How two tyros turned into Aussie reps

Top quality coaching and help with extra training are two common factors that helped turn two Trinity sportsmen from Year 7 beginners into Australian representatives.

School Captain Steven Y (12Mu) has been selected in the national under 20 volleyball team for the Asian championships in Bahrain in August.

Water polo first team captain Thomas R (12Ke) will be part of the Australian squad contesting the world under 18 titles in Belgrade in August.

Steven, who described himself as “pretty sub-par” in his first season, has never experienced defeat while appearing for Trinity in CAS competition, being part of a winning premiership team in every game of every year.

“I owe a lot of my development to great coaches and to the co-ordinators of sport who organise all the extra gym and training sessions in the holidays,” he said.

“They’re the times I really managed to improve.

“I also had the opportunity to train with the firsts early on, which helped me get better quickly.

“Support not only from the coaches but the older boys, too, was really helpful, and now I try to do the same.”

Thomas said he would have had “no chance” of making the Australian team without Trinity.

“We have one of the best, if not the best, schoolboy teams in the country,” he said.

He highlighted the calibre of coaches throughout his schooling, including Australian captain Blake Edwards and national coach Tim Hamill.

He said he had benefitted greatly from extra training, including input from the School’s swimming coaches.

As a centre-forward he requires great stamina and physical power.

He said he “wasn’t amazing” when he started out, but the coaches took him under their wing, “and here I am six years later”.