Lithgow Panthers stars selected to represent NSW at national championships

Lithgow hockey talents Brenna Croker, Chelsea Marshall, Rylee Millar and Lachlan Wilson have been selected to represent NSW.

Croker will play in the U18 NSW State women's team, Marshall and Millar in the U18 NSW Blues women's team and Lachlan Wilson in the U18 mens State team.

The young guns are part of the Accelerated Athlete Program (AAP) for 2019-20 and have been involved in weekly training and weekend camps which was their pathway to being selected in their respective teams.

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Now they're set to jet to Launceston, Tasmania from April 16 to 24 for nationals.

Croker said she was feeling pretty excited to head away, play some hockey and have some fun.

"I'm feeling pretty good.

"I'm a bit concerned we might not perform as well because we haven't really trained together as a team but I know a few of the girls," she said.

Marshall said it felt good to be selected after being out of the squad for the last four years.

"I'm pretty excited to get back into it and I'm happy I've got my friends with me. We all trial and train together too.

"It will be a good experience for us after winning premier league here and now getting to play at that level together," she said.

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Marshall said she was concentrating keeping up her fitness in the lead up to competition and was getting handy hockey pointers from her dad and Panthers women coach, David Marshall.

Millar said she was also training hard in the lead up to Tasmania.

"I'm training three to four times a week which involves running, stick and ball work as well as playing in our summer competition," she said.

She said all local AAP athletes were training together.

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Wilson who has been playing under Panthers for four years said his selection came as a bit of a shock.

"Initially I didn't put my name down but I was asked to play halfway through the program.

"But, I'm pretty excited it's my first nationals team, I'm a bit nervous as well," he said.

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