Tayla Grabham

My Hockey Background

I started my hockey journey at the age of seven in Bathurst for Kelso Hockey Club with my siblings. My first game, I remember scoring four goals and loving it. My Dad was an Australian enduro champion and represented Australia multiple times overseas while mum played basketball at a National level so sport was always important to my family. I was introduced to hockey by family friends and quickly fell in love with it. I made my first regional team at 11 and my first state team when I was 14.  

I made the under 15’s Blue’s NSW team in 2021 and the national championships were in Bathurst, so I felt extremely proud to represent my state in my hometown. The next year I made the under 15’s team again representing in Newcastle.

In 2022 I was also selected into the 16/U NSW All Schools team to compete in Hobart for the national championships, where we came away with a silver medal. When the outdoor season ended, I was still playing indoor hockey. I was then selected to represent the under 15’s Blue’s NSW indoor state team in Brisbane.

In 2023 I was invited to tour Europe with Wanderers for the upcoming 2024 year. I also made the under 18’s Blues state team for indoor.

In 2024 I was selected in the outdoor under 18’s blues NSW team where we competed at Nationals in the Gold Coast. Later that year I was also selected into the NSW Combines High School team at the NSW Tri Championships where I co-captained them to earning a gold medal. After that championship I was selected into the NSW All schools honor team. After the outdoor season was completed, I was selected into the NSW blues indoor state team to represent in Canberra coming away with 4^th after a close bronze medal match, where I made a crucial goal save on the line to keep us in the game.

This 2025 season I was lucky enough to be invited to play in division 1 in the Canberra league and division 1 in Sydney, which meant eighteen hours of traveling to and from games and training each week. This meant later that year my hard work had paid off where I was selected to play for the 18/U NSW state team in Perth coming away with Gold. Before heading to Perth for the national championships I was also selected in the under 21’s squad for NSW.

My strengths

One of my many strengths is my ability to guide and encourage my teammates. I often captain my regional teams as well as at a state level, which allows me to develop my leaderships skills both on and off the field. My ability to read the game from defense allows for me to make good passing decisions and intercept play. I am a calm player on the field and I thrive on high pressure situations. I have also been told I have a powerful hit which allows me to get the ball from one side of the field to the other quickly and also as a shooting option. I would also say I have a ‘don’t give up’ attitude which allows me to move past mistakes and be resilient.

WHY I WANT TO PLAY COLLEGE HOCKEY IN THE USA

I want to play college hockey as it will allow me to grow as a person and a hockey player. It gives me the opportunity to experience new culture and an exceptional training environment. I envy the training facilities, culture and environment that the college hockey provides. I want to excel in my sport and this opportunity is my ideal path. It also gives me the chance to access the educational systems that the US has to offer.