Captain's Blog: Taylor-Paige

I think a group of girls truly become a team when they battle, train, struggle, and endure mental, as well as physical, obstacles together. A team is built through their preparation and how willing each teammate is to go through a wall for each other. While our team is dispersed throughout the world, I don't doubt we will be able to come together. As long as we each have the same goals and commit to going the distance to see them through, New Zealand could definitely expect to see another top finish. Having such an incredible model from our Men's Black Sox Champion finish in the most recent World Series, it should bring another inspiration for us to want to succeed. I'm proud to be a kiwi, and even prouder to have the opportunity to represent the beautiful country. 

What it means to wear the silver fern on my jersey still chokes me up and this will be my third tour. It is a complete honor to be named captain of the 2013 team especially having huge footsteps to fill behind Rita Hokianga. The New Zealand supporters we have around the world, the family we play for, the country we represent, and the love we all have for the game makes all the days of training worth it. I'm a California girl who plays in Wisconsin, but my heart is always in New Zealand. This team and playing for NZ means everything to me, and I am truly humbled to be apart of the journey again this year. 

Playing college ball now, I have been training harder than ever before and I know I am speaking for all of the other US based girls as well. It is extremely hard to not be able to go to New Zealand and train with our team, but our heads are all in the same place. I know the girls are well coached and we have many returners to bring some of the younger girls along. Additionally, having new girls brings new skills and a whole new personality to our team. I know how hard the NZ and Aussie girls have been beginning to train and, again, I wish I could be more present there. 

I look forward to the day we all come together between the white lines, stand side by side, perform our haka, and show the world again that New Zealand has come to play. To all my old and new whanau on the team, wear the silver fern with nothing but appreciation and gratitude for being able to play the game and travel the world doing it. 

Much love, 
Taylor-Paige (TP)