Former Newcastle College student, Zakk Hadgett secures professional Volleyball contract

Talented sportsmen Zakk studied at Newcastle between 2013 and 2016 achieving D*D*D* in his BTEC Sports Science course and a Pass in his Accounting AAT Level 2. Zakk has since gone on to graduate with a First Class Sports Management degree from Sheffield Hallam and is currently completing his Masters degree, alongside playing professionally.

Zakk’s passion for the sport was ignited at Madeley High School. Looking back with fond memories, Zakk said: “My high school was massive for it and the majority of students everyone play Volleyball in their first year, then as the years go on people drop out and you end up with 6-12 really good players. Throughout high school, I trained once or twice a week with Newcastle Staffs Volleyball Club who had a lot of strong players and training was always intense, which really helped my skill set in the sport.

“Towards the end of high school I started playing for the men’s team in the NVL. Just as I got to college, I was picked to represent England North at the 2013 UK School Games in Sheffield, and played a number of competitions for them over the following years. I had a great time at Newcastle College playing for the team and we won two National Championships and three National College Cups, and we even travelled to Holland to play teams over there. I think we only lost one game in the three years I was there, which is a fantastic record!

“When I moved to Sheffield Hallam University, my training intensified. I spent four seasons training twice a day and playing up to three times a week, which has been an amazing foundation for my professional career.”

Commenting on Zakk’s sporting achievements at Newcastle College, Lecturer and Volleyball Coach, Ross Cope said: “Zakk was an outstanding individual balancing his studies well with his commitments to volleyball. His application to everything he threw himself into at Newcastle College including representing the NULC volleyball academy in conjunction with North Staffs Volleyball Club, his academic studies on a Sports Science course, Apprenticeship in Sporting Excellence for Volleyball and Business course was second to none. Zakk was a leading example of what you can achieve with hard work and dedication. He was extremely successful winning no fewer than 6 National volleyball titles and also set high standards amongst his peers. Alongside this, Zakk is a gentleman and pleasure to coach. It comes as no surprise, even though when he started at the college hadn’t been previously selected for any England volleyball representation, that he has subsequently become a professional volleyball player and represented the England senior men’s team. This is down to his hard work, dedication and application. We are extremely proud of Zakk and send him the best of wishes in his career as a professional volleyball player, which we are sure will be extremely successful. Well done Zakk, keep up the hard work!’