Kaitlyn Grimaldi is an impenetrable force in front of a hockey goal. 70153 Picture: JOE MASTROIANNI
By Liam Twomey
GOOD luck getting anything past rising hockey star Kaitlyn Grimaldi.
The 13-year-old has been on the fast track to success ever since she found her way down to the goal net in the under nines for Footscray.
“She was inspired to play hockey by a primary school teacher who was a goalkeeper,” Kaitlyn’s mother Marjorie Aked said.
“In under nines they don’t have a goalkeeper but she would always jump into the goals when the ball came down there.”
In the four years since making the hockey goals her second home, Kaitlyn has been jumping through the local age groups and winning selection in representative teams at a rate of knots.
She played one year in the under 11s before jumping to the under 13s. She then played one year in the under 13s before jumping to the under 15s.This pattern continued until now when at the age of 13, she finds herself playing for Footscray in the under 17s.
Kaitlyn said there was a notable difference in power when she stepped up to the older age groups.
“It scares the crap out of me but it’s better, you feel the adrenaline. It’s like you get used to it even though I’m not used to it yet but it’s still really good for me,” she said.
“It helps (playing up an age group) and you know what its like. Think about it, if I can face hits from them, no under 13s can hit like that.”
With a resume that already boasts selection in the 2008 Victorian Hockey Development Squad, selection in the Victorian Primary School State Team and representation in the Western Metropolitan Hockey Team the last two years, the West Footscray resident is entitled to take a break.
However, the teenager is packing her bags for a trip to Alice Springs with the Victorian Team for the National Hockey Championships in October.
“She has been lucky at Footscray, they have a great goalkeeping program. She was coached by Rachel Lynch who is the Hockeyroos goalkeeper and now she is being coached by Ashlee Wells who is the Victorian Vipers goalkeeper,” Aked said.
With that all-star coaching panel behind her, it’s left up to Kaitlyn to pick and choose what advice best suits her.
“You sort of look past their title and just focus on what they are saying. You listen and then try and take it on board. Sometimes people will say different things and you will have to weigh up what works best for you,” she said.
“I still use stuff from under 11s that I got taught from my coaches there.”
One thing is for sure – with Kaitlyn defending the goals at the National Championships, the Victorian side is in good hands.
Any local businesses or community groups that would like to sponsor Kaitlyn in her trip to Alice Springs would be much appreciated. They can get into contact with Marjorie Aked on 0411 460 465.
