The sixteen-year-old hockey enthusiast has been awarded Rising Sports Star for the month of May in recognition of her talent and dedication to the game of hockey.

Montanna, who is undertaking a physical recreational course as part of her Year-11 studies at Busselton Senior High School, has always been crazy about sports but she decided to focus on hockey when she moved with her family from the state’s north-west in 2000.

These days she’s devoting at least 15 hours a week to training and playing hockey and on top of that there’s lots of travelling time.

“It is exhausting the travelling really takes it out of me, said Montanna. “But I just love hockey and I want to take it as far as I can.”

Montanna plays for local team Robins – usually as right wing or in the centre-forward position.

She was selected to represent the SouthWest in the under-13s regional team for two years and then the under-15s South West regional team two years in a row.

She was also selected into the SouthWest Academy of Sport for hockey, which meant training over the summer period in Bunbury.

At the end of the 2008 season Montanna was awarded fairest and best for the Under-15s Robins team as well as overall fairest and best for the Busselton Hockey Association.

She was also selected for the under-15s State team last year, which required travelling to Perth every weekend for training.

Her team travelled to Newcastle where they won gold and are currently the national under-15s champions.

This year Montanna has been selected to represent the under-16s State schoolgirls’ team and she’s currently training in Perth on Friday evenings and Saturday mornings.

Her team will travel to Townsville in August to compete in the national championships. The Australian under-16s schoolgirl team will be selected at the championships and Montanna is hoping that she can impress selectors enough to be included in the Australian side.

Montanna isn’t afraid of hard work, and with the support of her family, she’s got her sights set on hockey stardom.

“My ultimate goal would be to play for the Hockeyroos,” she said. “But in the short term, my aim is to be selected onto the State team and play as many games at State-level as possible.”

Montanna picks up a cash voucher for $200, which has been kindly donated by Donna’s Cafe.

This will be a great help as she prepares for her upcoming hockey trip to Townsville.