St Mary’s College sport student named Player of the Year for National Colleges Netball team.

Earlier in the year St Mary’s College student, Francesca Barrientos, 17, from Accrington, was selected to play for the British Colleges Netball Squad and now, she has recently been awarded ‘Player of the Year’ for all her efforts!

During the 26th - 28th July, Francesca was part of the British College's National Netball team in Surrey.  At this tournament she played nine fixtures against opponents from across the UK.

The British College team won the national competition being victorious in eight out of the nine fixtures.

At this tournament, Francesca received the prestigious award of 'Player of the Year.'

Francesca says, "I was so proud to receive this award, particularly with the high calibre of players involved."

Francesca has also participated in trials for the Yorkshire Jets Superleague and was successfully chosen to be part of their team. As part of the Yorkshire Jets she will be involved in a charity match alongside Emmerdale cast members in preparation for a fixture against Manchester Thunder and the Coronation Street cast.

Francesca is currently studying Sport and P.E, Psychology and Sociology at St Mary’s College, as well as training and playing netball at least four times a week.

Kelly Reynolds, her Sport & PE teacher at St Mary’s, says about Francesca’s success, “We are delighted with the award Francesca received, to be chosen for the national team itself was an achievement, but to be awarded 'Player of the Year' is outstanding. Full credit to Francesca for her effort and perseverance, especially with the squad standard being so high. To be selected for the Superleague team shows her continued development and obvious sporting ability. At St Mary’s we will continue to support her netball success alongside her academic development.”