Those dreams are well on their way after the Twizel Area School netballer was recently named in the New Zealand secondary schools side.
‘‘It means a lot,’’ Mason said of being named in the team.
‘‘I’m super honoured and excited. It’s a huge opportunity and I’m really looking forward to it.’’
Mason is in good company and netball in the South is well-represented with St Hilda’s Collegiate netballers Charlee Farquhar and Ruby Hore and Columba College netballers Kiana Brown and Shanti Kara also getting the representative call-up.
Dunedin coach Jo Morrison is also the head coach — previously a Southern Steel assistant and Southern Blast head coach — and is supported by Central Manawa coach Ngamara Milner-Olsen as her assistant.
Mason attended a national development camp for South Island players in Ashburton earlier this year and was later selected to trial for the national team in Auckland, where the 14-strong squad — plus four non-travelling reserves — were named from.
The 16-year-old shooter grew up in Glenorchy, near Queenstown, where the only sports she really dabbled in were athletics and school cross-country.
It was not until her family moved to Omarama that Mason picked up a netball in year 8 and that passion grew when she hit secondary school.
‘‘I love when you’ve got your team and everything just clicks and you’re all in.
‘‘I love how fast it is ... and just the intensity of it. But also being in a team and we’re all really passionate about playing.’’
It is a big year for the national secondary school side, featuring their first time travelling overseas since 2023 following two domestic campaigns.
They will head to Australia, where they will be involved in the Australian under-17 camp and play international games from July 6 to 10.
Mason looked forward to learning from Morrison, a former English Rose and Silver Ferns shooter, and testing herself against a different style.
‘‘Learning a lot — I’m super excited for that and going over with all the girls, they’re all super nice,’’ Mason said.
‘‘Australia will be super cool, but also seeing how they play.
‘‘I know there techniques will be a lot different to ours.
‘‘I think it’ll be really cool. I’m just super excited to learn everything new.’’
