Grace Watson | Sport

Kia Ora,
My name is Grace Watson. I am currently a year 12 student attending St Pauls Collegiate School. This year I am studying English, Statistics, Biology, Chemistry and Agri-Business. Although I am still unsure, I am interested in studying Health/Medicine when I finish school. Outside of school I have a passion for both Netball and Rowing. I have been playing netball ever since primary school, starting off as a defence however settling as a GS/GA. Part of playing shooter is being under pressure most of the time, personally I thrive in this environment as I love a challenge. Last year as a Yr 11 I was selected as part of the New Zealand Secondary School Girls Netball team to participate in the Oceania School Girls Tournament held in Auckland. I was indescribably proud to be representing my school, family and country. I was also humbled to be named in the starting seven against Australia in the Final, which we won. Due to unexpected opportunities with rowing last season I was unable to be part of the team second year in a row. Coming to St Pauls in Yr 11 I decided to take up rowing as a summer sport as it complimented my netball needs well. Little did I know that this new found sport would give me the chance to compete on the world stage. I fell in love with the physicality of rowing and thrived in this environment leading me to be named as three seat in the New Zealand Junior Womens Coxless Four earlier this year. We travelled to Lithuania – this being my first time out of little New Zealand – to compete in the World Junior Rowing Championships. After a rough start to the week we managed to scrape into the A final and placed a solid 6th behind China. This opportunity was amazing, it has triggered my travelling bug! There are no words for my love of sport, it has shaped me into the patient, determined and focused young woman I am today and for that I will be forever thankful.