Ashling O’Doherty – BMGS – Basketball Scholarship 

Ashling O’Doherty, a Year 12 student at Blue Mountains Grammar School, has had an exciting and enjoyable year on her basketball scholarship at the NSW Institute of Sport. Ashling has fortnightly training sessions with Mr. Damian Cotter – assistant coach of the Opals – and attends the institute at Homebush regularly for strength and conditioning sessions and 3-day camps. As one of only twelve female basketballers in NSW awarded this Scholarship, Ashling has felt privileged to be part of this programme, even though it has been difficult to combine this with her School sport commitments and HSC studies. Recently, to help with the travel issues and make life a little easier for Ashling, Damian has organised for the Boomers’ Centre, Mr. Angus Brandt, to come to Wentworth Falls to work with Ashling.
Ashling recently played her first full game with the Championship team, scoring six points and eight rebounds and receiving 25 minutes game time. The Waratah Championship team is just one level below the professional league and it is a wonderful achievement for a student in her HSC year.