Mojo Pulse Coach signs-up Taranaki youngster Kate Wells   27 Aug 2015

Mojo Pulse Coach signs-up Taranaki youngster Kate Wells

Media Release
27 August 2015

Head Coach Tanya Dearns has filled the first of her three Mojo Pulse development spots for 2016 by signing Taranaki youngster Kate Wells.

The Sacred Heart Girls’ College student was invited to attend the Pulse trials last Sunday in Palmerston North and was very keen to make a good impression. “I was extremely motivated to trial for the Pulse as there have been very few ANZ Championship players from Taranaki,” she explained. “I wanted to make my mark and prove that Taranaki netballers can make it to the big league.

“I wanted to be able to represent my zone in the ANZ Championship. People such as Keisha Grant, Erika Maifea (nee Burgess), Lauren Burgess, Amber Bellringer and Kelly Jury have all made it and come from Taranaki, so I wanted to become one of them and be proud of where I come from.”

Former Silver Fern Joan Hodson coaches the 17 year-old’s school team and encouraged Wells to attend the trial. “Joan is a strong influence on me: she encouraged me to trial and prepared me very well.”

The versatile defender has been a member of the Sacred Heart Senior A netball team for the last three years, competing in Taranaki’s Premier 1 competition and playing in all three defence positions. Wells has also represented her region since she was in Year 7 and has played for Taranaki’s U15, U17 and the Taranaki Lion Foundation teams.

Wells received the call from Dearns earlier in the week. “I was very surprised when Tanya called to invite me to join the team. I’m absolutely over the moon! I’m looking forward to meeting the team as I admire every one of them and it is almost surreal that I will be able to say that these girls will be my teammates,” she said.

Next year, Wells plans to study for a Bachelor of Communication at Massey University, but is excited to be playing with the Pulse. “I’m most looking forward to learning from Tanya and the players around me. The fact that playing netball is going to be my job is amazing. I’m ready to work hard and earn my place at the Pulse,” added Wells.

Dearns has been impressed with the youngsters composure and attacking style of play as a defender. “I have observed Kate over the past year, she reads play well and when on attack is a strong distributor through court,” she said.

“Her training ethic for a young player is fantastic, with her fitness results and statistics from our trial a real stand out for me. I look forward to seeing what she can do within our environment.”

The Mojo Pulse roster for the 2016 ANZ Championship now includes nine confirmed players, with Wells joining Katrina Grant, Phoenix Karaka, Elias Shadrock, Jacinta Messer, Whitney Souness, Chelsea Pitman, Ameliaranne Wells and Maia Wilson.

Follow @PulseNetball on twitter and Instagram for regular score updates and ‘like’ facebook/NetballPulse to keep up to date with all things Mojo Pulse.

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