VOLLEYBALL: The long-established Aldridge State High School Volleyball program continues to produce players of a high calibre.
Several students recently represented Wide Bay at the State Championships, with Maddison Andrews named to the Queensland Merit team.
Andrews has been playing since grade six and believes the challenge of maintaining and finding a new skill each day drives her.
The grade 12 student is still determining her next step in volleyball.
“I have been told there are opportunities to play in College in the United States or here in Australia, but it would be a big decision to move away,” Andrews said.
Teacher and Wide Bay under 15 girls’ volleyball coach Melinda Lobegeier was part of the Aldridge contingent that attended the State Championships.
“We all did well, with the under-15 girls finishing fourth, and the open girls finished second in the state,” Lobegeier said.
Lucy Wilkinson was also part of the Wide Bay senior team and represented Queensland last year in the under-15s.
“I want to keep playing, but my focus will be on school for next year,” Wilkinson said.
Aldridge volleyball coach and Wide Bay Open girl’s coach David Ethell has been involved in the program for fifteen years.
“The program gives the kids great opportunities with former players going to the AIS and US Colleges to play volleyball. It provides a pathway if players want to mature,” Ethell said.
The school travelled to the Gold Coast for the Intermediate Schools Cup over the weekend, joining over 200 teams from around the state.
Ethell believes volleyball is the best team sport you could play.
“It’s very demanding physically and skill-wise, and the kids that play thoroughly enjoy it,” he said.
