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More success for College’s famed sports academy

Thursday, 12 November, 2015

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Press ReleaseAcademy of Sporting ExcellenceSportStudent Success

Oliver Holmes (left) pictured with Charlie Freeman.

Students from Wakefield College’s Academy of Sporting Excellence (ASE) had further reasons to smile this week after two of them made it through to national trials for England. Oliver Holmes (Hockey) and Charlie Freeman (Football) successfully made it through regional trials in their respective sports and are now going up against the best college talent from across the country hoping to be chosen for the national side.

Mark Helme, Academy of Sporting Excellence (ASE) Coordinator, himself part of the England Colleges Football Association (ECFA) coaching team, said: “We are delighted and proud of both Oliver and Charlie for making it this far, and we hope they can make the next step to the full England team. Both lads have a lot of talent and a great attitude. They now have the challenge of upping their efforts to make the next level. We hope with our support and their commitment they can become full international players.

“No matter what level you play at or the sport you choose, representing your country is the highest honour there is. I have had the privilege of doing so as a coach and I hope that these students can share in that experience as players too. They are going to have to work extremely hard to make it through and the competition will be fierce, but the rewards are worth it.

“As a college we aspire to attract and support the best athletes in the area, across a range of sports, and we try to give them a solid foundation from which they can progress. We stress that sporting success doesn’t just happen on the pitch, it is everywhere. They have to be good people, work hard in the gym and live healthy lifestyle. All things we teach our athletes.”