SISS water polo success
Following the success of the Columba junior team winning the South Island year 9 and 10 tournament in Invercargill at the end of last year, eight players from that successful team combined with five senior girls to make up the 13-player team to compete in the South Island tournament in Christchurch.
In the first game against Villa Maria, which boasted two national players, Columba's shooting was wayward and it suffered a 1-15 loss.
The loss to Villa meant the team had to play four games the next day, while other teams had only two or three games.
Columba won comfortably against Southland Girls, 13-5, and then 8-1 against Marion College, from Christchurch.
The next game against Rangi Ruru was their first and Columba's third, with Columba going down 3-1 after losing one of its top players in Zoe Cadzow on a questionable third kickout.
In the final game for the day, the team faced last year's winner, St Margarets College, in the quarterfinal.
Columba was one up in the last minute of the game when the St Margarets coach called a time-out to put all his players arms up in the goal. However, Nicole Martyn managed to thread the ball in, to record a 7-5 win for Columba.
The loss to Rangi Ruru meant Columba would again meet Villa Maria College, the favourite to take the girls championship, in the semifinal.
Columba's superb defence meant it matched Villa Maria goal for goal to 3-3 at full-time. Six minutes of extra time was played and, with 8sec to go, Villa was one goal up at 4-3 when Rene Theelen, the Columba coach, called for a time-out and ordered an 8sec miracle, which was delivered by Zoe Cadzow, again tying the game 4-4.
In the penalty shoot-out,Villa had the stars but Columba had the depth, and when Johanna Theelen's first shot hit the bar, Columba's shooter took it out 3-0, and the game 7-4.
The win guaranteed the team a medal and automatic entry into the national secondary schools water polo premier championships 2009, in Lower Hutt next month.
The final was against Christchurch Girls, which Columba won 4-1.
It was the first time since 1997 the girls championship had been won by a school outside Christchurch.
All three water polo trophies are in Dunedin cabinets, two at Columba and one at Balmacewen, as well as all three most valued player trophies.
Columbas centre-forward, Stephanie Lambie, was named most valuable player, while goalie Tori Hall was named most promising player.
We attribute our success to a team of talented young players, led by a very talented young coach in Rene Theelen, ably assisted by Rhys Heatley. The girls are all members of Otago Water Polo Association and have developed their game with training and in rep teams playing in South Island and national tournaments, as well as the local OSSSA weekly games.
We thank Moana Pool for the pool time we get for training and Bendigo Valley for their financial assistance.
Team list.-
Y13: Tori Hall, Charlotte O'Leary
Y12: Zoe Cadzow, Nicole Martyn, Kirsten Williams
Y11: Rene Hodgkinson, Stephanie Lambie
Y10: Charlotte Boyce, Jamie Boyce, Holly Cadzow, Kimberley Martyn, Sarah McDonald, Vienna Sutherland
Pupils in the news
Seven Cromwell College girls competed in the recent Central Otago swimming competition. Most notable was Kate Holden, who came first in the open girls breaststroke and broke the current record.
Several of the swimmers will now go on to compete at the Otago secondary schools championships, in Dunedin on March 27 and 28 .
Bayfield High school has tasted success in recent multisport events. Two teams from Bayfield competed in the recent Otago-Southland Police Triathlon in Cromwell. The boys team of Tasse Austin-Walker (swimming) Jeff Notman (cycling) and Alex Zetko (running) finished strongly for a comfortable win in the senior boys section.
At the SISS duathlon and triathlon championships, held recently in Oamaru, Samantha Hope won the junior South Island duathlon. In the senior triathlon event Roxy White, Amelia McDonald and Eliza Sims were placed fourth in the girls teams event.
Teams in the news
Representing the Otago-Southland zone at the New Zealand secondary schools division 1 softball finals in the Hutt Valley from March 30 to April 3, is a girls team from Dunstan High School. Dunstan's boys team is the Otago-Southland zone representative at the New Zealand secondary schools division 2 finals, in Greymouth from April 2 to April 5.
