An A Level Student from Callywith College is celebrating this week after being selected to be a member of the England Under 18s Hockey Tea.

Ollie Rundle, who is an A Level and High Performance Academy student athlete, was over the moon to be offered the chance to represent his national team, he said: “I started playing hockey as soon as I could walk, my mum played hockey, she was a coach in the local club so I started when I was around five and then just continued playing.

"It’s a privilege to have been one of only 26 in the country selected to play for the England Under 18s Hockey Team, especially as being one of the four who were selected a year younger, makes it extra special and the fact that I did the under 16s team, continues the journey and I look forward to the rest of the season.”

Ollie praised Callywith College and the High Performance Academy for the work they have put in to help him as a student athlete. He said: “The College has really boosted my performance, as I can train while I’m in college, it takes a lot of pressure off.

"I was training outside of school in the evenings where I’d want to be revising, now I can do it in college and that gives me more free time to focus more on other aspects of my life.

“During the High Performance Academy sessions, the High Performance Coach, Julian Wills, has really aided me with extra weights and specialised movements, he advises us on what to do, what not to do, say if we’ve got something big on the weekend, what training to do and when and what to eat.”

The academy also offers support to athletes who may be in the process of recovering from injury by carrying out rehabilitation and recovery programmes.

Online applications for the College are now open for September 2022 at www.callywith.ac.uk/how-to-apply and the College will hold its next Open Event on Saturday March 12, 10am – 1pm.