It’s official– Woodridge State High School’s Year 10 Boys Volleyball Team is Logan’s sporting team of the year.
Following an emotion-charged victory over Redlands College 3-1 at the Australian Volleyball School Cup last year, the team has topped the nation.
And recently, they were honoured at the Logan Sports Awards as the city’s top team.
The honour also follows big wins in finals at regional and state inter-school level.
“When I first heard that we got named sports team of the year, I was definitely very shocked about it but at the same time, very excited,” student Amir Mohammadi said.
The team was led by captain Elijah Time-Riri, who himself was a contender for the young sportsperson of the year award.
Time-Riri said captaining the team has been a highlight of his year and the experience has added tremendously to his self-development.
“I would say the highlight of my volleyball over the years is reflecting on our past and seeing the improvements in all my teammates, we’ve come very far,” he said.
“I can say that in playing this sport it has raised my confidence in speaking, especially taking on the role of being captain and learning to communicate clearly is a skill definitely needed in life.”
He credits his coaches and the schools’ high performance program as the key to his and the team’s success.
“My coaches Mr Harris and Mr Holliday were definite role models too as they helped me progress in my skill and as a person.”
Most of the players have been involved in the program for more than two years, which entails extra coaching, strength and conditioning training and development.
“Whenever there is training everyone is excited; the intensity of the atmosphere is absolutely astonishing, and everyone’s prepared to go beyond their expectations,” student Soheil Nabizadeh said.
The boys have kicked it up a notch in training as they aim to bring back another gold medal home from the upcoming nationals in December.
As the team prepares, captain Elijah offers some words of advice.
“Keep striving no matter what and don’t let others decide your outcome, only you can control what you have to show and give,” he said.
