The teams have been selected for the Virtus Global Games and Victoria has an amazing five women and four men chosen to represent Australia.
Taking place between 4-10 June in Vichy, France, The Global Games is the world’s largest elite sports event for athletes with an intellectual impairment. Thousands of athletes from Europe, America, Asia, Africa, and Oceania will participate across ten main sports.
This year will see three Australian teams compete, with one men’s and two women’s 3×3 squads set to pull on the green and gold.
The men’s team, the Boomerangs have selected Victorian young guns, Jack Innella and Matt Farrar, along with Jake De La Motte and James Myers who are seasoned campaigners and will provide depth and experience on court.
For the Pearls, who will field two 3×3 women’s sides, nine members of their gold and bronze winning team from the 2022 Oceania Asia Games return, including the 2023 Ivor Burge MVP, Victoria’s Montana Haag- Witherdon along with Jessica McCulloch, Evangeline Patterson, Mia Wilson and Racheal Potter named as the reserve.
Julia Walsh, Head Coach of the Boomerangs, said a thorough process had been undertaken to select the team.
“The Boomerangs have gone through a rigorous selection process, and we have a strong 12-person team – it really is a testament to our state coaches who have lifted the quality of the Ivor Burge National Competition and the athletes participating,” Walsh said.
“Based on the previous INAS Global Games we had a vision of the style of play, the players required and training we wanted to implement, so the coaching team are looking forward to bringing this team to the championships.
“We believe they will be competitive and experienced going into the Global Games in France.”
The Global Games were last held in Australia in 2019 and saw the Boomerangs score silver and Australia’s women’s teams both medal with a silver and bronze.
Head coach of the Pearls, Larry Davidson, said the women’s teams had a balanced mix of players.
“We are very fortunate to take two teams of five for the 3X3 Virtus Global games in Vichy France,” he said.
“Even though all of our players have pulled on the green and gold before, we have a good combination of experience and youth to blend within the two teams.
“Expectations are high coming off an intense National Championships where the teams were able to battle it out in the 3×3 format for the first time in Australia.”
For more information about the Virtus Global Games, click here.
Check out the full rosters below:
Australian Pearls Team
- Brittany Anderson
- Taylor Anderson
- Jasmin Funnell
- Montana Haag
- Madilyn Janssen
- Jessica McCulloch
- Evangeline Patterson
- Louwanna Sheridan
- Mackenzie Wills
- Mia Wilson
- Reserves: Rachael Potter (Victoria)
* Subject to eligibility
Australian Boomerangs Team
- Brayden Cowell
- Frazer Dawber
- Jake De La Motte
- James Doyle
- Matthew Farrar
- *Jack Gilbertson
- Keenan Georg-Dent
- Zachary Georg-Dent
- Jack Innella
- Brad Kinross
- Justin Koenig
- James Myers
* Subject to eligibility
Good luck to all three teams in France!
