Gold at the Australian Volleyball Schools Cup
Congratulations to the Wesley Girls’ and Boys’ Firsts Volleyball teams for their performance in the Australian Volleyball Schools Cup held on the Gold Coast in early December.
Twenty athletes, four staff and two coaches participated in the tournament, which was attended by almost 5,500 students in 500 teams from 150 schools across Australia.
Both teams played some fantastic volleyball in their first experience at nationals, setting a high bar for the APS season ahead. But it was our girls who emerged victorious, taking home the Gold Medal in the U17 Division 2 competition.
‘I am incredibly proud of our girls’ team,’ said Head Coach, Peter Rivett. ‘Gold medals are a wonderful achievement, but for me, our defining moment came after a three-set loss to a really tough competitor.’
‘After every game, our girls gather in a circle to share something about one of their teammates that inspired or positively impacted them. It was after this narrow loss that our girls, without prompting, extended the circle to our opposition, telling their players what they had found inspiring about them. It’s these powerful actions of character that typify the values and ideals that Wesley is trying to build into our young people.’
While the boys’ team narrowly lost their playoff for the top 8, finishing 10th overall, the opportunity to play 8-10 matches in a week was extremely valuable. ‘Travelling as a team has provided fantastic learning and growth both on and off the court,’ said Boys’ Firsts Coach, Mick Stevens. ‘Their camaraderie and the way they represented themselves and the College was exceptional.’
‘We are incredibly proud of our athletes for the effort and maturity they demonstrated throughout the tournament,’ said Peter. ‘Sport is a vehicle to learn some of the greatest lessons in life, and all of our athletes excelled.’
