States, wins and amazing achievements!
What is this you may ask. It has been some time since you last heard from me. About a month, I believe. I’m even thinking of splitting up my LiveJournal posts so you don’t have to read so much in one hit!
But a lot has happened in that time. State competitions, injuries, trips to Bali, trips to Melbourne and AFL games, and reality shocks of going back to work. I’ve been a busy little bee.
Shall I start off with States. Wow. That was one seriously intense, exhausting, amazing and rewarding week. All these emotions rolled into one. It was brilliant, the best I’ve been to.
Sunday morning. Everyone arrived at the apartments to get ourselves sorted for a full week. It was pretty hectic. The group of people we had with us; myself, as netball captain and dance captain. Erin as my moral support in just about everything. Ash as my male dancer partner. 8, lovely girls who are my back dancers with so much talent it’s unbelievable. A further 6 girls, who compete in the netball. A couple of the dancers are like me and compete in both. Carys, our lovely, lovely netball coach who is unbelievable. Juddy, the volleyball coach (no, I’m no volleyballer. I draw the line there! I’m terrible) and his team of volleyballers.
The captains, coachers and helpers have their own apartments, and the other players have a twin apartment and share with another person. And they are really quite lovely and modern, in the city and close to where we compete. They have all the luxuries; the spas, the plush couches. And everyone had a very comfortable stay.
Sunday was the day we arrived, settled in. And then off for training sessions in the afternoon at the Basketball centre. We trained and got ourselves ready for the next day.
That night, we were off to dinner at a pasta place which everyone really enjoyed. Then back to the apartments for movies and team meetings.
Monday morning…. Big excitement! I think many of us didn’t get much sleep, because of the nerves and excitement. At last years states, we came off with A grade netball champions, dance overall winners and I got champion dancer overall. We had a reputation to maintain!
The buses took the teams over, and I drove Ash, Juddy and Carys over. Which was lucky for us; the buses got stuck in peak hour traffic hence why we arrived at the stadium well before them! The opening ceremony was as per usual. But I did get a big of a shock when I was awarded a commendation for mentoring and achievements. I was really honoured.
Our dance came first. We left the volleyballers at the stadium to compete whilst the dance crew went off to compete. We left really happy with our routine. Off to netball, where we dominated in our first game. I can’t remember the exact scores off the top of my head, but we did really, really well and won it for our efforts. I umpired a game, then we went back to collect the volleyballers, ready for a night out.
Off to dinner, then the movies we were on the Monday night. The whole part of the experience is going out and being with the team. Most watched Transformers, and a couple of us watched Kung Fu Panda 2. I watched Kung Fu Panda, and it was okay. Not brilliant, but not terrible.
Tuesday, we got the dance results from the previous day. We aced it, and were placed top of the ladder. Then we did another routine, another netball game and another umpiring round for me. And we watched Juddy’s volleyballers. Tuesday night, we had dinner out, and then a bit of shopping.
Wednesday, did it all over again. Very happy and we were all placed well. Wednesday night, we had pizza ordered in and the night in at home. Jayden also managed to scare the crap out of us. He arrived, late on Wednesday night. I was asleep, and I heard the scream from outside, but given the girls were still up, didn’t think much of it. But because Jayden had just finished his shift and was still in his uniform, he scared the bajebers out of Brooke and Tahlia. Who knows what they were doing up near midnight but he freaked them out. They were laughing a few moments later though when they realised who it was. And then he scared me. He had my apartment key, and so he unlocked it, and came and sat on the bed. Oh dear… But he stayed with us, and it was good.
Thursday. No netball game for us because our wins on the previous days meant we were automatically in the grand final. Our dance routine worked well. The volleyballers lost, but were looking forward to playing the next day. I was less than impressed, however, to have the back of my car smashed in. I was inside when it happened. But Juddy and the volleyball girls were nearby when it happened. An idiot who cannot drive a bus was trying to park and drove straight into the back. I was less than impressed when Juddy came in and got me. So my car had to be towed. Lucky Jayden was on duty, and had not long left the stadium, so he came back with his partner and they took a statement. Thursday night, everyone was a bit sad at it being the last night. We had had such an awesome week. Off to late night shopping, where I brought way too much. And Juddy had to chauffeur us around in his car, given mine was towed away. My poor little Astra…
We were all exhausted come Friday morning. The girls were a bit bouncy the next morning, which is weird because it had been such a long week. But then I found out Juddy had been feeding them jellybeans all morning and hyped them up!
The netballers had our final game… and we won! We held on to the title of A grade winners. Such a great feeling. Off to the volleyballers next, who won their game and came in third. They weren’t expecting it, and we were thrilled. Then to find out the dance results. As a team, we won overall, the same as we did last year. And I was awarded overall dance champion, same as last year. So we had held onto all our titles… but there was more. Ash and I were awarded the award for overall partnership which was excellent. And my choreography for dance won as well. And one of our girls Brooke was a runner up merit. We were absolutely over the moon… we were leaving with a swag of trophies, and not one team missed out. Amazing.
The whole experience was amazing. From the protests that I got the biggest LCD TV in my room, to the physio sessions and aches. The team were amazing, and at the closing ceremony, we were cheering so loudly from the stands.
The biggest of thanks go to my fellow captains, coaches and helpers. You made the week so easy and fun.
To the girls, dancers, netballers, volleyballers… who gave up their week to come and achieve the greatest goals. And to their families, for yet again entrusting me with their talented children.
To my family, my friends and my special friend overseas. Big support network, and the most amazing family I could ever ask for.
