National joy for Wood Green Academy aces
Wood Green Academy in Wednesbury are celebrating national championships in trampolining and table tennis.
The trampolinists shook off a 2.45am start to come back from their competition in Gateshead with a string of trophies.
Tom Darling, 18, returned as under-19 boys individual champion while Year 8’s Tom Bosley beat schoolmate James Cruickshank to the under-14 crown.
Having enjoyed a one-two in the individual under-14 category, it was no surprise Wood Green came away champions of the team event, when Bosley and Cruickshank were accompanied by Ewan Stewart.
The under-14 girls weren’t to be outdone, and also returned from Gateshead as team champions. Year 8’s Leonie Green-Brookes, Millie Oliver and Savanna Melbourne jumped to victory with Year 7’s Simone Ali.
Kirsten Oliver, 15, came an impressive fifth against girls much older than her in the under-19 girls’ individual competition.
“This achievement is even more spectacular as all of these students were either performing with new team members or for their very first time,” said assistant head teacher Ian Baggley.
“They are coached by sports technician Julie Moore who put together a rigorous and extremely demanding training programme which the students enthusiastically engaged in.”
At the English Schools National Table Tennis Championships in Hinckley, Wood Green’s under-13 girls team came back from the academy’s first ever finals as national champions.
Amillia Baker (Year 8), Kirsty Maull (Year 7), Amelia Clynes (Year 8) and Kunashie Chidziya (Year 8) were the victorious foursome.
These national gongs are a result of the Academy’s partnership with West Bromwich Gymnastics and Trampolining Club as well as Wood Green Table Tennis Club.
