2024 Water Polo Nationals
The Premier and Senior A water polo teams travelled to their respective Div. 1 and 2 Nationals tournaments over the holidays.
The Premier team went to Wellington, along with managers Mrs Rachel Peak, Mr Phil Lendich and coaches Lachie Griffiths (Head Coach) and old boy, Will Catlin, where they went on to win the Plate Championship after a devastating close loss to HBHS 7-9 in pool play, as well a 1-goal loss to SKC.
Rising from defeat they rallied together to come back strongly against St. Bede’s College, beating them convincingly 16-9 in the Plate final. Although not the result we were aiming for, the team showed determination and resilience.
This game was also the last to be played by Year 13 students, Mat Mihaljevich, Matt Leadbeater, Ethan McKolskey, Natana Pokura, Finn Aitken, Mason Stewart and Isaac Porter, who have given back to the sport they love through coaching over the years as well as being great role-models in and outside of the pool. They will have one last game against the Old Boys next Sunday 19th, where we will also award them their caps and wish them well for their future endeavours.
Final game results were:
25 -1 win vs Wellington College
9-10 loss vs SKC
7-9 loss vs HBHS
17-4 win vs CBHS
14-4 win vs St. Peter’s College
16-9 win vs St. Bede’s College
Meanwhile, the Senior A team went to Hamilton with managers Mrs Liz Markovina, Mr Paul Hodgkinson and old boy coaches, Ethan D’Souza and Zachariah Stewart. They enjoyed the trip and had a lot of fun in and out of the pool, playing some tough matches against the first teams of other secondary schools.
With two senior players down on the Japan trip it was great to have Year 10s Oscar Reade and Kayden Godbold play in this team, as well as giving them valuable senior experience in senior tournaments.
The team placed 15th and the results were:
3-10 loss to eventual winners MAGS
11-0 win vs Orewa
6-8 loss vs Glendowie
3-6 loss vs Aquinas
6-8 loss vs Selwyn
12-4 win vs TGS
