GUNNEDAH'S Aaron Osmond has helped guide NSW to a second-place finish at the All Schools National Tennis Championships.
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The Year 10 St Mary's College student was one of the youngest players in the NSW squad and held his own throughout the tournament.
Osmond's coach Dale Martin said his young charge "won most of his matches".
"They lost a couple of days due to the rain in Adelaide, which cost them in the end," Martin said.
"Aaron was playing as number five or six for NSW and played really well.
"In the end they came second overall to Queensland, but it was a really good performance."
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Martin said Osmond would take vital lessons from the week-long tournament.
"To be picked in the eight-boy, eight-girl NSW squad while in Year 10 is a massive achievement," he said.
"Playing with those Year 11 and Year 12 kids as well will really give him a lot of confidence.
"As will playing against the best, I'm sure tactically he picked up some new tips as well.
"The other major benefit for him is actually playing in the team atmosphere, you don't often get to do that in tennis so I'm sure he enjoyed that as well."
Osmond will now turn his attention to representing the NIAS tennis squad in Grafton over the Queens Birthday long weekend.
"Aaron has been really busy the last few months, so he will have a bit of a break before then," Martin said.
"After that, like most of the players from the region, he will look towards the country championships in July."
The John Longmuir Memorial Foundation assists junior athletes with costs associated with competing at state and national competitions.