Tracy Schulz-Cole will etch her name into the record books when she runs out for her 400th A grade game for Mangoplah-Cookardinia United-Eastlakes on Saturday.
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Schulz-Cole has achieved everything there is to achieve in netball in the Riverina over the past 25 years and will add a further feather in her cap when she makes her 400th appearance against Narrandera at Mangoplah Sportsground.
Schulz-Cole made her A grade debut as a teenager in 1994 and has ever since been a mainstay of the Goannas team.
In a career that has featured three premierships, three league best and fairests and 12 club best and fairests, a modest Schulz-Cole is proud of what she has achieved.
“I suppose so, I don’t normally sit back and think about it but when you look at it, I suppose it sounds pretty good,” Schulz-Cole said.
While she concedes 400 A grade games is ‘a bit of an achievement’, she said one of the highlights of her career has been playing alongside her daughter Mikaela.
“The last couple of years when I’ve wondered to keep on playing or not, the motivation has been to play with her,” she said.
“It’s my third season with her and it’s not something that everyone gets to experience so I’m grateful for that.”
The other highlight is MCUE’s A grade premiership three-peat in 2013, 2014 and 2015.
“You can’t go past the grand finals as well,” she said.
Schulz-Cole has played against some fine netballers through her career and rates the Daniher sisters and Olivia Lang as some of her toughest opponents.
She said she has also had the pleasure of playing alongside a lot of talented netballers, including the likes of Lisa Frow, Marie Campbell, Melissa Smeeth, Jackie Byrne and Kira Dickins.
Schulz-Cole says she has loved every minute of her career at MCUE.
“It’s a good club, a proud club with a good history. It’s where I met my husband, Darren, too,” she said.
“My kids have come through the juniors there now, it’s a bit of a family affair. I’m not sure how I ended up playing for so long but it’s a way of life really, I think what else would I be doing?”
MCUE coach Marie Campbell said the Goannas were very lucky to have Schulz-Cole.
“She’s the ultimate clubperson,” Campbell said.
“She’s such a team player. She’s all about the team and the club.”
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