A trio of talented 14-year-old students at Tettenhall College have met lockdown’s sporting challenges head-on to become international champions.
For most, sports activities have been on pause over the past 12 months, with empty football pitches and vacant gymnasiums.
As a nation, we’ve all had to spend long periods confined to our homes, the only green space often being the garden.
Against this backdrop, international gymnast Gabriella Williams (Year 10), national cricketer Davina Perrin (Year 9) and national cheerleading champion Scarlett Wright (Year 9), have maintained strict training regimes overcoming the challenge of limited practice environments, emerging as even more esteemed and celebrated sports stars. They have shown that grit and determination reap their rewards.
With gymnasiums having to close their doors for several months through the worst of the pandemic, committed gymnasts have faced practical challenges, with no apparatus or gym space to practise in.
Gabriella, from Wednesfield, made it her mission to use this unique period to hone her core skills and form through daily zoom sessions, resulting in her fitness and sporting condition being at a record high.
This dedication and perseverance look to have paid off – Gabriella is now enroute to being selected for the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham in 2022.
Time away from the cricket pitch did not stop Davina, either. She maintained her ball striking and fielding skills, alongside her teammates, through weekly online competitions in addition to completing strength and conditioning programmes.
Davinia Perrin, National Cricketer
Davina, who is also from Wednesfield, has been selected by Central Sparks Academy, an elite pathway programme that is part of the national cricket set-up. It is an important step in Davina’s ambition to be selected to play for the England cricket team.
Aside from her sporting endeavours, Davina has been something of a media figure through the African-Caribbean Engagement (A.C.E) project, which is a strategic programme designed to support diverse talent from the grassroots to the elite in cricket and encourage a better talent identification within Black communities.
Having been selected for Team England prior to the first lockdown, Scarlett, who lives in Bridgnorth, has attended seven virtual classes a week alongside numerous strength and conditioning sessions.
Cheerleading competitions have recently concentrated on individual skills and Scarlett won a national ‘turning’ competition via her online entry. She continues to upload weekly videos of her choreography to Team England and is looking forward to travelling internationally with the squad once restrictions lift.
“Witnessing the girls’ success amidst a pandemic has been incredibly heartening to see. Their passion and drive for each of their sporting passions is astounding and I could not be prouder,” said Mrs Alison Causebrook, Tettenhall’s Head of Girls’ Sport.
Visit www.tettenhallcollege.co.uk to find out more about Tettenhall College.
