School Sport: Sizzling performances in winter

Jake Hoffart from Aquinas College came third at the North Island Secondary Schools Interprovincial Cross Country Relay event held in Pukekohe. Photo / Supplied

One of the highlights of the sporting year for secondary schools has again highlighted the abundant talent within the Western Bay.

Winter Tournament Week has just completed with some creditable performances recorded by Western Bay secondary schools. They were part of a record number of 20,000 students proudly representing their schools nationwide, in sports ranging from curling to ice hockey, badminton to rugby league.

Aquinas College is celebrating after the senior boys' basketball team qualified for the Secondary School National Championships for the first time in the school's history. The team came third from 13 schools competing at the qualifying tournament in Rotorua.

Bethlehem College sent a badminton team to the National Schools Championships for the first time. The young team finished 13th in Auckland but have five players back next year to build a stronger team around.

It has been a good winter for the Tauranga Boys' College First XI football team, with a competitive season in the men's Federation 2 competition backed up by a memorable performance at the NZ Secondary Schools Winter Tournament. Tauranga Boys' had never previously beaten or drawn with 2012 national champs Mt Albert Grammar but they proved their capabilities by drawing 0-0 with the Kevin Fallon-coached MAGS side.

Otumoetai College had its best ever winter results particularly in girls' hockey and football. The Second XI hockey girls played in the Mary Clinton Cup against 13 other First XIs in Whakatane and topped their pool. They beat local rivals Aquinas College 2-0 in pool play and then 2-1 in the semifinals to win the bronze medal.

Otumoetai's First XI footballers also took home a bronze medal after their worthy effort at the Maurice Hulme Satellite Tournament held in Wanganui. Brooke Matheson was voted the Best Team Player.

Tauranga Girls' senior basketball team qualified for the nationals after finishing fourth at the qualifying tournament in Palmerston North. They beat Fraser High School for the first time ever with Makayla Daysh scoring 34 points in the historic victory.