Sponsorship Insight - An interview with Ava Wadsworth, Scottish Hockey Aspiring Squad Player

The daughter of Richard Wadsworth, our Director Glasgow, has been selected to represent Scotland at under-18 level. Looking to support a member of our Carbon family we decided to support Ava's hockey by sponsoring the Scotland U18 squad, known as the ‘Aspiring’ squad.

We had the pleasure of interviewing Ava to find out more about her hockey journey and her future ambitions.

Q: How long have you been playing hockey for?

Ava: I’ve been playing hockey for eight years. I started at my local hockey club and I've been playing and coaching the juniors there ever since. I later started playing hockey at school and went on to play for my district, which eventually led me to being involved in the Scotland squad about four years’ ago.

Q: Why did you start playing hockey?

Ava: It looked like fun and I was attracted to the fact it was a team sport. I had previously trained as a gymnast, which is an individual sport, and I really liked the team dynamic of hockey. The team element continues to be important today, allowing everyone to be involved and to share the highs and lows. I love really getting to know my teammates, both on and off the pitch.

Q: Why are you so passionate about playing hockey?

Ava: This comes back to the team aspect, and being part of a close group, going through all the ups and downs together. In addition, there is always room to improve, learning from coaches, team members, even the opposition. And of course there is nothing like performing well and winning matches. I also love my role as a coach of the juniors at the local club, being a part of helping them to develop into better players.

Q: Describe your major highlights and achievements in hockey.

Ava: I was lucky enough to be selected to go to Spain (Terrassa, near Barcelona) in summer 2022 to play in an eight nations tournament where we placed fourth. It was an unreal experience playing against some of the top teams in the world, and with the beautiful backdrop of the Spanish mountains. Another huge highlight, this year, was being chosen to take part in a GB pathway camp where I got the opportunity to train alongside the GB team and the GB development squad at Lilleshall.

Q: Are there any short-term goals you'd like to accomplish in hockey in the next 12 months?

Ava: I’m looking forward to going to Belgium at Easter to play for the Scotland under-19 team against Belgium, Germany and Spain, and my goal is to put in a strong performance individually and as part of a team. Following that my goal is to be selected for the under-18 team for the Euros in Germany in mid-July.

Q: What do you believe is the greatest challenge most young athletes are facing today?

Ava: The competition to get into teams. The selection process, certainly in hockey and I’m sure in other sports, is long, intense, time-consuming and, at times, mentally challenging. In addition, you have to be disciplined to manage your time at a busy period in your life with exams and other commitments.

Q: Do you have any hobbies or interests outside of sports that you want to pursue?

Ava: I want to become better at playing the guitar, something that has taken a backseat!

Ava's passion for hockey and her drive to succeed are admirable. We wish her all the best in achieving her short-term goals and continuing to develop as a player. It's clear that the skills she has learned through hockey, such as teamwork and discipline, will continue to serve her well in all aspects of her life.