GIFTED MORGAN’S FIELD OF DREAMS
The talented and devoted hockey player has travelled far in her pursuit of excellence Marymount College Year 12
AUSTRALIAN schoolgirls hockey captain Morgan Mathison has been rocking shin pads and a mouth guard since the age of four.
The Marymount College student, 17, makes the
commute from Mermaid Beach to Brisbane almost every day for hockey training.
“I just love playing, I love the game and the qualities that it has given me as a person,” she said. “I also love it because of the places that it has taken me and could take me, as well as the strong friendships that I have made.”
Morgan said her passion for hockey was as strong as ever, recently returning with a bronze medal from the Under 21s championship in Wollongong and striving towards her dream of playing for the Hockeyroos at the 2020 Olympic Games.
“I push myself to become a better player every day,” she said. “I’m not sure what’s happening next, but I just have to keep training and see what opportunities fall in my path.’’
When it comes to “keeping up with the Mathisons”, it is clear Morgan’s love of hockey started at home.
“I used to go and watch my parents play every weekend, and so it was kind of inevitable I would one day play myself,” Morgan said.
Managing to balance sport with her studies and social life, Morgan has proved she can successfully do it all.
“Hockey and school consist of many late nights and trying to keep my eyes open in English,” she said.
“However I always do my work to the best of my ability and try to get everything done.
“As for my social life, most of the time I would prefer an early night.”
At the age of 16, Morgan was chosen to play in the Australian schoolgirls team on its tour to South Africa last year.
“It was the most significant moment in my hockey career so far,” she said. “It was definitely the most incredible experience I have ever undergone.
“I became such close friends with people that I had always been competing with and I learnt and saw so many things in South Africa. I wouldn’t change that trip for the world.”