BASKETBALL IS MY PASSION

Hi, I am Meesah and I am 16 years old.  I am in Year 11 and I LOVE sport.  I have done swimming, athletics, rippa rugby, touch rugby, gymnastics, netball, soccer, cricket, volleyball, darts and basketball.  You name it, if it is sport, I will give it a go.   I am lucky that my parents have always encouraged me to try new things, and have enabled me to follow these interests as much as they can. This has often been a big strain on them financially, but Mum just gets on with fund-raising for everything. Raffles, selling food, car washes, selling t-shirts, approaching people for sponsorship – you name it – she’s done it!

I am currently part of college netball, cricket, basketball and volleyball teams.  Although, I have to say, my two big loves have to be netball and basketball.   At the local camp that 5 local primary schools attended I won “Best female athlete” and there were around 300 females there.   When I did gymnastics, I competed at many competitions and won around 6 or 7 trophies individually.  I eventually had to finish this as I was getting very tall and I was playing more and more sport!  In netball, I have won trophies at primary for our team in the local competition along with best goaling average.  I have played representative netball for Te Aroha since Year 6 and was selected for the U17 Thames Valley representative side that travelled to Rangiora to play in the national tournament this year.  I also umpire and enjoy helping out at the local centre when I am not playing myself.

I have been playing basketball since Year 7.  I represented my age groups for Thames Valley for 4 years.  I was selected for the Waikato U17 team this year which won Gold at the national tournament.  I was also chosen for one of the two Waikato 3 x 3 teams to compete nationally.  I have played for the Te Aroha College Senior Basketball Team since Year 9.

Last year I won the Junior Sportsperson of the Year trophy at our College Sports prize-giving and was honored to be presented with a “BLUES” award for my achievement in basketball.

PLEASE HELP ME RAISE FUNDS TO GET TO THE AUSTRALIAN STATE BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT IN JANUARY NEXT YEAR WITH THE NZ KORU DEVELOPMENT TEAM

My goal at present is to be the best I can be in whatever sport I play – and the Koru tour this year is the next step in my goal to be the best I can be in basketball. The hardest two years, academically, are coming up at college, so I want to make the most of every opportunity I can while I am able.

Our family has been working hard to raise money – raffles, mussel fritter stall etc.  We have done well but there is still a shortfall of around $1,200. My Mum and Dad who have separated, both work, but this is a lot of money to find.  We are continuing to fundraise and approach local businesses for help.

I think that mine is a journey travelled by many in New Zealand, although not everyone gets to do and experience as much as I have so far and for that I am very grateful.

This is the third time I have been selected to attend the Australian State Basketball tournament in Albury in January 2017, with the Koru Development U17 team. Flights, accommodation, food, entry fees and uniform costs total $3,800.

My goal for the future is to work with sport or something to do with sport or the human body, whether that be physiotherapy, occupational therapy, personal trainer, camp leader etc.

I would like to apply for the Sir Edmund Hillary Scholarship when I leave college and all the achievements that I have managed to reach so far will all help with this long term goal.