2 of our juniors Cayde Keates and Kieran Carstens were spotted last year at a Volleyball England tournament and were invited for a closed trial for the Volleyball England Cadets talent pathway during their 2022 Easter training camp.
Off the boys went, equal parts nervous and excited - they did their trial and were invited back for the summer training camp in Leeds. Following on from last season, this season they kept their spot on the U17 Cadets pathway - as a club we couldn't have been prouder of these two, who only started playing in September 2021. What an achievement.
In November they were invited to Leeds again, this time the stakes were much higher, 18 lads from the 36 strong England squad had been shortlisted to go and train between Christmas and New Year! The stakes - a place on the England Squad for the European Championships.
The were dropped off in Leeds on the 27 December 2022 for a 4 day camp, where they trained intensively and even played a super league team - Leeds Gorse (England won 3-2) and a National League team Harrogate (They drew - they didn't have time for the final set)
On the 30 December 2022, they had done all they could - had they done enough?!?
You might think that the picture shows a lack of excitement if they had got in, however, this is a look of exhaustion, 4 days of 6+ hours a day training.
I am so very pleased to say, they had done enough - they are off to the European Championships in Bulgaria later this month - As a team we are fully behind them and wish them all the luck in the world while they are out there - go and smash it boys.
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