On Wednesday this week, we travelled to Kettering Arena with 3 teams to take part in the inaugural National Year 9/10 Dodgeball Finals.  It was a great day for Wellington but also a logistical nightmare with 3 teams and 4 courts that were out of sync timewise with each other.  However, the students were amazing and all came home with a medal.

 

The girls’ team were competing in the first ‘girls only’ event and convincingly won every game in the group stages so went straight through to the semi-final, which they again won convincingly and went into the final.  However, they quickly were 4-0 down in the final, against a team that they had thrashed 10-0 earlier in the day.  They had to win the final 3 sets to take the trophy.  They regrouped and did just that, becoming National Champions and remained unbeaten throughout the whole day.  Well done girls.

 

The boys’ competition was in 2 groups and we had a team in both groups.  Our A team won through to their semi-final unbeaten in the group stages and their quarter final, the B team lost their first game but then won all of their remaining games, including their quarter final to also make the semi-final.  Unfortunately, this meant a Welly A v Welly B semi-final.  This was such a tight game as the teams had been training against each other for months – and it went to a sudden death set.  However, it still remained a draw so we went onto a ‘first hit’ sudden death – it was so tense, but the B team managed to get that hit to take themselves through to the final.  The A team then went into the 3rd/4th placed play-off and despite their disappointment of losing the semi, they were determined to come home with a medal and duly out-played their opposition to take the bronze.  The boys’ final was against the team that had already beaten our B team, an outstanding team from High Tunstall.  Unfortunately,  despite our best effort we came up short and had to settle for the silver medal.

 

Whilst EVERY player contributed throughout the day, some were outstanding: 

Players of the tournament: 

Girls: Grace Murray

Boys A team: Jackson Sykes

Boys B team: Benjamin Finney

 

What a great day.  The students not only played fantastic Dodgeball but behaved impeccably, representing the school excellently and upholding out school values.  

 

Thanks to Mrs Bailey and Mr Ollier for their support and help on the day,  Mr & Mrs Murray for providing all of the teams with a huge amount snacks and drinks to see them through the day and to the other parents who travelled to support us.