Two of the south-west's smallest primary schools have made history and it's hard to wipe the smiles off the students' faces.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Woolsthorpe Primary School and St Patrick's Primary School, Koroit are heading to the School Sport Victoria state championship after enjoying success at regional level in Ballarat.
Woolsthorpe's year 4-6 mixed netball team and St Patrick's year 4-6 girls team are bound for Waverley Netball Centre in September.
The two schools have been supporting each other throughout their exciting campaigns.
Coach Laura Cumming, who has been teaching at Woolsthorpe for the past 14 years, said the school had never progressed this far in any team sport.
"It's definitely history, we've never made it this far," she said.
Cumming said Woolsthorpe, which has 84 students ranging from prep to year six, claimed its first Greater Western Sports Region flag at the tournament on Friday.
"It wasn't expected to be honest," she said.
"One of the kids was in tears because she was so happy."
Woolsthorpe won its round robin on percentage after winning two of its three matches.
Year six student Phoebe Stuart, 11, said the round robin was played in good spirit.
"We showed teamwork, we went out there with respect and we showed respect to the other teams," she said.
The team features one grade four with the rest being year five or six.
Parents helped carpool to ensure the students could compete in the competition.
Meanwhile, St Patrick's sport coordinator Helen Swarbrick said the school claimed its first Greater Western Sports Region flag for netball on Friday.
Swarbrick and parent Laura Peake coached the team to victory.
St Patrick's has just five year six students and they all play in the team.
The side also features five year five girls and one year four.
Swarbrick said the school had been facing teams which feature mostly year six students.
"I'm very, very proud of how they played," she said.
"They did so well, all day in each match."
St Patrick's won its two round robin games before claiming semi-final and grand final successes.
The primary school has sent basketball teams to the state championships in the past two years but this will be the first netball team.
Woolsthorpe mixed netball team: Des O'Keefe, Fleur Mahoney, Phoebe Stuart, Taj Clarke, Kyanne Chesshire, Taylah McRae, Sam Robinson, Jack Madden, Tyra Toki, Tiara Barrett
Have you signed up to The Standard's daily newsletter and breaking news emails? You can register below and make sure you are up to date with everything that's happening in the south-west.