The success of the Craigslea SHS volleyball academy program was due to the community

Craigslea State High School volleyball academy program manager Tim Walsh has lauded the community which has contributed to the school’s remarkable success in the sport.

Craigslea State High School volleyball academy program manager Tim Walsh has lauded the community which has contributed to the school’s remarkable success in the sport.

Craigslea will have 13 teams competing at the Australian Schools Cup on the Gold Coast this week, a representation only made possible by the support of the past student netwok.

Chaz Pucko, left, from Craigslea.

Asked what the secret to the school’s success was, Walsh said it was the volleyball community.

“I think we have a very strong community in the Craigslea volleyball academy,’’ Walsh said.

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He said a lot of past student “filter back their knowledge’’ by volunteering to coach.

“It (the program) is built on the back of ex-players who are willing to give back,’’ Walsh said.

He said it was emphasised to current students the only reason the school can send so many teams to tournaments like the nationals was because ex-students volunteer.

Craigslea State High School volleyball player Chloe Durston

“You find when they graduate, they ask to come back and coach. For me it is self-perpetuating.

“We could not do what we do without the volunteers.’’

So successful has the school been, Craigslea SHS has consistently been ranked in the top three rated schools in Australia for around a decade.

Craigslea State High School volleyball player Michela Strati

In addition, a number of teams have either won or finished second over the years.

“One of our targets is always to be the top Queensland school at the national titles and in the top three nationally,’’ Walsh said.

Aside from team success, individuals also succeed at Craigslea SHS.

The latest batch of representative players were Taliesin Drake, Chaz Pucko, Chloe Durston and Michela Strati.

Walsh said volleyball was booming in Queensland, which was reflected by Volleyball Australia’s decision to move key tournaments to the Sunshine State.