By Amelia Barnes
Every year, Netball Victoria hosts its State Titles – a three-day competition that brings together representative teams from 18 regions across the state.
The tournament is a chance for athletes to compete against some of the best players in their age group, and an opportunity to be noticed by talent scouts looking for Victorian netball’s next big thing.
16-year-old Sophia Kotzur was one of the standout players who was talent identified (TID) at the 2024 State Titles event, leading her to trial and be selected in the top 25 players in the 17/U Victorian state squad.
The defender from Wodonga has relished the opportunity to train against her peers and learn from some of the best coaches in the high performance program as part of the extended squad, from which the final 12-person team is selected to represent Victoria at the National Netball Championships.
“It's so fun, I love it so much. The coaches are so good and I’ve learned so much already,” Kotzur said.
Many of the athletes in the state squad have previous experience at this level of the Netball Victoria athlete pathway, but Kotzur isn’t intimidated by the occasion, and is already noticing an improvement in her game.
“I feel really good, and if I don't understand something, I feel comfortable enough to ask the coaches,” she said.
Standing at just under six feet, Kotzur is a tall but athletic player who can easily transition between goal defence and goal keeper as required by her team.
She credits her ability to pull in rebounds and get involved in the contest to her background in basketball.
“I kind of play basketball … to get a bit tougher and get rebounds,” Kotzur said. “I'm definitely better at netball, though.”
Just getting to training is a big journey for Kotzur, who travels over three hours each way from Wodonga alongside Molly Moylan, who is also in the state squad, and plays with Kotzur in the local Ovens and Murray Football Netball League.
The driving is usually split week to week by Kotzur’s dad and one of Moylan’s parents.
The pair are just two of the exciting young athletes currently in the Netball Victoria pathway hailing from the Hume region and surrounds, near the Victoria-NSW border.
Among them in the state squads is Milly O’Kane (17/U) from Wangaratta NA; Holly McCarthy (19/U) also from Wangaratta NA; Eliza Mooney (19/U) who plays for the same local club as Kotzur; and Mia Lavis (19/U) who hails from Howlong and is a 2025 Melbourne Vixens training partner.
Kotzur said her home club, Wodonga Raiders, provides a great foundation and fantastic coaches including Shaylah and Jodie House who are invested in players’ development.
“They're really skilful coaches,” said Kotzur. “They know a lot about netball, and I've learned so much from them that helped me get here.”
Kotzur said playing at State Titles, and subsequently being TID, has been a major milestone in her netball journey to date, and is especially important as a regional athlete.
Eliza Allen is one of the many talent scouts looking for promising players at the annual event, and is cognisant of what the occasion means to athletes, particularly those based outside metropolitan Melbourne.
“An event like the State Titles is especially valuable for regional athletes as it provides them with exposure to a higher level of competition they might not regularly experience in local leagues,” Allen said.
“It offers the opportunity to measure their skills against some of the best athletes in the state, which can inspire growth and highlight areas for development.
“Additionally, State Titles allows regional athletes to showcase their talent in front of scouts and coaches, potentially opening doors to be TID that might otherwise be challenging to access.”
Visit the Netball Victoria website for more information about State Tiles and how to trial for your region
