But then Prospect 12-year-old Shelby Steward is no ordinary athlete. 

 A two-time state BMX champion and a four-time winner of the Northern Midlands cross-country, Steward has tried her hand at swimming, football and netball in recent years.

But it’s hockey that has captured the Queechy Penguins junior’s imagination, and she will play alongside Tamar’s Chloe White next week as the only two Northern Tasmanians in the state under-12 team at the School Sport Australia championships in Newcastle.

“My brother (Zakk) got me into it, he started playing about three years ago and so I decided I wanted to play as well,” the Hagley Farm student said.

“This is my first year … I was really surprised (to make the team).

“It’s going to be really tough and hard because I know there’s a going to be a lot of really experienced under-12s players there, so I’m just there to have fun and experience it.”

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Steward’s father David said she had plenty of ticker and would never give up. 

“The coaches are really happy with her and she’s continued to progress,” he said.

“From her netball days she was a defender, she’s got really good defensive skills but they’ve picked her as a running striker because she can run all day.”

The SSA hockey championships run from Monday to Friday next week.