LukeAldred | Sport

My name is Luke Aldred and I am 16 years old. I started playing hockey when I was in year 8. We had an amazing coach who believed in our team and we all learnt to work hard to reach our goals. That year, our school team won at Aims Games. That was the start of my ambition to play competitive hockey and work hard towards making the top teams.

I have been selected into the Waikato Hockey Rep A teams and been awarded MVP, along with our teams achieving Silver and Bronze medals.

At year 10, I was able to make the Hamilton Boys High 1st XI Hockey team and awarded the Most Outstanding Junior Hockey Player. Our 1st XI team won Super 8 Hockey and have since progressed to 4th position in the Secondary Schools Hockey Rankin tournament.

In 2018, I was diagnosed with symptomatic Wolff Parkinson White Syndrome. It was scary and I didn’t want to acknowledge anything was wrong. I thought all my dreams of playing high level hockey would be lost. However, I had a heart ablation and it has made me stronger and even more self-motivated to work hard to achieve my goals.

This year, I have made some great achievements and goals. I made the U18 Midlands hockey team and have just been selected into the U18 New Zealand hockey squad. I am also playing club games alongside very talented hockey players. This is giving me huge scope to push myself further and be able to keep continuing to improve and challenge myself.

I have many high intensity trainings and games each week, with Midlands Hockey, Club and school, which includes Skill Work, Fitness, Strength & Conditioning, with highly experienced coaches and trainers. I thrive on new challenges and am a very dedicated player.

I am very thankful to the ongoing support from my family, friends, Specialists and Coaches. I hope to inspire others: believe in yourself, work hard and don’t let
anything stop you. You can reach your dreams!