London calling as pupils get nod to grace Olympic venue

VOLLEYBALL: Carluke High School and Marr College dominate the line-ups in the four Scottish teams for the 2012 Sainsbury’s School Games scheduled for the Olympic venues in London in May.

Carluke has eight selections – Matthew Berry, Jordan Scott, Robin Binnie, Conor Walker (north and east boys), Aimee Coutts, Elise Rodgers (north and east girls) plus Marc McLaughlin and Stuart Mackenzie (west and south boys).

Marr has seven players in the west and south teams – Scott Wilson, Katie Barbour, Courtney Elliot, Marsail Hood, Emma Lawrie, Jennifer Young and Jane Drauz-Brown.

“Carluke High School straddles two regions so the team they represent depends on where they live,” explained coach Vince Krawcyzk. “The school has a good coach in Greg Cockburn and a lot of the players have connections with the Su Ragazzi Club.

“Marr College has a great tradition in volleyball. Jess Reid is a former internationalist and is the head of physical education at the school. At the Games, we should have a chance to medal in three events. But, this year, the north and east girls is mostly a development squad.

“We had a great group from Quneensferry High School, but they are now all over age.”

Coached by Krawcyzk, Scotland’s north and east boys scored a great win in the Schools Games four years ago.

The four squads – boys must be under 18 on September and girls under 17 – had the first of the intensive training sessions on Sunday. Several more will follow in the build-up to the competition that takes place on 7-8 May.