There’s something in the water in Proserpine turning local high school students into exceptional volleyballers.
Two ex-Proserpine State High School students have this month made the grade to represent at state level: Cooper Goodwin in the U23 men, and Kasey Hogan in the U23 women.
Two current students have claimed a spot in the Queensland U19 men and women teams in the last week, respectively: Connor Turner and Breeana Mackay.
And the talented 20-year-old and ex-student Sam Flowerday has headed off to compete in Brazil at the Volleyball Nations League, representing the country as a Volleyroo.
Proserpine High School teacher and volleyball head coach Ben Smith laughingly calls the volleyball contingent the “Proserpine Cult”.
“They love it. I think that’s what it is – they play every single day and that’s just it,” Mr Smith said.
“We see an athletic kid at school and we push them: ‘Hey, come and try volleyball.’ If they’re good, they train, and they’re committed, they always turn good.”
The past Proserpine alumni Goodwin, 20, currently plays Brisbane Premier League volleyball, and Hogan is training as part of the Australian Institute of Sport.
Turner, a grade twelve student, will travel to Sydney in July to compete in nationals, while Mackay has been selected as a shadow for the female squad.
In the month Turner heads to the U19 level state competition, the school is expecting to have a number of students announced as making the U14 to U18 Queensland sides, too.
But all those players have an idol to look up to in Sam Flowerday.
Now a Thompson Rivers University volleyballer in Canada, having signed up as part of the college team known as ‘WolfPack’ where he faces top-tier, young American talent – some of the very best in the world - Flowerday has again been given the opportunity to pull on the green and gold Volleyroos kit and play for Australia.
But he’s no stranger to representing his country; Flowerday played at the Australian Volleyball Academy for two years, represented in both indoor and beach volleyball at the youth levels for Australia, and this Volleyball Nations League in Brazil will be his second.
He was part of the extended roster for last year’s summer iteration of the tournament, but unfortunately didn’t make an appearance.
At 20, the 6’4 Proserpine product and outside hitter played his first volleyball game in grade 9 and has been on an astronomical rise.
In this Volleyball Nations League – which began in early June - he’s played against Brazil, Slovenia, Iran, Netherlands, Canada, and Bulgaria so far, with his next fixture against Poland on June 25 tomorrow.
It’s an opportunity for the young starlet to continue to perfect his craft against the upper crust - Brazil chief among them; a team that finished fourth in the Tokyo Olympics. He’ll also have the opportunity to play Germany, Japan, France, and Argentina.
"I’m extremely grateful and honoured to be wearing the green and gold again and representing my country," said Flowerday.
"I am looking forward to learning and growing even more, not only as a player but also as a person."
Proserpine, a small country-town of roughly 3,000, has a big, volleyball-shaped heart – and it’s beating strong.
Written by Declan Durrant
Sam Flowerday is the upper echelon of Proserpine State High School’s volleyball alumni, pictured here spiking for his Canadian college team
The young prodigy is becoming the northern star of the school’s volleyball “cult”, making his Australian debut
Flowerday (third from the left), is staking his claim for the outside hitter position in the Volleyball Nations League