This is not the end of the entry, but it is for now. Next update, will be about the days ending States… Will be back soon!
Thanks again, best wishes,
Emma x x
But a lot has happened in that time. State competitions, injuries, trips to Bali, trips to Melbourne and AFL games, and reality shocks of going back to work. I’ve been a busy little bee.
Shall I start off with States. Wow. That was one seriously intense, exhausting, amazing and rewarding week. All these emotions rolled into one. It was brilliant, the best I’ve been to.
Sunday morning. Everyone arrived at the apartments to get ourselves sorted for a full week. It was pretty hectic. The group of people we had with us; myself, as netball captain and dance captain. Erin as my moral support in just about everything. Ash as my male dancer partner. 8, lovely girls who are my back dancers with so much talent it’s unbelievable. A further 6 girls, who compete in the netball. A couple of the dancers are like me and compete in both. Carys, our lovely, lovely netball coach who is unbelievable. Juddy, the volleyball coach (no, I’m no volleyballer. I draw the line there! I’m terrible) and his team of volleyballers.
The captains, coachers and helpers have their own apartments, and the other players have a twin apartment and share with another person. And they are really quite lovely and modern, in the city and close to where we compete. They have all the luxuries; the spas, the plush couches. And everyone had a very comfortable stay.
Sunday was the day we arrived, settled in. And then off for training sessions in the afternoon at the Basketball centre. We trained and got ourselves ready for the next day.
That night, we were off to dinner at a pasta place which everyone really enjoyed. Then back to the apartments for movies and team meetings.
Monday morning…. Big excitement! I think many of us didn’t get much sleep, because of the nerves and excitement. At last years states, we came off with A grade netball champions, dance overall winners and I got champion dancer overall. We had a reputation to maintain!
The buses took the teams over, and I drove Ash, Juddy and Carys over. Which was lucky for us; the buses got stuck in peak hour traffic hence why we arrived at the stadium well before them! The opening ceremony was as per usual. But I did get a big of a shock when I was awarded a commendation for mentoring and achievements. I was really honoured.
Our dance came first. We left the volleyballers at the stadium to compete whilst the dance crew went off to compete. We left really happy with our routine. Off to netball, where we dominated in our first game. I can’t remember the exact scores off the top of my head, but we did really, really well and won it for our efforts. I umpired a game, then we went back to collect the volleyballers, ready for a night out.
Off to dinner, then the movies we were on the Monday night. The whole part of the experience is going out and being with the team. Most watched Transformers, and a couple of us watched Kung Fu Panda 2. I watched Kung Fu Panda, and it was okay. Not brilliant, but not terrible.
Tuesday, we got the dance results from the previous day. We aced it, and were placed top of the ladder. Then we did another routine, another netball game and another umpiring round for me. And we watched Juddy’s volleyballers. Tuesday night, we had dinner out, and then a bit of shopping.
Wednesday, did it all over again. Very happy and we were all placed well. Wednesday night, we had pizza ordered in and the night in at home. Jayden also managed to scare the crap out of us. He arrived, late on Wednesday night. I was asleep, and I heard the scream from outside, but given the girls were still up, didn’t think much of it. But because Jayden had just finished his shift and was still in his uniform, he scared the bajebers out of Brooke and Tahlia. Who knows what they were doing up near midnight but he freaked them out. They were laughing a few moments later though when they realised who it was. And then he scared me. He had my apartment key, and so he unlocked it, and came and sat on the bed. Oh dear… But he stayed with us, and it was good.
Thursday. No netball game for us because our wins on the previous days meant we were automatically in the grand final. Our dance routine worked well. The volleyballers lost, but were looking forward to playing the next day. I was less than impressed, however, to have the back of my car smashed in. I was inside when it happened. But Juddy and the volleyball girls were nearby when it happened. An idiot who cannot drive a bus was trying to park and drove straight into the back. I was less than impressed when Juddy came in and got me. So my car had to be towed. Lucky Jayden was on duty, and had not long left the stadium, so he came back with his partner and they took a statement. Thursday night, everyone was a bit sad at it being the last night. We had had such an awesome week. Off to late night shopping, where I brought way too much. And Juddy had to chauffeur us around in his car, given mine was towed away. My poor little Astra…
We were all exhausted come Friday morning. The girls were a bit bouncy the next morning, which is weird because it had been such a long week. But then I found out Juddy had been feeding them jellybeans all morning and hyped them up!
The netballers had our final game… and we won! We held on to the title of A grade winners. Such a great feeling. Off to the volleyballers next, who won their game and came in third. They weren’t expecting it, and we were thrilled. Then to find out the dance results. As a team, we won overall, the same as we did last year. And I was awarded overall dance champion, same as last year. So we had held onto all our titles… but there was more. Ash and I were awarded the award for overall partnership which was excellent. And my choreography for dance won as well. And one of our girls Brooke was a runner up merit. We were absolutely over the moon… we were leaving with a swag of trophies, and not one team missed out. Amazing.
The whole experience was amazing. From the protests that I got the biggest LCD TV in my room, to the physio sessions and aches. The team were amazing, and at the closing ceremony, we were cheering so loudly from the stands.
The biggest of thanks go to my fellow captains, coaches and helpers. You made the week so easy and fun.
To the girls, dancers, netballers, volleyballers… who gave up their week to come and achieve the greatest goals. And to their families, for yet again entrusting me with their talented children.
To my family, my friends and my special friend overseas. Big support network, and the most amazing family I could ever ask for.
This is not the end of the entry, but it is for now. Next update, will be about the days ending States… Will be back soon!
Thanks again, best wishes,
Emma x x