Phoebe loves both her intense sports

Phoebe Steele takes a break from study at Columba College. Photo by Christine O'Connor.
Phoebe Steele takes a break from study at Columba College. Photo by Christine O'Connor.
In the space of two weeks, Columba College pupil Phoebe Steele went from studying for exams to being a dual international.

Phoebe, an Otago Daily Times 2014 Class Act recipient, has been selected for the Junior Black Sticks and the New Zealand under-19 touch team.

She will go to Australia's Gold Coast with the hockey team for five games against Australia next month, before playing the Australians in three touch games in Sydney in January.

Phoebe, who moved to Dunedin from Christchurch in 2012, was sports prefect this year and has also been awarded a University of Otago leaders of tomorrow scholarship for her studies.

With her secondary school education almost complete, the talented sportswoman will study for bachelor of physical education and bachelor of applied science degrees at the University of Otago next year.

Choosing a favourite sport is tough for Phoebe, who has played hockey since she was 5 and touch since she was 9.

''Sometimes I can't wait for the hockey season to be over ... and with touch I can't wait for it to be hockey season. Just because they are so intense ... but I love them,'' she said.

Phoebe, who is usually a striker in hockey, plays for her school and the Southern under-18 side, and also made a New Zealand Barbarians under-21 team.

She plays touch for Columba, which recently finished second at the South Island championships, on Tuesday nights, and for the Otago women's team on Thursday nights.

Due to her hockey commitments for the Junior Black Sticks, she will miss out on the national touch championships next month.

Phoebe is not looking too far into the future, but hopes to make it to the top in one or both sports.

- Robert van Royen

 


FAST LANE

Name: Phoebe Steele (18).

School: Columba College.

Sports: Hockey and touch.

Achievements: Named in Junior Black Sticks and New Zealand under-19 touch team.


 

Add a Comment