Chance for team to meet NZ rep

The Logan Park girls' football team capped off its season by meeting Annalie Longo recently. Longo, a midfielder for the NZ Football Ferns, is the youngest player to represent NZ. The team not only met Annalie, but also talked about what it takes to play at the top; plus it trained and played a game with her. The team has had some notable successes this year, beating OGHS for the first time and also winning the coeducational schools football competition.

Congratulations to the senior B girls basketball team which had a magnificent season and just missed winning the final in its grade. And well done to the year 10 A boys basketball and 9 A girls basketball teams which both finished third.

The school netball teams had wonderful seasons with both the senior A and 9 A teams winning all their games - that is, until the final games. Then, sadly, both teams narrowly lost. Also well done to the junior A team and senior B teams which both made it into third-fourth playoffs.

Junior rugby players at LPHS have joined Sassenachs club this season.

About 12 boys have been playing in two teams with students from other schools.

The A1s won their final game at OBHS 55-10. Sean Hall scored the last two tries.

The boys show great commitment and promise for 2013.

During Winter Tournament, the LPHS girls hockey team played in Invercargill and the boys hockey team played in Gore, competing against a dozen other schools.

The girls won two games, the best against South Otago, which they won on goal strokes.

Good sportsmanship

Ten Queen's High School girls travelled to Wellington on the weekend of September 22-23 to compete in the New Zealand Federation national schools aerobics championships. Eight of these girls made finals: Mahalia Finnie, Lydia Bernard, Emily White, Danielle Gaudelius, Makayla Spiers, Christina Ashton, Alannah Taggart and Kerry Remon. Alannah was third in the junior open year 9-10 and Kerry Remon third in the junior open novice.

Christina not only finished second in the junior open year 9-10 but also received the Mihi Aston Trophy for artistic excellence. The Queen's team was also awarded the Sportsmanship Trophy.

Teacher and Coach of the team Helen Lowther was awarded life membership for services to NZCAF in coaching. Ex-student and Queen's coach, Annelise Lowther won the adult open individual section. Sister Gemma was third in the FISAF adult elite division of the competition.

Caitlin Orr, a year 10 student who plays for the school team and the southern women's ice hockey team, has been selected in the New Zealand under-18 Ice Ferns team. Caitlin was chosen when she attended the national women's tournament in Auckland recently. The under-18 squad trains with the senior Ice Ferns team preparing for the world ice-skating championships. Caitlin is not eligible for this team until 2015.

St Hilda's winter sports

This season has been another successful season for the 1st Xl football team which went through the season unbeaten, scoring 86 goals and conceding only six in 12 games. During tournament week, the team competed in the Lotto premier tournament in Taupo, playing against many top schools with Football Academies in New Zealand. The team managed to top its pool with wins over Auckland Dio, Wellington East and Freyberg, and a win against Waimea after a penalty shootout ensured the team a quarterfinal spot. A 2-1 win over defending champion St Peters from Cambridge resulted in it playing Tauranga Girls in the semifinal. After a 1-1 draw, St Hilda's lost the shootout 4-3 but bounced back to beat Epsom Girls 3-1 in the 3rd-4th playoff to secure the bronze medal.

The 1st X1 hockey team was very competitive at the Federation Cup. An eighth-placed finish after many very close games ending with penalty shots ensured it remains in this tournament next year.

The year 10 basketball team competed in the South Island tournament in Nelson, losing the final to Ashburton College. This was a great result for the team which had a very successful season. On Friday September 14 at the Dunedin secondary schools basketball finals, St Hilda's three teams were playing in the finals after having successful seasons and good wins in the semis. The year 9 and 10 teams played well in the final, beating Otago Girls' 35-31.

The year 10 team, coached by Angela Ruske, continued on from its South Island success with a strong game against Otago Girls'. The game was even at halftime but St Hilda's dominated the second half and won 55-27.

The senior A team, coached by Dean Ruske, played Kavanagh in the final. It was a very tough game and St Hilda's was behind for most of the game. With one minute left and some great free-throw shots from Zoe Richards and Aleisha Ruske, St Hilda's took the lead and won 44-43.

Columba: duathlon and cycling

Columba College dominated the team section of the Otago Secondary Schools duathlon championships for the second consecutive year. The dedicated training put in by its cyclists and runners was evident as the girls stood out. Columba also had four students competing in the individual section -- Anna Macdonald, Jodie Llewellyn and Olivia Jones, who are part of the Otago junior triathlon development squad, and Tara Bennett who is part of Columba's senior cycling team and just recently completed the Dunedin half-marathon.

All four performed well, showing their athleticism and endurance.

The duathlon served as a perfect lead-up event for the Columba College senior cycling team which competed at the New Zealand Secondary Schools road cycling championships in Feilding and Levin from September 29 to October 1. The team of Laura Carruthers, Laura Bridger, Tara Bennett, Georgie Wood, Bailey Saville and Kaitlynn Wheeler have been training hard and honing their racing skills at the Cycling Otago events during the winter season and were in top form leading into this event. The girls were the only representatives from Otago at the event and are the first team from Columba to compete at the national level in road cycling. The team would like to acknowledge the support of Chris Drake and Suzy Pryde as their cycling mentors and also to Olivia Kennedy, Columba College Old Girl, for her help as an assistant manager and mentor.

Taking on the nation in League

Alex Faulkner is a year 13 student at Otago Boys' High School. Competing for the year 11-13 team in 2011, his talent caught the eye of Otago Whalers coach David Reedy.

With his performance in helping Otago Boys to victory in 2011, Alex was selected for the Otago under-17 team that played at the South Island 15s and 17s tournament in the term one holidays this year. Again Alex performed creditably and gained recognition with selection in the South Island Scorpions under-17 squad. After attending a couple of training camps in Christchurch, Alex made the final team cut and has played in each of the Scorpions matches in the national competition.

Teams involved are Northern Swords, Akarana Falcons, Counties Manakau Stingrays, Waicoa Bay Stallions, Central Vipers, Wellington Orcas and South Island Scorpions. Playing in this competition allows Alex to be watched by many NRL scouts.


King's coaching camp

Dan Koni and King's High School opened the doors to Paora Peawini to run an elite touch coaching course on September 29-30. Otago's best young talent was invited to attend. Peawini is the New Zealand under-19 men's coach, and New Zealand open mixed assistant coach.

Players selected were New Zealand reps, or those who have the potential to represent New Zealand in the new season and beyond.

King's High: Hamish McCallion, Ben Fleming, Kereama Joseph, MacKenzie Haugh.

St Hilda's: Laura McKenzie, Olivia Hickman, Holly Johnstone, Kate Morris.

Otago Girls': Kiana Pelasio.

Kaikorai Valley College: Nicole McCutcheon, Jessica Wilson, Jayde PeatSouth Otago High School: Reuben Gray, Mikayla Latta, Sam Hollows, Jayden Dovey

 


• These articles are compiled by the Otago Secondary Schools Sports Association (OSSSA). Contact Nicki Paterson, Otago Regional Sports Director, PO Box 6303, Dunedin. Email: nicki@osssa.org.nz

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