Te Awamutu College Development boys’ volleyball team crowned 2024 champions

Waikato Herald·

12 Dec, 2024 07:15 PM2 mins to read

The Te Awamutu College Junior Development boys' volleyball team, first-division champions in the 2024 Waikato Junior High School Volleyball Competition. Photo / Volleyball Waikato

The Te Awamutu College Junior Development boys’ volleyball team are the 2024 Waikato Junior High School Volleyball Competition first-division champions.

A duel against Fraser High School’s boys’ A team saw Te Awamutu win at the Hamilton-based secondary school.

It was a hard-fought three-set game.

Te Awamutu won the first set 25-17, lost the second 13-25 and ultimately took the third set 15-13 for the championship.

The team was moved up a division mid-season because of great performances, so the win was a fantastic result.

The players worked hard all season, with two or three weekly after-school training sessions led by their coaches Mahonri Sunnex and Sterling Te Huia – two Year 12 Te Awamutu College students.

Sunnex’s mum Kira Krieg was the team manager.

Sunnex said the team started off as a big “maybe”, as they were unsure if there would be enough numbers.

He and Te Huia hustled to get recruits from other junior teams to put the roster together.

“We had a strong team and remained undefeated the whole season, drawing with Fairfield and only losing two sets across the seven weeks [two games per week held on Thursdays at The Peak Rototuna or Fraser High School gym],” Sunnex said.

“The final was against Fraser, [in] which we won the first set, lost the second and won the third. A fantastic result.”

The team came across many complications with regard to transportation and gear throughout the season, but didn’t let that dampen their spirits.

“In the end, we made it work and won the division championship.”