Dean Allan
Dean Allan
Dean Allan is a pretty persistent person.
If something does not go right straight away, the Waitaki Boys’ High School pupil finds out what he can improve on and hones in.
That was how he made it to the school’s First XI football team.
As a year 9 pupil, Dean looked up to the ‘‘talented’’ year 13 players in the First XI. He was told if he wanted to be in the First XI he would have to “win the shirt off the back of the next person’’.
He did just that.
And after four years in the team, Dean is now the captain.
He also represented Southern United in three national tournaments, placing third in the country in 2019.
His success was not limited to the field.
The 17-year-old has coached the Oamaru Intermediate School football team, Meadowbank United’s under-12 team, his school’s junior team, and Football Waitaki’s under-14 and under-15 sides.
As head boy at Waitaki Boys’, he was also finding the best way to balance how much time to put into school, sport and his leadership duties.
It seemed this was something else he honed over the years, having achieved NCEA levels 1 and 2 with excellence. He hoped to achieve the same this year, with level 3.
A natural leader, Dean chairs the school council and co-leads the
Waitaki combined formal social committee. He has also participated in Students Against Dangerous Driving and the Leo Club.
‘‘It’s weird to think so many people look up to you,’’ he said.
‘‘It’s been an awesome experience.’’
Next year, Dean plans to complete a bachelor of science degree at the University of Otago, with an interest in physical education and sports science.
Achievements: Head boy (2021); first XI football (2018-21); First XI football captain (2021), Southern United Football Club (2017-19); third place in national football premiership (2019); junior football coaching (2020-21); Oamaru Intermediate School football coach (2020-21); Meadowbank U12 coach (2021); Football Waitaki U14/15 co-coach (2020-21); NCEA levels 1 and 2 endorsed with excellence; year 11, one excellence, three merit, subject endorsements at level 1; year 12, two merit subject endorsements at level 2; co-lead Waitaki combined formal social committee (2020-21); student council (2017- 21), Students Against Dangerous Driving (2017 21), Leo’s Club (2017-21).
Role models: My parents. They just get on with it and work hard.
Hopes for the future: I definitely want to carry on coaching. If I can somehow incorporate strength and conditioning, then hopefully that will make me a better person and a better coach.
Danyon Ashcroft
Danyon Ashcroft
A lot has changed for Danyon Ashcroft since he was a shy year 9 pupil.
Once looking up to his school’s prefects, Danyon had become one, serving as deputy head boy at Waitaki Boys’ High School.
He was also on the student council, Blue Light committee, and the Waitaki combined formal social committee.
‘‘I like being able to be a role model.’’
Although he did not have any specific role models of his own, Danyon is on his way to becoming one.
This year, the talented sportsman was named senior athletics champion.
But basketball is his true passion.
For the past four years, Danyon has played for the school’s First V basketball team and this year he was named captain.
He was selected for a Basketball New Zealand under-17 camp in preparation for this year’s Fiba Oceania Championship, and played in the 2020 South Island High Schools Basketball All Stars premiership.
He has been in the Basketball Otago under-17 team for the past four years, travelling from Oamaru to Dunedin every Sunday for practice.
He has also been a Mainland Eagles Academy athlete since he was in year 10.
Before he started high school, basketball was something Danyon did for fun.
But at Waitaki Boys’ he was surrounded by talented players who gave him good training habits he has carried with him throughout his high school experience.
Now he has his sights on the University of Otago, where he plans to study surveying next year.
But his true dream is to play basketball professionally, with one of his goals being to play for the Otago Nuggets.
Achievements: Deputy head boy (2021); senior athletics champion (2021); WBHS Basketball First V (2018 - 2021); team captain (2021); Basketball Otago (2018-21); Basketball New Zealand U17 selection camp (2021); Mainland Eagles Academy athlete (2018-21); South Island High Schools Basketball All Stars premiership (2020); Blue Light committee (2020-21); Waitaki combined formal social committee (2021); student council (2021); NCEA levels 1 and 2 endorsed with merit; year 11, one merit subject endorsement in level 1; year 12, one merit subject endorsement in level 2.
Role model: No role model.
Hopes for the future: To play basketball professionally.
