GERRINGONG teenager Grace Stewart will encounter two very different types of tests in the coming months - both on the sporting field and in the classroom.
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Stewart has been busier than usual this year, juggling her burgeoning hockey career with HSC studies.
The 18-year-old has a jam-packed calendar ahead too, with exams and national duties looming on the horizon.
The Kiama High School student is headed for Perth this week, as part of the 38-member Hockeyroos squad.
During the week-long visit, Stewart will train with the Hockeyroos.
While there, two Australian teams, A and B, will also play against Korea and each other in a series of trial matches.
Stewart will be part of the B squad, and was excited to be in the mix regarding future representative honours.
“They pick the actual Hockeyroos team after that,” she said.
“I probably won’t be picked, but it will be a good learning experience.
“It’s encouraging, and showing me they have confidence in me for the future.”
Stewart was also selected in under-21s Australian team, who will head to Argentina in October for a series of Test matches.
She will also complete some of her HSC testing while overseas.
“It’s going to be a challenge to do the HSC over there, but I’ll work it out somehow,” she said.
Stewart name-checked fellow Illawarra junior and Hockeyroo Casey Eastham as a major source of inspiration.
The teenager said she “used to do just about everything” with regard to different sports, she was now focusing primarily on hockey.
This includes forgoing a promising touch football career.
“I’ve been playing touch through school, but had to pull out [after being chosen in the NSW Combined High Schools team] as it clashed with hockey.”
“[After the HSC] I’ll probably move to Sydney, depending on how I go in my HSC, as I’m keeping the options open.”