SEVEN volleyball players – a record number – from Mandurah Baptist College are training hard to represent WA in two competitions, one in Mandurah, in August and September.
Three students – Joshua Howat, Lewis Peach and Nicholas Whittering – will represent WA in the Under 15 team at the School Sport Australia National Volleyball Championships to be held at the Mandurah Aquatic and Recreation Centre from August 20 to 25.
It is the first time the event will be held here and the school’s volleyball operations manager Sam McCord is hoping lots of parents and residents will go to support the team.
Get in front of tomorrow's news for FREE
Journalism for the curious Australian across politics, business, culture and opinion.
READ NOWFour other current and former students – Tristan Watts, Adam Reinhardt (both in the Under 19 boys team), Sheehan Howie (U17 boys) and Shona Howie ( U15 girls) – will take part in the 2017 Australian Junior Volleyball Championship at the Gold Coast from September 22 to 30.
Ms McCord said volleyball was becoming an increasingly popular sport at the school and was the first time that it had so many players representing WA.
She said the students tried out for the state teams in February.
“It is the highest number that we have ever had to be selected for WA, it’s really exciting,” she said.
“I’m really proud of them, they’ve put in a lot of effort and hard work.”
The school had a comprehensive volleyball training program with students able to play the sport as an elective subject from years 8 to 12.
“Every December we take teams to a national schools tournament in Melbourne,” she said.
“We train all year for this tournament and this year we have got five teams going.”
The students have a volleyball class once a week, several training sessions during the week and games on Friday nights and weekends.
Two former students, Joshua Symons and Adam Reinhardt, who both graduated last year, have been coming back to the school to help with training sessions as assistant coaches during the year.
Reinhardt will be representing WA in the Under 19 team at the Gold Coast after previously representing the state in the U15 and U17 teams, which he captained.
He was also selected for the Under 19 squad last year, but couldn’t play because of injury.
Reinhardt said he loves playing the sport and gets most enjoyment from hitting the ball hard.
He also plays for the Mandurah Waves in the state super league team.
MORE: Same-sex marriage vote appears set for November
MORE: Three new freeway improvement projects to start next year