Teacher leads hockey revolution
24 September 2003 By BRUCE HOLLOWAY It was her ability on the turf that led to Nicky Pearce being named Waikato women's hockey player of the year last week. But if there was an award going for the person who has done the most to raise the popularity of the sport among juniors, the 30-year-old Waikato and Fraser Tech defender could probably claim that as well. As a teacher at Gordonton Primary School, Pearce has inspired something of a hockey revolution. Almost one in five of the school's 220 pupils play hockey, making it the leading junior sport at Gordonton. "I nail them young, in their third year, before they get into other sports," Pearce laughs. "Once they're in, they stay in. It's not at all difficult to keep them." Pearce was delighted to have been recognised after nine years in the Waikato, having originally started her career in Northland. "It's the top award you can win in the Waikato and I'm very excited about it," she says. "It was a surprise, I'd given up hope." Pearce has also been Waikato captain this year, in what she described as "a rebuilding season" with just three players left in the rep team from 2002. "I almost got the captaincy by default, but I'd done the hard yards." With Waikato no longer in the national league, Pearce will be playing for North Harbour at right back in this year's competition, which kicks off at the weekend.	CLASSY: Waikato hockey player of the year Nicky Pearce gives a tip to Gordonton school pupils Teagan Fox and Scott Fookes. Pearce, a teacher, has sparked a hockey revolution among pupils. BRUCE MERCER/Waikato Times To a certain extent Pearce has played most of her career in the shadow of her younger sister Suzie Pearce, who is renowned as New Zealand's most capped international. But even then, Nicky has made the connection count for hockey. "We look similar and when the Olympics were on the kids at school were saying `we saw you on TV last night, Miss'. I corrected them, but it got them following hockey." * Midland Express goalkeeper Dean Armstrong was named Waikato men's player of the year.