Abby Sargent

Hockey/Cricket Player

It’s about your whole team and the way they connect. As you walk out you know that your team has got your back.

For most young athletes, the idea of representing their state in a single sport is the ultimate dream — a goal that takes years of dedication and hard work to achieve.

Abby Sargent, a student at MacKillop College, has turned that dream into reality not just once but twice. She has earned her place on the national stage with appearances for both the Tasmanian Women’s U16 hockey team and the Tasmanian Women’s U16 cricket team.

I haven’t got a preference for one sport over the other,” says Abby. “I’d say there’s a more relaxed vibe in cricket, because even when you’re on the field the ball isn’t always going to come to you, and in between balls there’s a break so you can chat to your teammates. In hockey, it’s more high intensity because as soon as you step out onto the pitch you’re going to be involved somehow. Sometimes I’ll play both in the space of a week which provides a really good balance.

Although Abby is equally passionate about both sports, it was hockey that came first for her. Her father, Phil, plays and coaches hockey at both club and state level, and several other members of Abby’s immediate family also play – so it was no surprise that the backyard games she played as a child soon progressed into club-level participation.

“My dad’s side of the family have been involved with Tasmanian hockey now for several generations,” Abby says. “It’s great to have that history with the sport. With cricket, I’m not quite sure what actually drew me to that in the first place. I think there must have been a junior program happening in my area and I said why not, let’s just give it a crack.”

The connections that I’ve made are one of the big reasons why I play both sports. I just love the fact that there’s so many people around in the community that share that passion.

Abby was recently honoured with All Australian hockey team selection at the U15 School Sports Australia Games. This achievement speaks volumes about her individual skill and prowess on the field - but Abby is quick to point out that the true joy of hockey comes from the camaraderie and teamwork, which she considers one of the sport’s greatest rewards.

“The first time I played for state hockey, I felt so much pressure,” she confesses. But now I’ve played a few tournaments, I know it’s not just about the game play. It’s about your whole team and the way they connect. As you walk out you know that your team has got your back. In hockey especially, it’s not just about you playing well as an individual. Everyone working together is what ultimately creates a win.”

Although cricket requires more of a focus on honing individual skills like batting and bowling – which means that training sessions involve fewer team drills than hockey – Abby still believes that working together as a collective is key to success, and a significant part of that takes places off the pitch.

“A lot of the best times I’ve had in state tournaments has been off the field: pre-game and postgame activities, going out for dinner or that kind of thing,” she says. “The connections that I’ve made are one of the big reasons why I play both sports. I just love the fact that there’s so many people around in the community that share that passion. It can take a long time to get down to the changeroom sometimes because I run into so many people, and then when you finish one conversation you turn around and there’s immediately someone else you want to speak to.”

Abby’s extensive experience across two sports means that she has already navigated the challenges of moving through different age groups and teams - transitioning from being one of the oldest in a cohort, to one of the youngest. Just as she remains diplomatic about choosing a favourite between cricket and hockey, she finds it equally impossible to pick a favourite between these different roles.

“There are benefits of being the youngest and of being the oldest, to be honest!” she says. “If you’re one of the older players with a lot of experience, that positions you as more of a leader in that team. But then the next year when you move up, you can look at the people who are one or two years older and think oh wow, I wish I could play like those guys.”

“One of the main reasons I want to continue playing and improving is that I see people I look up to playing interstate or playing for Australia, and I just go ‘You’re so cool. I want to be exactly like you.’ It’s such an honour every time to wear the Tassie jersey, whether it’s for cricket of hockey: it feels like there’s a clear pathway in both sports, and playing for the state is a part of that. But the other key thing is the people – that’s what makes it all so much fun.”