With Australia as a sporting nation, it is no surprise that Sydney Catholic Schools has an array of young students with emerging sporting talent.
One of these is 11-year-old Ayre Gite, St Catherine of Siena, Prestons student, who continues to excel as a talented young cricketer.
The Year 6 student stumbled upon the sport while helping her brother train, but was originally hesitant to take up the sport herself.
“At the time he was playing for a club and they wanted me to take up the sport, but I didn’t want to because I was too scared of getting injured,” she said.
However, this fear was short-lived, as she and her family quickly realised her talent, motivating her to actively participate in the sport.
“I got selected in the Molly Dive representative team for Fairfield-Liverpool Cricket Association, where I was the youngest player playing in the U13 team, which made me think I should take this opportunity seriously”.
From here, Ayre’s love for the sport only grew as she continued training and succeeding. Her talent shines through as a result of her dedication to the sport.
“I practice with my brother’s team, play social cricket games, and play games on Saturdays and Sundays. I also play with my brother when I can in my free time or even if I just feel like it to help me train.”
Within her school’s sporting community, she is just as active. She is the vice-captain and only female player on her school’s team and was recently selected for the NSW Primary School Sports Association (PSSA) Cricket team.
Ayre is one of only two Catholic school students to make this team in 2025. Ayre will represent NSW at the School Sport Australia Cricket Exchange later this year.
“My school supports my journey by providing so many opportunities to strive. I have get support from a few coaches like my school coaches, Mr Aresti, Mr Ceolin, and my NSW Mackillop Schools coach Stephanie Ellsmore (a school teacher from St Christopher’s Holsworthy and former U/18s NSW Cricket Representative herself) as well as my association coaches Vinnay, Gaurav, and Tushar.”
Entering high school next year, she wishes to continue her sporting career at school and foster it into her future career.
“I see myself playing in the under-19s Australia team. I want to participate in the IPL, Big Bash, and make Cricket my career”.
Ayre’s perspective on her sporting journey is one of flexibility, taking the good days with the bad.
“Enjoy good days, learn from bad days, and move forward in your journey,” she says.