Rising Stars
Rising Stars
September 27, 2006
Section: Sport
Vanessa Mann
BREAKING a drought of almost ten years, Illawarra Sports High School Year 12 student Vanessa Mann has been selected to play for the Australian U19 Schoolgirls Soccer Team, to compete in three international matches against a touring New Zealand Schoolgirls squad in January 2007.
Vanessa is the first female outfield player to be selected from the Illawarra in almost 10 years. Vanessa was in fact selected in 2004, however due to a broken ankle was unable to tour. In 2005 she was selected in the shadow squad.
Vanessas selection came after competing at the Australian National Schoolgirls Soccer Tournament in Canberra, where she captained NSW to victory through all games including the final against an invitational NSW team.
Vanessa currently plays club soccer with the Illawarra Stingrays First Grade team in the NSW Womens Super League.
Juggling HSC commitments with her soccer commitments has been Vanessas biggest challenge this year she says.
It all been worth it though.
I am so excited to finally be playing for Australia.
I just have to make sure I stay injury free between now and January, Vanessa said.
And Ill be finished my HSC by then yay!