The Western Region Academy of Sport hockey squad heads to Newcastle this weekend for the Inter Academy Games. Over 400 athletes, coaches, managers, officials, support staff and hockey families will converge on Newcastle for the tournament which will bring together both boys and girls squads from the Western Region, South West Sydney, Illawarra, North Coast, Southern Sports, Hunter and Northern Inland Academies of Sport. They are joined by the NSW under 18 girls team (which includes five WRAS squad members!) who are looking forward to the challenge of playing in the boy’s competition. The Games play an important role in the development of young players in that this competition is based on the philosophy of opportunity and participation. The tournament is seen as a friendly and no pressure environment where athletes can apply the individual skills and tactics they have been developing as part of their squad training in a game situation without the pressure of having to win. The WRAS squad heading to Newcastle consists of James Griffin, Caitlyn Hadley, Jocelyn McGarity, Dylan Smith (Bathurst), Murray Bennett (Canowindra), Andrew White (Carcoar), Courtney Sammut (Clarence), Jaime Buckmaster (Cowra), Robert Singh, Kurt Ward (Dubbo), Shelby Craig, Sarah Hodgkinson, Ben Redding, Beth Redding, Luke Thurtell, Keeley Hunter, Mahala Williams (Lithgow), Amy Symons, Sarah Whiley (Millthorpe), Troy Kenny (Mudgee), Keegan Brooke, Ashleigh Carr, Timothy Eslick, Nicholas Hill, Nicholas Milne, Alexandra Savage (Orange), Sarah Melhuish, Jacob Townsend (Parkes), David Reid (South Bowenfels) and Holly Luck (Wallerawang). Five WRAS athletes Molly Bright, Amelia Burke, Claire McGarity (Bathurst), Kayla Orrock (Stuart Town) and Jade Warrender (Orange) will represent the NSW U 18 girls team. The benefits of the Academy Games extend beyond the hockey field. According to Nancy Haslop, Executive Officer of the Western Region Academy of Sport, “this competition represents an excellent chance for squad members to get together. As most Academy athletes are spread throughout their Academy region, events such as this provide an excellent opportunity for the athletes to develop team skills and mix socially with not only their own squad members but also other hockey players from around the state.”