Sixth Form College Sports Academy Shines: Producing National Champions in Women’s Basketball
In an exhilarating display of skill and determination, the female basketball team from the City of Stoke-on-Trent Sixth Form College secured victory at the Association of Colleges (AOC) National Championships, held on the 19th-21st of April at the University of Nottingham. The championships brought together regional winners from various sports, displaying the finest talents from across the country.
Having emerged triumphant in the West Midlands Regional Tournament back in November, the female basketball team earned their spot in the prestigious event. The tournament format featured a round-robin competition involving six regional champions. Despite facing fierce competition, the team demonstrated their prowess by winning in four games.
The decisive moment came in a thrilling match against Richard Huish College, the representatives from the Southwest. Both teams boasted an impressive record of four wins and one loss. However, it was the Sixth Form Colleges’ exceptional performance, culminating in a nail-biting 20-18 victory in overtime, that ultimately crowned them national champions.
Reflecting on this remarkable achievement, Phil McPherson, Assistant Principal at the Sixth Form College said,
The dedication and teamwork displayed by our female basketball team are truly commendable. Their success at the AOC National Championships is a testament to their hard work and commitment to excellence from the students and the college basketball coach, Carsten Dieterich.
Health, Wellbeing, and Sport Coordinator at the Sixth Form College David Hardwick applauded the team’s outstanding performance.
The determination and resilience shown by our athletes throughout the tournament were outstanding. Their victory reflects their unwavering commitment to their sport and studies
Notably, the female basketball players are part of the Sixth Form College Sport Performance Academies, which offers a holistic educational experience combining academics and sports to achieve excellence. Students in the Performance Academies enjoy a range of benefits, including a free gym membership with our partners Staffordshire University at Sir Stanley Matthews Sports Centre.
Members of the female basketball team were elated by their achievement and expressed gratitude for the support they received.
Winning the AOC National Championships is a dream come true for us, thanks to the incredible coaching staff at Sixth Form College who have guided us every step of the way, said Second-Year BTEC Applied Science student Alexia Nwankwo.
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