Trevallyn lawn bowler Michael Sims will represent Australia after being selected in the national junior team to contest the trans-Tasman series against New Zealand in March.
TREVALLYN lawn bowler Michael Sims was still pinching himself yesterday while coming to terms with his selection in the Australian junior team to contest the trans-Tasman series against New Zealand in March.
The 16-year-old Launceston College student started in lawn bowls as a 10-year-old after watching his father, David, play, and has been playing in Bowls North's top Challenger League for the past four or five.
``I've been picked in the state under-18 team several times and at the moment I'm in the state men's squad,'' Sims said.
``I was actually playing bowls yesterday when one of the Bowls Australia selectors rang me so I had to call them back.
``I didn't know whether the guy was being serious or not because I didn't expect to get in - especially being from Tasmania because most of the time we get overlooked.''
Sims won a silver medal in the national under-18 fours last October and was part of the Tassie under-18 team that blitzed Victoria in December, winning nine out of 12 games.
``After the last under-18 nationals the selection panel chose a squad of 10 boys and 12 girls and then looked at past results and form before choosing the team of five for the trans-Tasman.''
Sims said he was looking forward to his first national experience playing triples and fours and his first overseas trip.
Invermay bowler Rebecca Quail will join Sims in the trans-Tasman series after being picked in the Australian women's team. Quail will again team up with her world championship gold medal partner Kelsey Cottrell in the pairs and will also play fours.