"I'm impressed," she said. "I learnt a lot from watching the games on television."
Kate (16) has been a member of Otago junior hockey teams for the past five years and will represent New Zealand for the first time in October as a member of the under-16 team against Queensland in Auckland.
She was the only Otago player picked in the girls' team after the New Zealand under-16 tournament in Christchurch.
Kane Russell (Otago Boys) made the under-16 boys' team.
"I'm so excited about it," she said.
"I'm so happy about it. It's good having Kane there because he was in the team last year as well and knows what to expect."
Kate comes from a family of achievers so it is natural that she should aim for pinnacles herself.
Brother Liam (18), the first piper in the history of John McGlashan to reach A-grade status, was runner-up in the under-21 New Zealand solo piping championships last year.
Mother Jan represented Otago and North Otago at hockey.
Mike, her father, has won three New Zealand bowls titles and won a bronze medal in the singles at the 2002 Commonwealth Games.
She gets a few tips from her parents.
"Mum and Dad are always pushing me to do my best," Kate said.
"I watched Dad win his pairs title in Dunedin two years ago."
Kate learnt dedication from her family and trains hard five days a week for her sport.
This includes dribbling a ball around their home. She also runs.
Her hockey has improved since getting one on one instruction from master coach Dave Ross.
"Dave has helped me with vision work," Kate said.
"I am trying to look up when I am dribbling to see where my team mates are."
She has also been instructed to dribble with the ball away from her feet and to get into a position in the circle from which to score goals.
Kate is a versatile sportswoman and has also represented Otago at cricket and football.
