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After a ruptured Achilles tendon at the start of the year ended her netball season, Michaela Sokolich-Beatson did not expect to be back in the Silver Ferns GD bib anytime soon.
She says being named in the 16-member squad last month came as a surprise. It is the result of some dedicated rehabilitation following an operation on her tendon (HM June 3).
Her fitness met the very high standards required by the Ferns coach and selectors, even though she is still not able to play.
“Things progressed a lot faster than I thought – I didn’t expect to be back until next year,” Michaela says. “I’m doing a lot of netball specific training on my own but am not ready for group training yet. My base fitness is there, but I have to build up again to my standard, and work on court craft.”
Currently she is renegotiating her contract with the Mystics. At the end of this month, she will see her surgeon and hopes to be cleared to return to court.
“I’m very excited and happy to be in the squad,” she says.
The former Whangaparaoa College student, who is in the final year of PE study, was first selected for the Mystics in 2016 and went on to join the Silver Ferns in 2018.
