School Sport: Supreme effort brings rewards

Isaiah Duncanson and Kelcy Ballantyne reigned supreme at the Otumoetai College sports awards. Photo / Andrew Warner

Isaiah Duncanson and Kelcy Ballantyne will rank as two of the finest sporting talents to have attended Otumoetai College.

The Year 13 students were honoured at the school's sports awards last week, winning the supreme senior boys' and senior girls' awards and a host of individual trophies.

Duncanson was crowned senior champion in athletics, cross-country, 1500m, volleyball MVP, beach volleyball MVP, plus joint player of the year for the First XV and Sevens teams. He also was awarded three Blues awards and a merit award.

To add to the demands on his time, he is also head boy.

"It is always a challenge with time. Life is about application, your outcome is determined by your application. In all my sports I apply myself fully, hence my sporting awards. They are also assisted by my sports inter-relating.

"The athletics and cross country were individual awards so they are quite impressive to me, but the senior boys' volleyball MVP was a big one for me, because I started at Otumoetai College with no experience of volleyball. Captaining the team this year was pretty important.

"You always aim for stuff but you never expect stuff. I never expected to be head boy and achieve all these sporting successes."

Duncanson is off to Otago University next year to study sports science.

Ballantyne was awarded the senior girls' top award for the third consecutive year, and two Blues awards. Her dream is to study and play basketball in the United States, where the 183cm tall power forward has attracted interest from colleges.

"I am still considering all of my options as I have been offered a performance scholarship to Otago University, a Sir Edmund Hillary Scholarship to Waikato University, and am still considering international opportunities in terms of sports scholarships," Ballantyne said.

In June, she represented New Zealand at the FIBA 3x3 World Championships and was selected in an on-going Basketball NZ coaching programme. She was also a key player for the Tauranga senior women's team in the national league and helped her school to national volleyball finals. For good measure, she won the school swimming champs.

"I am pretty proud of being selected in national basketball and volleyball teams for five years. In volleyball, the highlight would have to be in winning national championships in 2013, which was pretty awesome," she said.

"Sport is a huge part of our school culture, with 48 per cent of students playing and it has become more popular over the five years here. [Isaiah] and I are proud of the work we did on the sports committee to get students involved."