Sports Round-Up…

Aquinas athletes have had a blockbuster Term 4, notching up many sporting achievements.

Western BOP Zone Year 7 and 8 Athletics Champs:

Congratulations to junior athlete, Isabel Nelis, who blasted away the competition to claim the crown of Western BOP Year 7 girls athletics champion.

She won the 100 and 200-meter sprint, and finished second in the high jump and third in the long jump at last month’s WBOP Zone Year 7 and 8 Athletics Championships. Mila Kennedy was second overall in the Year 7 championship.

Aquinas students claimed numerous podium places at the athletics event. In the Year 7 contest, Tilly Martin won the long jump while Mila finished first in the 800-metre and third in the 1500-metre run. Delilah Smith was third in the high jump, and Mia Fitzgerald second in the 200-metres. Hunter Clarke launched his way to second place in the long jump, third in the 800-metre race, and second in the 1500 metres.

In the Year 8 contest, Paige Mennie competed in an impressive seven events, and won second place in the high jump and third in the 100-metre sprint. Greer Sander finished third in the 800 metres.

Lachlan Murray won the 800-metre event and was second in the 1500-metre race, closely followed by Stanley Anderson in third. Tyiree Benge was third in the 100-metre dash and Adam De Souza third in the 200-metre dash.

Aquinas finished second in the Year 7 and 8 4x100m relay and was third in the event’s champs race.

A spectacular effort from all our athletes.

Issy Gillard – Netball:

Congratulations to Year 10 shooter Issy Gillard who has made it to the Waikato-BOP shortlist of up-and-coming netball players.

She was one of 99 top secondary school players invited to a Magic in the Making development session this spring — and then was invited back with 21 others for an advance camp last month. Just three of that top group come from Tauranga.

The camps are held by the Netball Waibop Pathways team which viewed netballers from 60 school teams and 25 representative teams before making its initial selection of 99 players.

Tash Wakelin – Cricket:

Year 13 cricket phenomenon, Tash Wakelin, has been making headlines with the bat this season.

A contracted Northern District’s Women player, Tash hit a top-scoring half-century off just 55 balls during the season opener against Auckland in Whangarei last month. She went on to score 59 off 65 balls.

Just weeks earlier she set a milestone by becoming the first women’s cricketer to score a century in Western BOP grade cricket. Tash hit 100 off 87 balls, including 14 fours, in the Otumoetai Cadets’ game against the Bay Blasters. 

Sarah Edwards – Water Polo:

A belated shout-out to Year 13‘s Sarah Edwards who won gold with the NZ Women’s U18 water polo team at Australia’s State Championships this spring. 

She and Ava Sands, also Year 13, are part of a national development squad that will be whittled down to a final NZ team for February’s World Champs in Doha. 

Congratulations on your Australian victory Sarah!

Josh Oficial – Taekwondo:

We’re catching up on some belated news for Aquinas Taekwondo star, Josh Oficial.

The Year 11 black belt won two gold medals at the NZ National Taekwondo Champs — the Kukkiwon Cup. He was awarded first in the junior individuals and pairs patterns (15-17-age category) and won the tournament trophy for best male poomsae.

In October, Josh was named awarded the Sidwell Cup at senior prizegiving for the top male sporting performance. Congratulations Josh!