Trent College Under 16s girls’ hockey team will represent the region at the National Schools’ Championships in .jpg)
February after being crowned Midlands champions for the first time ever.
The team clinched the regional title in the most nail-biting biting fashion, beating Denstone College from Staffordshire 10-9 on penalty strokes in the final at the Midlands Championships, held at Rugby School, Warwickshire.
The Trent College girls, some of whom were part of the school’s Under 14s’ side that won the U14 age-group regional title and qualified for the National finals last year, will now travel to Cannock HC for the 2013 National Schools’ Hockey Championships on 26-27 February. Here they will go head-to-head with the other regional winners and runners-up.
Mark Wadsley, Head of Hockey at Trent College in Long Eaton, said: “The team played some fantastic attacking hockey at the Midlands finals, winning our group to reach the semis, where we then beat Repton before clinching the title in the thriller against Denstone.
This was a fantastic effort from a squad full of quality, who worked tirelessly all day and fully deserved their success.
“We plan to have several training matches against local clubs and schools in the build-up to the national finals, but these will take place after the regional netball competition in late January. We have many pupils playing several sports to a high level and really feel strongly about the benefits of this. We will go to the national in the hope of a top three finish although we are very aware of the toughness of competition we face.”
After the final against Denstone ended 0-0 at full-time the excitement really ramped up a notch. Denstone took the early advantage in the stroke competition but some great saves from goalkeeper, Brooke Butler, kept Trent College in the competition.
Hayley Chaplin, Laura Schmitz, Kira Schmitz, Charlotte Gale and Olivia Hopkisson all then dealt with the pressure admirably to convert their strokes for Trent College to eventually win out 10-9.
Adam Benstead, Head of Sport, added: “Our pupils put an enormous amount of effort into their sports participation. We have created a teaching and coaching structure where everyone feels valued and has an opportunity to succeed whatever the level.
“Pupils take every opportunity to represent the school, which breeds an appreciation of excellence and healthy competition. Sport is an important element of Trent College’s thorough preparation for life ethos and a great deal of personal satisfaction is derived from all our pupils through their involvement.”
Trent College sporting success isn’t just confined to hockey. This season has been one of the most successful for rugby in all age-groups, with the U15 ‘A’ team and 1st XV enjoying considerable Daily Mail Cup success for a one-term rugby school. The girls’ U16 and U18s netballers have qualified for their Midlands finals and the boys’ U13 and U15 cricketers have progressed to the Midlands rounds of the Lord’s Taverners Competition next summer.
For more information about Trent College visit www.trentcollege.net