THE Templeton family is well known around local hockey circles in Hamilton, with the name earning some spotlight again, with Evie and Tom Templeton earning state selection.

State team selection is passe for older brother Tom, who in the last three years has been a fixture in Victorian Under-13, Under-15, and now the Under-16 teams.

He has just returned from Hobart where he contested the Hockey Australia Under-16 Boys Championships, helping Victoria to a bronze medal finish by scoring two goals against Western Australia Gold in the medal game.

“The nationals were great, and I really enjoyed playing,” he said.

At only 14 years of age, he plays bottom age and was playing against much bigger, more physically mature opponents, but the young striker more than held his own.

“I found some of the opposition much bigger than me, but it didn’t worry me, and I just wanted to show that I could handle it.

“My goal with my hockey is to make the Olympic Games in Brisbane in 2032, but my next goal is to be selected in the SSV Under-15 squad for the nationals in July.”

He is not only playing men’s division one for College in the Glenelg Region Hockey Association, but he also is playing reserve grade of the premier league in Melbourne, which helps develop his already impressive skills further.

Templeton has already sailed through the first selection session for the Under-15 squad, and with one or two to follow he is focused on gaining final selection.

Evie was named in the School Sports Victoria (SSV) Under-12 Girls state team and will make her debut at the School Sports Australia national titles in Cairns in August of this year.

She will battle against six other state and territory teams across the six-day event, and will use the tournament as a stepping stone to higher honours, just as big brother Tom did.

The selection sessions are held in Melbourne, and she gained selection in a squad of 14 players after the initial group was whittled down from the original 60.

“There were two sessions we had to attend and there were some really good players that were picked,” she said.

“I’m very excited about my selection and I’m really looking forward to the carnival.

“I want to reach the Olympics too, as I really enjoy my hockey and am determined to succeed.”

It will be a winter in the sunshine for the family with the Under-12s in Cairns in August, and the Under-15s on the Gold Coast in July.