Rising local tennis star Olivia Walmsley has won the 16 years girls division Junior development squad tournament held recently in Narrabri.
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The win propels her to fourth place in the North West region seeding’s.
Olivia said she was very happy to get the win.
“I am now looking forward to the state championships and I will aim to make the state squad,” she said.
Coach Peter Cole said the win brought him to tears.
“It was so fantastic to hear that she made the final, but then when she won it I will admit I shed a tear,” he said.
“She worked really hard for this and a lot of the girls she is playing against have been playing for a long time and this is really her first year playing competitive tennis.
“This is a big milestone achievement.”
Caleb Kemp came away with a third place at the tournament and is now in second place in the under eights division.
“Caleb’s achievement can’t be underestimated either; it is also a pretty big deal,” Coach Peter Cole said.
This Sunday the Academy has 12 players making their way to Tamworth to compete in the second last leg of the junior development series.
Miss Walmsley has also been awarded the Glen Innes Sports Council Sports star of the month.
Miss Walmsley has been selected for the North West open tennis squad that will compete at the state championships in September.
She recently won the doubles at the Glen Innes club championships in the B division and was runner up in the C division singles and doubles at the Far Northern championships.
Miss Walmsley is ranked number 4 in the North West region and is looking forward to the state championships were she will aim to make the state squad.
“I started playing tennis in 2009 and I have only recently started getting coaching from Peter Cole, so making the North West team made me very happy,” she said.
“But I would like to aim for the state squad I feel I have good ground strokes and anything can happen if I play my best.
“If I work a bit harder on my serves and volleys than I know I can improve.”
Miss Walmsley is now giving back to her community by coaching younger players.
“I like coaching the younger players and passing on the tips I get from Peter to them,” she said.
“Coaching is very enjoyable and it also improves my playing which is important.”