School sport: A great week for sport

Papamoa School athletes.

Aquinas College
More than 70 per cent of Aquinas students participate in college sport. The national average participation rate is 53 per cent. This fact was one of many presented at the Aquinas College sports prizegiving, held recently. Aquinas director of sport Bill Kite says the opportunities to participate, represent and support Aquinas in sport have grown tremendously since the college opened its gates 11 years ago.

This year Aquinas fielded 140 teams across 24 sporting codes - 12 new teams were registered across those codes. Other highlights of the year saw 100 students make regional honours, and 15 were selected to represent NZ in their chosen sports. Some excellent results have been noted at local, regional and national levels. The new Astro turf has been a welcome addition to the college's sports facilities.

"Our traditional school sporting competitions have continued to build school spirit and provide opportunities for the whole community to come together in Athletics, Swimming and Cross Country," Kite said.

Aquinas sent seven teams to Winter Tournament this year - both girls' and boys' basketball teams competing for the first time ever. The boys' team competed for the very first time at the National Championships for small schools, placing 5th at that event. Furthermore, 120 of Aquinas' Year 7 & 8 students competed at the AIMS Games - that is approximately half of the Aquinas' Intermediate school.

Bethlehem College
Cricket: The season so far has not quite gone according to plan for the 1st Xl. Whilst the bowlers have been successful, the batsmen have struggled to score runs. However, last weekend against Trident, the batsmen were more consistent and scored well and a total of 175 was reached. Tom Rutherford (25), Bill Burnett (33), Patrick Davenport (32) and Jack Preston (31) all made significant contributions with the bat. This provided the bowlers with sufficient runs to defend and Trident were bowled out for 135. Jack Preston was the standout taking 4-42 with Dylan Ramohitaj supporting well with 3-23. This success allows the team to move through to the semi-finals.

Volleyball: The junior teams have competed in all the qualifying tournaments in the highly competitive local competitions. The Junior Girls team ended up in second place and the Junior Boys 6th. In the tournament itself, both A teams have made great starts with the girls convincingly beating Long Bay and the boys getting home in a narrow win over Wellington College.

Mount Maunganui College
Waterpolo: MMC boys played Papamoa to remain undefeated. MMC got out to a good start up 5-1 at quarter time and though Papamoa came back at us we were too strong. Hamish Reiger had a good game and when swapped to goal keep in the last period made some good saves. The team is starting to play well and used the game to set up their moves to some success. Final score was 17-6.

Volleyball: This week sees the Mount College Junior Volleyball teams hitting out against the North Island's finest in the North Island Secondary Schools Competition at the ASB Arena, Baypark. Mount College Junior Girls A had a great day 1 with 2 wins against Spotswood College, winning in 2 sets 25-6, 25-6. Mikayla Riddall had a exceptional 16 serve run in first set. The second win was against Westlake winning in 2 sets 25-12, 25-11. The only loss of the day coming against Manurewa in 3 sets 25-18,17-25,15-13.

Our Junior A girls team finishing second in pool and now playing in Division 1: 1 to 16. MMC Junior A Boys team also had a solid first day of competition, hitting off against Gisborne Boys' B and winning in 2 sets 25-18, 27-25. Next game saw a tough battle of 3 sets against Wellington High School. Unfortunately this wasn't to be a win for our Mount team loosing in 3 sets 15-25,26-24,10-15. Bethlehem A would prove too tough also and another loss in 3 sets 15-25,25-19,15-7 meant that the boys would finish third in their pool and are now playing in Division 2: 17-32.

Mount College also has a Junior Development Girls team playing in this competition. Their first game against Carmel College proved positive winning in 3 sets 25-18,18-25,14-16 and winning their second game against Te Aroha College in 3 sets 25-22,18-25,17-15. Whangarei Girls High proved too tough for our junior side losing in 2 sets 25-18,25-12. All teams looking good as they head into an action packed week. To all our supporters that are looking at catching a game this week, check out the www.mmc.school.nz, click Mount Sport and Volleyball to get the daily draw.

Otumoetai Intermediate
On Friday November 22 the Bay of Plenty Polytechnic Bay of Plenty gala awards was held at the ASB Arena. Over 500 people attended the event.

Allison Stewart from Eves Realty invited our sports coordinator Monica Dadson and three of our students to help with the presentation of the Junior Sportswomen of the year award. The students were Saskia Brinkmann, Tiana Hill and Thomas Chaney. The nominations in this category were Blacksticks hockey player Rose Keddell, sailor Molly Meech and surf life savers Natalie Peat and Karina Radley. The competition was tough and the winner was Molly Meech Tiana Hill presented the award to Molly. The memory of the evening will stay with our students for ever.

Athletics: Two weeks ago we held our inter class athletics finals where parents and the community came along to share the morning with us. The finalists from that day will now be competing in the Bay of Plenty/Poverty Bay Intermediate Schools Athletics Championships 2013 which will be held this Friday 29th November 2013 from 9am at Tauranga Domain. There are twelve intermediate schools that have been invited to compete at the event and Otumoetai Intermediate has 31 Year 7 students and 34 Year 8 students competing in the various track and field events.

Softball: Trials are well under way for the Bay of Plenty/Poverty Bay Intermediate schools softball championships 2013 that is being held in Whakatane on Friday 6th December.

Cross country: The Tect Tauranga trail run took place on Sunday 24th November at the all terrain Tect park. We would like to congratulate Arleah Tippins who entered the 5K run and finished in 3rd place and Nick Freeman who entered the 10k run and finished in 6th place.

Papamoa School
Mount Cluster Athletics 2013: A total of 31 Papamoa School students competed at Friday's Mount Cluster Athletics Champs at Gordon Spratt. There were some outstanding performances on the day, with 13 of our students qualifying for next Wednesday's WBOP Champs at the Tauranga Domain. Harrison Leach took out the Year 5 Boys 60m and 100m double, with Baden Couper placing 2nd in both events and Zak Mason third in the 100m giving us a Papamoa School trifecta. Sophie East won the Year 6 Girls 60m and 100m, as well as 2nd in the High Jump. Kayleigh Belt won the Year 5 Girls Long Jump, Emily Williamson won the Year 6 Girls Cricket Ball throw, and Stefan Heuberger won the Year 6 Boys Quoits.

Congratulations must also go to our 3 relay teams which did exceptionally well.