Mason on cloud nine

It’s only Wednesday, but it’s already been a big week for former New Plymouth Girls’ High School multi-talented athlete Parris Mason.

Yesterday, the 17-year-old was selected in the Te Wānanga o Raukawa Pulse squad for the 2021 ANZ Championship season.

Then today, she was selected in the New Zealand U21 netball squad ahead of next year’s Netball World Youth Cup.

“It’s overwhelming but it’s an exciting journey I’m ready to take on,” she said.

Mason found out about the selection into the Pulse squad but had to keep it under wraps until it was announced yesterday.

“My parents were the first to know. That’s about it. It wasn’t too had to keep it from my friends, but I wanted to share it.”

When the news was made public, she shared it with everyone.

“They were all blown away and were all happy. They knew it was coming.”

For the past two seasons, the defender has been at Manukura School in Palmerston North, earning selection to the New Zealand Secondary Schools netball team last year.

Mason will join Silver Ferns Katrina Rore, Maddy Gordon and Kelly Jury in the squad.  

The season will start in January when the team assembles to prepare for the season.

As for the New Zealand U21 squad selection, Mason said there is a camp next week and they will receive more detail about the remainder of the programme.

The Netball World Youth Cup is scheduled for June next year in Fiji.

Mason represented New Zealand teams in netball before along with basketball and touch rugby while being a Year 10 student at New Plymouth Girls’ High School in 2017.

She was also in the Sport Taranaki Future Champions programme in 2018.

While still playing all three sports, Mason said netball comes first.

“I definitely think that in the last year I’ve prioritised netball and pushing netball ahead of the other sports.

“If there is a clash it’s always netball,” she said.

She did acknowledge that it’s important to be involved in other sports and gives her a break away.

“Touch helps me in the pre-season, keeping me fit. They provide another option.”  

Newly appointed Central Pulse coach Gail Parata said she was watching a secondary school competition online, while she was in the United Kingdom.

She then saw Mason live in Wellington while playing in a Beko invitational tournament and caught her eye again.

“Parris stood out. She’s classy, talented and has a real future if she continues playing.”

Article added: Wednesday 16 September 2020