These articles are compiled by the Otago Secondary Schools Sports Association, which is proudly sponsored by Perpetual Guardian.
Bayfield High School
Over the course of the holidays, Bayfield High School had some fantastic sporting successes.
Isaac Hobbs was a part of the Otago men's table tennis team who won B grade at the New Zealand open team championships. He also won a gold medal in the under-15 mixed doubles grade in the nationals individuals tournament.
Alex Livingstone travelled to Auckland for the New Zealand gymnastics championships. He put all his hard work into action with many top three placings in individual apparatus and an incredible second place overall in the men's artistic level 7 grade.
Emma Green also attended the national gymnastics championships to compete in aerobics. Emma and her partner, Katy, won gold in the open level 3 pairs.
This was Emma's second national title, as she and Stella McQuillan won gold at the NZCAF nationals in Queenstown at the end of September.
Stella also won gold at the NZCAF nationals, in the secondary pre-choregraphed grade. At this event, Abby Green won gold in FISAF junior individual and won gold in FISAF junior duo with Ali Bloem.
It was an outstanding achievement to come home with four gold medals from such a small group of athletes.
The experienced curling team, the Burlers, travelled to Naseby for the New Zealand secondary schools curling competition. The team came home victorious - its second gold after also winning the South Island competition earlier in the year.
Columba College
On Sunday, October 20, the Columba College rugby sevens team took part in the South Island secondary schools competition in Timaru. The players came away with a silver medal after a super day of competitive play.
Overall the team had an excellent season this year, and ended the weekly regional competition undefeated. Finishing second in the South Island tournament tops off a great season, and the side is excited about the future of sevens rugby at Columba. Many thanks to the coaches and management who dedicated time, energy and knowledge to this talented group of athletes.
A further four pupils have been named in their respective New Zealand sides for the sport of touch. Brylee More (year 13) and Olivia Fowler (year 12) join past New Zealand representative and year 12 pupil Maia Joseph in the New Zealand under-18 girls touch team. Head prefect Liv Preston secured a spot in the New Zealand under-18 mixed team to compete at the 2020 youth transtasman series against Australia.
These four Columba athletes will be joining Touch Black New Zealand representative and year 13 deputy head prefect Meg Sycamore, who was announced as captain of the New Zealand under-20 women's team. That team is coached by the school's director of sport and New Zealand Touch Blacks captain, Dayna Turnbull.
Kavanagh College
Senior pupils are coming to the end of yet another year. Recently they held the senior sports awards in the school auditorium. Congratulations to all the blues recipients, excellence award recipients, and outstanding contributors during 2019. Special congratulations to the major award winners, pupil coaches of the year Savannah Laws and Sophie King; and the Gallaher family team of the year, the senior A girls basketball team.
The McLaughlan Trophy awarded to the pupil who has shown the highest level of contribution to sport went to Ellery Campbell, and the Bishop Len Boyle trophy for senior sports person of the year 2019 was awarded to Erika Fairweather.
During the holiday break, the senior A boys and girls basketball teams travelled to Palmerston North to compete in the A nationals. The girls won the national title which was an awesome achievement, and now look forward to challenging themselves even further in the AA competition next year.
The boys finished 11th but competed well in all of their games.
The curlers also were in action with the girls winning the national title beating Maniototo 9-4 in the final.
Finally, thank you to all the fabulous volunteers who have helped coach or manage a team in 2019.
Mount Aspiring College
Mount Aspiring College pupils dominated at the New Zealand schools cross-country skiing championships, held at the Snowfarm, taking away the top overall school and participation trophies.
Olivia Jones and Leo Staufenberg won their respective age groups.
Biathlon athlete Campbell Wright (year 12) has been selected to represent New Zealand at the Lausanne 2020 Winter Youth Olympic Games.
At the South Island secondary schools ski and snowboard championships held at Cardrona, Greta Lattuada won the giant slalom ski event, Gustav Legnavsky finished first in the ski slopestyle and Greta was joined by Ottavia Barra Caracciolo and Kate Richards to win the girls team ski GS.
Mount Aspiring College placed fifth overall at the New Zealand schools MTB championships out of 108 schools, and Kalani Muirhead won two titles in the female under-17 downhill and enduro events.
Two pupils reached the podium at the New Zealand gymnastics championships. Bella Soper (14 years and above) placed first on beam, second on floor and third in vault and Deia Carson Wolfe (15-16 years) came second in the double mini trampoline and third in the trampoline event.
Ben Silipo did exceptionally well at the New Zealand short-course swimming championships, earning two national titles, eight medals in total and personal best times in all disciplines.
Congratulations to Fergus Read and Ben McNabb, who have been selected to play for the Otago Country under-17 cricket team.
Weston Bell, Fletcher Cavanagh and Michael Gealogo have been selected for the Southern United youth football squad.
Queen's High School
The annual sport and culture prize-giving was held last week.
Former pupil Beth Goulstone was the guest speaker and spoke about how life is long and sometimes it takes time to truly find your direction. She urged pupils to follow their passion, surround themselves with supportive friends and that it is fine to change direction.
Aliyah Christos received the Cameron Cup for outstanding individual sporting achievement for her selection in the under-18 New Zealand ice hockey team.
Chloe Robertson was the outstanding individual culture achiever for dance and drama. Nicole Pendreigh was named the best all-round sportswoman and award for service to sport and Katie Child was the junior best all-round sportswoman.
Asia Tapealava recently competed in the figure skating Nationals in Gore. She placed third in the junior women's section and was selected for the New Zealand team to compete in China in November.
Emma-Rose Hollander was a member of the Survival Troupe from the Mosgiel Meenan Dance Centre that was selected to perform at the National Young Performer Awards in Wellington.
Katie Hawkins was selected as part of the Otago rowing team for interprovincial championships held in Twizel on October 5-6.
She placed third in the open women's double, third in the quad and second in the eight.
