Lewes Old Grammar School basketball player goes national

Amelia Sandie was spotted at a recent tournament in Manchester

Posted by Stephanie Broad | October 20, 2016 | School life

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• #lewes-old-grammar-school
• #the-brighton-cougars
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• #hannah-thorpe

A Lewes Old Grammar School basketball player has been selected for the England U15/U16 Women’s squad.

It’s the second time this summer that Amelia Sandie has hit the headlines.

A founding member of The Brighton Cougars girls basketball teams, she represented the sport in the inspirational Always #LikeAGirl sports video that went viral earlier this year.

To date, the video, which encourages teenage girls to ‘Keep Playing’ sport through puberty, has had 27.7million views.

Amelia, who lives in Brighton, is also captain of the LOGS netball and rounders teams and a keen hockey player. But she was encouraged to take up basketball by her dad, Hugh, a former Australian player, who eventually became her club coach.

Success over the past six years has been hard won but worth it.

“I’ve had a black eye, a broken wrist and many bruised knees along the way!” says Amelia, who was picked first for the Under-11 squad for Sussex and then the South East.

She was representing the region at a recent tournament in Manchester when England team talent scouts singled her out.

I hope I do everyone proud. I will give it my all! - Amelia Sandie, basketball player

“They saw me play and thought I was good enough to earn a place in the Under 15/16's England squad,” says Amelia. “I was knocked out when my dad told me the news. I am utterly delighted to be in the England squad with my heart set on making the team. I hope I do everyone proud. I will give it my all!”

LOGS PE teacher Hannah Thorpe has no doubt national success is within Amelia’s reach.

“We are delighted Amelia has been selected for the England squad. She is an outstanding student across all the sports we play and an excellent role model for sport at Lewes Old Grammar School. I wish her the very best of luck in training and we look forward to the opportunity to go and support her as a school,” she said.