Regional athletes leading the way at Youth Championships
Day two of the 2025 Australian Youth Beach Volleyball Championships brought the intensity, as state rivalries continued.
Battling it out on the sand are U18 girls duo from regional New South Wales – Dala Willoughby and Felix Clarke – who have been training through a satellite program in Coffs Harbour.
Finishing top of their pool at the close of day two, Dala and Felix are making a statement on the national level.
“It would have been amazing to train with the rest of the NSW squad, but it has been really good having a coach who is able to support Felix and I,” Dala Willoughby said.
“Having a coach designated to us, giving us 100% of their time has made the preparation really helpful.”
As the first regional NSW team to compete at this event, Felix and Dala are honoured to represent their state and region.
“It’s really important for me coming from a regional club and it feels really great to represent NSW” Felix Clarke said.
“It is really inspiring for other regional people who I’ve met and played with or against in our part of NSW.
“Just to show people that you can do it if you have enough grit and determination to pave your own way.”
Both coming from the same region, the pair have been able to use their pre-exisiting off-court relationship to strengthen their on-court chemistry – and now that they’ve joined the rest of the NSW squad, the pair are soaking up the tournament atmosphere.
“Because we are both from the same region, we were able to focus on getting the connection on the beach,” Dala said.
“Being around the bigger team is great because they can help cheer you on, or they can help you with anything.
“You can ask them questions about their experiences in previous competitions because they’ve played against people we’re coming up against as well.
“Joining the rest of the team has been really nice, and to see all these Sydney girls who have accepted us and made us feel like a part of the squad, has been amazing,” Felix said.
“It’s been so exciting to play in a competition at this level and this scale, and because our opportunities are limited, this is an amazing opportunity for us.”
Motivated by their Australian Youth Beach Volleyball Championships experience already, Dala and Felix want to encourage other regional volleyball players not to let your region define you.
“Don’t let the people around you and the atmosphere in your region dictate what you can do and your abilities,” Felix said.
“You can go so far if you just train as your individual best, and it will help you get to many different places.”
“Coming into this event, we were both intimidated by how we would rank against everyone our age,” said Dala.
“We spent a lot of preparation playing against older and more experienced beach volleyball athletes, but we idolised them and it has been great to see what has rubbed off on us from these sessions, and now we’re bringing it to our own games.”
Coming over from the opposite side of the country, U18 Western Australian athlete Oliver Thursby is also a regional based athlete competing as a part of the metro delegation.
Travelling up from the South West of WA every week to train and compete in local competitions to prepare for Youth Champs, Oliver has been enjoying the opportunity to represent his state on the national stage for the second year in a row.
“Travelling two hours from home to Perth twice a week has been hard for me and my family,” Thursby said.
“But I take it as a huge privilege because I’m one out of not many regional athletes who gets these opportunities in most high level sports so I’m very grateful to my family, friends, teachers and coaches.
“Training in Busselton with Mandy Combes, a national level player and coach, has been amazing.
“Since she scouted me at a school carnival, she has dedicated her time to me and other regional athletes to be at the same level as the metro players in Perth.”
Enjoying the intense competition that Youth Champs has to offer, Oliver believes regional volleyball athletes should look at ways to thank the community which has helped them make it to the top.
“I’m looking forward to the close, nerve wracking games,” he said.
“But overall, I’m most excited to enjoy it as much as I can, as well as being the most competitive player I can be.
“My advice to regional athletes is to always give back.
“My parents have dedicated hundreds of hours just for me so I try my best to give those hours back to them – because I wouldn’t be able to compete without them.”
