A text from his coach announced the news Urunga bowler Corey Wedlock had dreamt of for years.
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He had been selected as one of only 16 players to be in the nation’s top-tier high-performance bowling squad, the Australian Jackaroos, for the next 12 months.
And the only one who earned a spot from outside last year’s 22-strong team.
“I was really shaken and very surprised,” the Cabramatta-based 20 year-old said.
“I have had some good wins recently but I still was not expecting this at all.”
In the eyes of the selectors however, Corey has proven himself more than capable on the national and international circuit, having claimed back-to-back Hong Kong International Pairs titles the past two years as well as the coveted Burnside Invitation pairs trophy in New Zealand.
“This certainly means I have a big year ahead of me. My dream has always been to play in the Commonwealth Games (Gold Coast 2018) – everything is moving in the right direction.”
Corey said he knew he had a lot of hard work ahead of him.
“I’ll be notching all my training, on and off the green, up a level. I’m loving being here at Cabramatta – four people in the squad are from here plus there are a lot of other experienced players, so there is a wealth of knowledge for me to draw on.
“Recently the Australian Assistant Coach, Gary Willis, arrived here, which is great … it is very easy to access so much from here.”
* Bowls Australia reported the Cabramatta Bull Ants now supply the most combatants for potential international duties, fielding four of the 16 players selected.
The Gold Coast’s Club Helensvale previously held that honour for a long stretch, but has dropped to just the two representatives for the next year, following the retirement of Mark Casey and omission of international stalwart Nathan Rice.
Also left out of the squad was 2015 Australian Open men’s singles champion Aaron Teys and recent Bowls Premier League winner Ben Twist, in addition to Dawn Hayman, Chloe Stewart and Max Kleinig.
Nine of the ten recent World Bowls Championships representatives were reselected, minus Casey, after claiming four gold, two silver and a bronze medal from eight disciplines, which ensured every player returned home with a silver or gold medallion around their neck.
Also chosen to continue their illustrious international careers was Lynsey Clarke, Kristina Kristic, Ellen Ryan, Ray Pearse, Wayne Ruediger and Scott Thulborn.
“The Australian Selectors opted to make some tough and decisive calls in relation to this squad formation,” National Coach Steve Glasson said.
“In brief, the selectors wanted to have the elite involved, those considered to have an ‘X Factor’ and only those willing to commit to being Jackaroo in every way imaginable.”