Penrith teenager Ben Whitechurch is ecstatic at earning selection onto a representative football side for 2011.

The year 9 Nepean High School student has been chosen to represent the Blacktown Spartans in the second tier Super Youth League and is looking forward to the challenge when the new season kicks off.

‘‘It will be a big change from club competition,’’ he said. ‘‘The skills, speed and intensity of the game is much more advanced and it will take some time to get used to. But training should change that.’’

Whitechurch’s selection caps off a memorable year, in which the preferred striker and winger finished fourth in the under-15 400metre sprint at the state athletic championships and earned selection onto the NSW Metro West outfit for the Football NSW State Titles in July.