Woodford Primary School pupils (from left) Harry Boyd, Danielle Warren, Harry Sinclair and Emilie Urquhart, all 11, are heading to the Greater Western Region tennis finals in Colac tomorrow.
THE next Samantha Stosur or Bernard Tomic could be among a group of Woodford Primary School tennis stars aiming for state championship glory.
Four youngsters from the school will compete in the Greater Western Region primary school tennis finals in Colac tomorrow, after blitzing the competition locally.
Grade 5 pupil Danielle Warren and grade 6 pupils Harry Boyd, Harry Sinclair and Emilie Urquhart won their way through three previous rounds to make the regional final.
If they win tomorrow, they will play off against the best primary school-aged players in Victoria at the state finals in Melbourne.
School principal Daniel Watson said it was a fantastic achievement to have four pupils from the small school playing at the regional finals.
“We only have 160 pupils, so to be able to have four representatives at this high level is great,” Watson said.
He was hopeful they could make their way through to the next level.
“It would be great if they could progress to the state finals, but we are thrilled they have made it this far. It’s a fantastic achievement,” he said.
He said the pupils had progressed through the schools competition in three rounds, playing at a school level, association level and then divisional level.
“They were competing against some of the bigger schools in the area and won most of their matches to put them through each round,” he said.
Watson said all four pupils were strong players, with Harry Boyd playing in the National Tennis Championships in Mildura last month.
He said the school also had a strong tennis program.
“We were selected to be a Tennis Australia Hot Shots school and as part of that we have to offer tennis as a component of physical education classes across grades prep to 6,” he said.
“Our active after-school program also features a tennis program, where an external coach comes in and gives lessons after school.
“There certainly is a big interest in the sport out here, which is great to see.”
jwoolley@fairfaxmedia.com.au