Weekly water polo competition
Following the school's recent success at the South Island secondary schools water polo competition, it is no surprise to see the Columba green team leading the Friday night open grade with three wins from as many games.
Second equal in the grade are John McGlashan College and St Hildas Collegiate, who have a game in hand. With Otago Boys sitting in fourth spot, these four teams will play in the semifinals, trying to make the final on April 3.
It is pleasing to see a sport where single-sex and mixed teams play against each other, and there is intense rivalry between schools. Last year's beaten finalists, St Hildas, will be attempting to turn the tables on the champion Columba team.
In the bottom section of the senior grade, Taieri College has won all its games and will be pushing for a place in the top section in term 4.
The junior grade is close, with Otago Boys A, Columba Year 10, Kavanagh College and John McGlashan all on the same points. They have one round of games to complete before the finals on April 3. The Kings junior team has won promotion from the bottom section for the last two weeks of section play.
Change of season
At the recent Otago Secondary Schools Sports Association annual general meeting, concern was expressed regarding the changeover period between summer and winter sports and the unnecessary pressure being placed on pupils.
Several winter sports codes are beginning their programmes before the end of term 1, the designated date for the changeover from summer to winter sports.
Some are beginning as early as February, which makes it extremely difficult for many pupils who are committed to a summer sport at that time.
A memorandum from the New Zealand Secondary Schools Sports Council stated:"For secondary school students, the sports focus in terms 1 and 4 should be summer sport, and, in terms 2 and 3, winter sport should have priority.
"Those involved in secondary school sport are urged to schedule pre-season activities, as far as possible, around existing sports commitments of the players and not to disqualify a player who elects to fulfill previously committed responsibilities.
"Athletes must be encouraged to meet and communicate obligations and commitments to sports codes/teams in an honest and responsible manner. It is important that they are met by similar responsibilities from their administrators and coaches.
"Where there is a clash [even with the best of intentions and the most sensitive scheduling these will occur] all coaches and administrators are urged to communicate, at all appropriate times, with all of those involved so that the athletes are not forced to compromise between impossibly conflicting options beyond their control that could have been avoided."
The Otago Secondary School Sports Association endorses this statement and reminds all schools, regional sporting organisations and others who assist with secondary school sport, that these guidelines are in the best interests of pupils.
Orienteering
The Dunedin orienteering series concludes this evening, with the final races at Ross Creek. Kings High is dominating the boys sections, leading both the senior and junior grades. John McGlashan College hold second place in both sections, albeit by 1 point in the seniors.
Otago Girls has a six and a-half point lead from Queens High in the senior section, with Bayfield leading the junior girls section from Tokomairiro High.
Competitors have faced all conditions over the five-week series so far, but numbers have been excellent with more than 100 pupils competing each evening.
The culmination of the local season will be on April 5, when the Otago championships will be held at the Pyramids on Otago Peninsula, followed by the South Island secondary schools championships, in Christchurch on April 24 and 25.
Declining participation
The number of pupils throughout the country who represent their school in sport has gradually declined over the past eight years. The major sports that have been affected include cricket, down 26%; golf, down 33%; netball, down 4%; rugby, down 5%; softball, down 21%; and swimming, down 24%.
Those sports that have shown an increase in participation include athletics, up 5%; badminton, up 46%; basketball, up 6%; rowing, up 29%; football, up 18%; squash, up 17%; tennis, up 15%; and volleyball, up 10%.
In 2008, the Otago region was ranked second of the 17 regions throughout New Zealand, with 63% participation, compared with a New Zealand average of 52%.
The involvement of teachers in Otago declined from 51% in 2000 to 45% in 2008. The national average for 2008 was 37%.
• Calendar of Events
Today- Orienteering: Last race, Dunedin summer series, Ross Creek.
March 20, 21- Otago-Southland athletics, Dunedin.
March 21- Rowing, Head of the Harbour, Lake Waihola.
March 23-26 - NZ Cricket junior boys finals, Taupo.
March 27, 28 - Otago swimming championships, Dunedin.
March 28 - Adventure racing, Cromwell.
March 30 - April 5 - Summer tournament week.
