TAIERI COLLEGE
Will Christensen
Highlight: Sport has always been a big part of my life and being able to share that passion with others has been extremely enjoyable. This year I have had the privilege of being a sports prefect at Taieri College, a role that has pushed me outside of my comfort zone to lead, organise, and encourage others to take part in sport. Playing many sports including rugby, touch, basketball and multisport, I’ve learnt a lot about myself and what it takes to be a good leader. One of the highlights of my year was being part of the rugby team that toured Europe. Playing in countries like Italy, France and the UK was an experience that I’ll never forget. This tour was about more than just rugby, teaching me how sport can connect people from different cultures and backgrounds. I particularly enjoyed the after-match functions, connecting with other rugby players from the opposite side of the world and the fun language barriers it created.
Legacy: As a sports prefect, I wanted to leave behind a legacy that future students could enjoy. This year I’ve helped bring back the year 7 and 8 triathlon that I’m looking forward to running in term four. This activity gives younger students a chance to challenge themselves and be proud of their achievements. I also helped organise and run break-time games for the younger students which created teamwork, participation, and lasting memories.
Being a sports leader: It has taught me that leadership is more than just being on the field. It’s about encouraging others, giving them opportunities, and setting an example through effort and attitude. The 10 weeks I spent out of sport with injury was a test of my perseverance, but also my passion for sport, attending every rugby game and training to support my team. To me, being a sports prefect has meant inspiring others to take part, supporting my team-mates, and helping grow sport at Taieri College. I’m proud of what myself and fellow sports prefects have achieved this year.
DUNSTAN HIGH SCHOOL
Zach Johnson
Highlight: Captaining the first Dunstan First XV to beat Otago Boys’ First XV at Littlebourne.
Legacy: Being sports leader at Dunstan has been an awesome experience. This year I’ve had the chance to help organise events, support our teams, and encourage more students to get involved in sport. From trainings and competitions to school events, it’s been great to see people giving things a go and building that school spirit. The legacy I hope we’ve created is one of participation, pride and positivity — not just focusing on results but on making sport something everyone can be part of.
Being a sports leader: It has been an experience I’ll always value. It gave me the chance to step up, represent the school and help shape the culture of sport throughout the year. It wasn’t just about results, but about encouraging participation and supporting our teams. I’m especially proud of how Dunstan continues to punch well above its weight in sport — the talent and commitment across such a wide range of activities is something pretty special. What stands out most is the effort from students, coaches and staff. Whether it was early trainings, travelling for games or trying something new, that dedication is what makes sport at Dunstan unique. Being able to support that has been a real privilege.
BAYFIELD HIGH SCHOOL
Kyla Glover
Highlight: Winning the sport exchange with Mountainview High School this year.
Legacy: This year we worked as a team of prefects to introduce new lunchtime competitions, including Rippa rugby, which hasn’t been done before.
Being a sports leader: Being a sports prefect has given me a great opportunity to connect with the younger kids and create more opportunities for the school as a whole.
Aydean Noradzmudin
Highlight: Satellite volleyball tournament.
Legacy: Rippa rugby, multisport, tchoukball.
Being a sports leader: It was a new experience of holding new responsibilities like planning for a new sports event for the year and teamwork among other sports leaders if anything goes wrong. I am forever grateful for having the chance to experience another leadership role in school.
Ella Rowe
Highlight: Doing interschool exchanges and PE class trips.
Legacy: This year we did multiple multisport challenges like multisport, tchoukball and Rippa rugby. We also played a netball game against Trinity’s prefects.
Being a sports leader: This year has been hectic, but I have embraced my role as a sports prefect and tried to engage the school with getting active as that means a lot to me. I love to try and get people into new sports, even if it is socially and this role has given me that chance. It has definitely helped me to concrete my decision in studying sports science and physiology next year.
Jack Flanagan
Highlight: Linwood football tournament 2024.
Legacy: Interhouse Rippa rugby, interhouse multisport, inter-year level tchouckball.
Being a sports leader: I have enjoyed being a sports prefect for 2025 and have loved encouraging students to take part in interhouse and inter-year level events. This has also taught me valuable leadership and team work skills required to work well in a group and I believe this has helped out with the sporting environment surrounding Bayfield High School.
KAIKORAI VALLEY COLLEGE
Mackenzie Dinnissen
Highlight: The senior A boys team and our girls team both won their finals for basketball.
Legacy: We did activities like interhouse sports at lunchtimes and everyone wore their house colours and represented their houses on athletics day.
Being a sports leader: It has been a great experience. I’ve been able to encourage the students at my school to get involved in sport and enjoy being active. To me it means being a role model for other students in the school and guiding people through the highs and lows of sports and activities. I have enjoyed giving back to the school through umpiring and coaching netball.
ST HILDA’S COLLEGIATE
Charlotte Stafford and Aya Moetaua
Highlight: Charlotte — Winning the Audrey Timlin Memorial Cup during winter tournament week. Being able to spend the week away in Nelson with the team was such a great bonding experience where we made so many memories. Being able to come away with the win and get back into Federation Cup for the future team of 2026 was a huge goal for us year 13s, and although it is bittersweet, it was a great way to finish my school hockey.
Aya — Winning the South Island netball tournament with all my team-mates. This was the first time I had experienced winning such a high-level tournament. Another highlight was coming second in the South Island with my school rugby team. On the way to the final, we had to win the Highlanders final and were able to take the Metro final as well.
Legacy: This year we have continued many traditions such as Wednesday movements, which is a fun midweek break to keep everyone active, as well as staff v student games. The biggest thing we are working on is our colour run that will be run on October 19 at Bishopscourt. It is a great opportunity for everyone to have some fun while getting sprayed with colour and completing the obstacle course.
Being a sports leader: It has been a huge privilege and a great learning opportunity for us both. Being able to connect across all year groups through different activities has allowed us to get to know so many other students and share our passion for sports with them. We have enjoyed the opportunity to be able to come up with our own initiatives that we believe have allowed us to have higher participation rates among students at school.
JOHN MCGLASHAN COLLEGE
Serge Meeuws
Highlight: As I look back on my time as deputy head boy and a sports leader, I feel incredibly grateful. This year has been a real highlight for me, especially getting to play first XV rugby with my mates. Running out on to the field with them, a team we’d grown up playing with, was a feeling I’ll never forget.
Legacy: I’m proud of the part I played in helping run several school sports events. We had a great time with athletics day and house swimming, where everyone got involved and showed their spirit. The house haka competition was a powerful moment for the whole school, and the cross-country was a real test of our endurance. I also really enjoyed the friendly lunchtime games we organised with prefects from local girls’ schools and even our own staff.
Being a sports leader: My main goal was to help build a stronger sense of brotherhood among the students. I wanted to make sure everyone felt a part of the team, whether they were on the field or cheering from the sidelines. Representing the school’s "cross" has been a true privilege, and I’ve tried my best to uphold the values that make John McGlashan so special.
