
Twitter – www.twitter.com/touchfootyaus (be sure to use the hashtag #nationalyouthchamps)
Instagram – www.instagram.com/touchfootballaustralia (be sure to use the hashtag #nationalyouthchamps)
The TFA YouTube channel will also have highlights and game live streamed throughout the event. Please click on the link below to be taken to the channel, and be sure to become a subscriber to the channel - www.youtube.com/touchfootballaus
Related Links
- National Youth Champs
