Allora netballer wins top award

Just as she thought that things couldn’t get any better, Allora netballer Laura Geitz has now won the most prestigious netball award in the country for an individual, just to add to her already long lists of achievements this year.
But besides winning the Liz Ellis Diamond at the Netball Australia Awards at the weekend, Geitz also picked up the 2011 Australian ANZ Championship Player of the Year award.
While speaking to the Southern Free Times on Monday night, she was preparing herself for yet another awards night. She was one of 11 finalists for the Queensland Sport Star of the Year award as part of the 17th annual Queensland Sport Awards, which was won by tennis star Samantha Stosur.
It has been a career-defining year for the young defender, being an integral member of the 2011 ANZ Championship winning Queensland Firebirds team as well as the Australian Diamonds 2011 World Championships and Constellation Cup winning squads.
At last year’s Netball Australia Awards, Geitz sat at the presentation ceremony and decided she wanted to be a Liz Ellis Diamond recipient.
Despite her stellar season, Geitz never imagined winning this top award in 2011.
“To get this award so young and early on in my career is an honour,” she said.
“This year has been a pretty incredible year. It’s just one thing after the next. I don’t think it can get any better than this year,” Geitz said.
Her next goal is for her Queensland Firebirds team to be the first side in the ANZ Championship to win back-to-back titles.
Story: Rebecca Brown