The Star: May 21, 2020

The Star Thursday May 21 2020
24
SPORT
BIG MOMENT: Ashlee Strawbridge is committed to playing
in the United States while also representing New Zealand. ​
International
future looms
for Strawbridge
• By Jacob Page
TIMING ON and off the
court seem to be a strength for
basketballer Ashlee Strawbridge.
The 18-year-old former Rangi
Ruru small forward has announced
her intention to play
college basketball in the United
States later this year just days
after being named in the Junior
Tall Ferns squad.
While her international
ambitions remain on ice due
to the coronavirus outbreak,
Strawbridge is eager to head to
the College of Southern Idaho in
September.
“Everything is still all go,” she
said.
“I’m in contact with (the college)
every couple of days so
things are moving ahead.”
Strawbridge said it was a late
decision for her to go to the
United States.
“It has been a rush because I
wasn’t prepared for it and I never
had the dream of going to college
(for basketball).
“It wasn’t until the end of year
13 when I didn’t really know
what I wanted to do but I knew I
loved basketball and needed an
education that things started to
come together.
“The decision came after I had
gained some maturity.”
Strawbridge is originally from
Ashburton but started at Rangi
Ruru two years ago to improve
her basketball and further push
for national honours.
“I wanted better exposure and
a higher standard of basketball
so moving up here was good.
“I love my coaches in
Ashburton, they really helped
me get to a strong point and
then the move came from that.
‘I didn’t realise I had that
level of talent but the
coaches believed in me
and it really got me to
focus on basketball.’
- Ashlee Strawbridge.
“I was 13 when I first made a
national age-group trial and I
remember jumping around the
house because I was going to
Auckland.
“I didn’t realise I had that level
of talent but the coaches believed
in me and it really got me to
focus on basketball.”
She said the College of Idaho
facilities, size of the campus and
the fact she would be released to
play for New Zealand were all
contributing factors to signing
on for a two year scholarship.
“The place is a similar size to
Christchurch so that was a positive.
“It’s a junior college so if things
go well, hopefully, I’ll make a
division one school after that.”
She said making the Junior
Tall Ferns was a thrill but she
believed the 2021 international
season would be her focus.
“Everyone has had to sacrifice
something this year so hopefully
next year it’s back to normal.”
Strawbridge said she always
prided herself on her physicality
at both ends of the court.
“Every time you step on a
court is a chance to get better
and especially of defence, if I’m
not playing hard then I expect a
coach will tell me.
“A big part of leadership is
setting that example with work
ethic for the younger players and
it’s something I’ve worked on.”
Latest Canterbury news at starnews.co.nz
US college stint in revised
plan for rising tennis star
• By Jacob Page
RISING Canterbury tennis
player Reece Falck is eyeing
events in New Zealand and then
a United States college stint next
year in his revised plan due to
the coronavirus outbreak.
The 18-year-old Burwood Park
club member was named New
Zealand’s junior male player of
the year in 2020.
He had intended to play the
three remaining junior grand
slams and get more playing time
in Europe this season but is now
looking set to play more in New
Zealand as he eyes a move to the
United States.
“College is on the table,” he
said.
“I’m planning to go January
2021 to an American college.
“I’m not sure where yet but I’m
in the midst of trying to sort it
out.”
Instead of being on the clay
courts of Europe, he has spent
time hitting balls with his father,
Andrew and working on his fitness
from home.
“The last month or so has been
hitting with my dad and going
for runs.
“You have to have a look at
this time as an extended training
block.
“This year I was planning to
have a big year of travelling and
trying to play all the big junior
tournaments.
“Now I’ll just try to play
national tournaments and if the
pro tour comes back in the latter
part of this year I’ll try and see
what I can enter there.”
FORMER CRUSADER and
All Blacks tighthead prop Ben
Franks has joined the coaching
staff of Welsh rugby club
Scarlets.
Franks retired from rugby
earlier this year and has
joined fellow New Zealander
and former Highlanders
assistant Glenn Delaney’s staff
as the Scarlets new scrum coach.
The 36-year-old left New
Zealand rugby for the Northern
Hemisphere after being part of
the All Black’s 2015 World Cup
winning campaign.
He played for London Irish
before playing the last two
years at Northampton Saints in
England’s premiership rugby
competition.
Franks played 47 tests for New
Zealand.
Delaney was appointed
Scarlets head coach when
former Crusaders assistant
coach Brad Mooar got the
All Blacks assistant coaching
position.
FUTURE: Reece Falck is looking to head to the United
States in 2021.
PHOTO: TENNIS CANTERBURY
He said the disruption is disappointing
but everyone was in
the same boat.
“Usually I’m doing three sessions
a day,” he said.
“Either hitting twice and
fitness training or two fitness
trainings and hitting once so it’s
definitely been challenging but
you have to make the best of it.
“I was in Malaysia when this
coronavirus kicked-off and I was
there for four tournaments.
“By the end of the second
tournament, the last two had
been cancelled and it was time
to come home quickly.
“I was planning to play the
Junior French Open so I was
going to go to Europe to get used
Ben Franks takes up
to the clay courts.”
Falck, who has a junior world
ranking of 192, said spending
more of this year in Auckland
was now likely.
“Because all of the big name
Kiwi guys are back, Tennis New
Zealand is hoping to hold trainings
in Auckland with all of us.
“No one is sure when yet but
they’re also planning to put on a
premier league-style tournament
up there where we are selected in
teams of three and play against
each other.
“It’ll have all the big name
Kiwis including Michael Venus.
“They’re hoping to start
that next month so I hope it
happens.”
Welsh coaching position
NEXT STEP: Former Crusader and All Black Ben Franks
has taken up a coaching position with Welsh rugby club
Scarlets.
PHOTO: GETTY