CALEB EDE (14)
Otago Boys’ High School
Sports: Rugby, cricket, hockey and touch.
Highlight: Making the U15 Blues tournament team in 2023 and captaining the team in 2024.
Training: Monday gym session, Tuesday rugby training and hockey game, Wednesday rest, Thursday rugby training and gym session, Friday rest, Saturday rugby game, Sunday recover.
Dream: Become a professional in rugby, hockey or cricket.
Motivation: My family and the things they have done to get me in this position, and to attend OBHS.
MASON LOME-HINDLE (18)
Otago Boys’ High School
Sports: Rugby and rugby league.
Highlights: Highlanders U18 2023 and national league 9s MVP 2024.
Training: Four days a week across both codes.
Dream: To play professional rugby or rugby league in the future.
Motivation: Being able to compete with the best players in both rugby and rugby league around the country.
MELANIE BUTTON (16)
Columba College
Sports: Triathlon and squash.
Highlight: Finishing top five in NZSS triathlon at Mount Maunganui in March. This event was a great experience for me as it was the first time that I had to fly with my bike. Another highlight was becoming an ambassador for MyRide Dunedin, who have supported me to reach my goals in the past year.
Training: Six days a week, including 10 different sessions. Every week I do three swims, three bikes, three runs and one strength session in the gym to work on core strength and mobility. On my day off I like to play squash.
Dream: To represent New Zealand in triathlon. It would be really cool to get the opportunity to wear the Silver Fern in the near future. I also want to be able to inspire other girls to be active and take part in sport.
Motivation: My parents allow me to compete at the level that I do by driving and flying with me all around the country, and their support really keeps me motivated when the times get tough. My coaches also help by keeping the training sessions interesting and different. My friends help me to keep going with their constant support and encouragement. Also elite triathletes like Hayden Wilde and Nicole Van Der Kaay are my role models. My aspirations for the future also keep me going. I want to be the best I can possibly be.
JAKE SMITH (16)
Maniototo Area School
Sport: Ice luge.
Highlight: Getting selected to go to South Korea to participate in the Asia FIL Luge School in Gangwon. It was a 10-day camp where we got to learn the basics of artificial luge including starts and runs down the track. It was very cool to compare artificial luge to the natural luge we have in Naseby.
Training: Ice luge is very weather-oriented. In Naseby, the luge season is about eight weeks, so when there’s ice I try to train as much as I can. When there is no ice I keep my fitness up by playing sports and mountainbiking.
Dream: To go to the Olympics in 2030.
Motivation: My love for the sport keeps me motivated. The chance of being able to represent my country is a dream of mine.
SAM ROXBURGH (16)
Maniototo Area School
Sport: Bull riding.
Highlight: Winning the novice steer riding title and becoming the first female roughstock rider to win a title in New Zealand. Words can’t explain the feeling of being the first girl to win a bull riding title. It means the world to me. My other highlight was being selected to go to Australia to represent New Zealand in the transtasman challenge.
Training: I ride my horses every day, go for a few runs and keep my overall health good. Throughout the winter I will go to some practice pens and get on as many stock as I can.
Dream: To travel all over the world competing, and prove to the world and my parents that girls are capable and can compete against the boys. I would love to have the opportunity to compete against the best in New Zealand.
Motivation: I’m motivated by everyone around me. Rodeo is one of the only sports where your competitors will help you in any way possible. There are always lots of people helping and wanting you to succeed.
RILEY JOHNSTONE (15)
Blue Mountain College
Sports: Cricket, football and basketball.
Highlight: Qualifying for the national championships with the Eastern U16 basketball team.
Training: Twice a week for basketball, followed by a game and maybe a representative tournament at the weekend. Football training is once a week and also a game at the weekend.
Dream: To play cricket for the Black Caps.
Motivation: The love of the sport and wanting to improve skills.
LAM DUONG (16)
Trinity Catholic College
Sport: Table tennis.
Highlight: Third place at national championships.
Training: Four days a week, for three hours at a time.
Dream: To keep enjoying myself in the sport.
Motivation: I have great support from my dad and my coach, Martin Duffy. They make sure I keep training hard.
PHOEBE LAKER (15)
Mount Aspiring College
Sport: Athletics.
Highlight: Third in 400m and breaking multiple Otago records at the New Zealand secondary schools championships in December 2022. I was only 13 and competing in the U16 category against some very fast girls, so it was quite challenging.
Training: Four or five times each week at the track, in the gym, or uphill.
Dream: To get an athletics scholarship to go to America and compete in college athletics because I think it would be a really cool experience. I also want to compete in some big international competitions.
Motivation: I love running and even on the days when I don’t feel like training, it makes me feel good and lifts my mood. I love the feeling of getting good results and being able to see improvements after putting in hard work. I’m also competitive, so I like winning, which motivates me to train hard.
RAPHAEL ANDERSON (13)
Mount Aspiring College
Sport: Golf
Highlights: Travelling to California and Nevada to compete internationally, and winning the US Kids New Zealand Open U13 division at Windross Farm in Auckland.
Training: A week has to be balanced between range practice, short game, putting, strategy and playing practice — getting out on the course and testing what you have been working on. During winter, I practise a minimum of one hour a day during the week and two-three hours at the weekend. I play a minimum of 36 holes a week. During summer, I practise a minimum of two hours during the week with four hours at the weekend. I play a minimum of 72 holes a week. I have started strength training twice a week to increase power and stability, and I have a mental skills coach I see once or twice a month.
Dream: To play on the PGA Tour and become No 1 in the world.
Motivation: The desire to be the best I can be and to win when given the opportunity.
