Caitlin Keenan, Year 7 pupil at Polam Hall School for boys and girls, was selected to join the academy’s Regional Development 1 squad after her coach put her name forward for the trials.
Joining the squad means that Caitlin – along with 14 other successful competitors – will train with the academy at the Sunderland sports centre every other week, playing the position of either centre or wing attack for the squad.
The decision for Caitlin to join the South Durham and Cleveland Regional Netball Academy came after she impressed judges with her performance during the intense, six-hour netball trials at Sunderland.
34 competitors in total attended the trials for the Regional Development 1 squad, the majority of who are members of top netball club Oakeswood, in Hartlepool. Only Caitlin and one other candidate accepted into the academy were not members of the club.
Caitlin said: “I’m really happy to have become a part of the South Durham and Cleveland Regional Netball Academy, and I can’t thank Polam Hall enough for putting me forward for the trials. It’s exciting to join the Regional Development 1 squad and to think about what the future may now hold for me.”
Polam Hall School, which is currently enjoying a strong performance in the netball league, encourages all of its pupils to participate in netball and many other sporting activities to help them discover where their sporting talents lie.
Sue Wood, PE teacher at Polam Hall School, said: “It’s fantastic to be able to say that one of our pupils is in the South Durham and Cleveland Regional Netball Academy.
“Caitlin is an all-rounder and loves most sporting activities, including gymnastics and swimming, and it’s been a pleasure teaching her since Reception. We now wish her the best success for the future.”
Polam Hall is a non-selective and fully co-educational school for boys and girls aged between two and 18 years old.
It provides a high standard of teaching for all of its pupils and has been rated “excellent” in a number of key areas in its most recent report by the Independent School Inspectorate (ISI).
For more information on Polam Hall School, please visit: www.polamhall.com.