KEEPING THE FAITH
YOUNG GOALKEEPER A STAR ON THE RISE
HOCKEY: Lily Kemph stepped up to the plate to be a goalkeeper during her junior days, and it’s starting to pay off big time.
The 17-year-old has made a name for herself as one of the elite keepers in Toowoomba Hockey.
HOCKEY: While her time in the net might have come about by chance, it’s no fluke that Lily Kemph is rising to the top of her game.
The 17-year-old has solidified herself as one of the most reliable keepers in Toowoomba, helping Rangeville’s push for another A1 crown.
Her tenure stopping goals started at just nine years old, when a brave Kemph stepped in where nobody else wanted to.
“How I originally got into goalkeeping was because nobody else wanted to,” she said.
“Everyone was fighting over it, but I put my hand up and said I’d love to do it.
“When you start at such a young age you lose that fear for it.
“If I had started recently it might’ve been more daunting, but playing with such a good group of girls they make it less daunting.”
A Year 12 student at Downlands College, Kemph said she is relishing the chance to further her game at Rangeville.
“I started playing hockey when I was eight for Red Lion and then I went to Past High where I was until about three or four years ago, then I joined Rangeville,” she said.
“All of the older girls are so nice to all of us. There’s about four of us (junior players) that are permanently in there and they’re all so lovely.
“It’s a good club to be a part of. I’ve definitely noticed moving from different clubs into Rangeville how everyone is so much more of a family.
“Even if it wasn’t always a winning thing, everyone would still have a good time and there’d be that family culture.”
Kemph’s level of play has seen her rewarded at the representative level, and she has her sights set on further ambitions
EVERYONE WAS FIGHTING OVER IT, BUT I PUT MY HAND UP AND SAID I’D LOVE TO DO IT.
LILY KEMPH
in the coming years.
“I went away with the Toowoomba U18s side to Townsville and just a few weeks before that was with the Darling Downs in Rockhampton,” she said.
“All we wanted to do in Townsville was avoid relegation, but we ended up doing really well.
“I was recently assistant coach for the U11s Toowoomba team. It was a good experience.
“Next year I’d like to play for a team in Brisbane if I can, but still come back and play for Rangeville.”