This year’s National Championships marked the first time Bendigo Roller Brave Harriet Caldwell represented her state, lining up for Victoria in Brisbane.
It has helped Caldwell gain invaluable experience playing alongside seasoned players, while showcasing her skill and adding to the score sheet in her first tournament.
“The exposure she’s had to the pace of the game at this advanced level is an important stepping stone for the next stage of her development and high-performance pathway,” said Harriet’s mum, Rhi.
A basketballer before her injury, Caldwell is no stranger to the game and is keen on learning and developing.
Coach Jason Bryant says her positive attitude and mindset are just some of the attributes that stand out in her game.
“Whether winning or losing, Harriet takes on the challenge with the same great attitude. It’s a great asset for her personally and makes her a great teammate to have in our program.”
In a challenging environment, Caldwell showed that hard work pays off.
“In any given game, you see a mix of players ranging from beginners to Australian team representatives on the court at the same time.
As a debutant in the Victorian team, Harriet made the most of every opportunity on court, working hard and making great decisions.
She worked well with her teammates and showed how her hard work is paying off, being able to contribute at both ends of the court.”
Caldwell’s speed and agility – just a couple of her strengths – were on display at the Championships.
“Harriet had great all-around improvement in the lead-up to the National Championships. The biggest improvement I see is in the development of her decision-making on the court.
Wheelchair basketball moves at a fast pace, and Harriet has a good read on the game and makes great decisions on the court.”
Caldwell suffered a spinal stroke while warming up for a domestic game in May 2023 and has been attending one-on-one training sessions with her coach at Red Energy Arena.
Caldwell has also been lucky enough to receive guidance and train under the watchful eye of Australian Gliders record games holder – and Bendigo’s own – Shelley Matheson, after being scouted by Australian Gliders Coach Craig Campbell.
“It will be exciting to see where she will be after a season of WNWBL.”
