OTAGO GIRLS’ HIGH SCHOOL
Immy Morey (16)
Sport: Aerobics.
Highlight: Placing 1st at the FISAF competition held in Melbourne Australia mid-June 2023 and then going on from this event to qualify for the World FISAF International Championships, being held in Belgium late October 2023.
Training regime: Immy trains with an outside club every day for up to two hours.
Sporting dream: Immy’s dream has already come true with qualifying for the World FISAF International Championships.
What motivates me: Immy is motivated by watching the top athletes in her sport of aerobics, is also motivated by her peers, and absolutely loves the sport.
OTAGO BOYS’ HIGH SCHOOL
Harry Easton (17)
Sport: Aerobics.
Highlight: Representing NZ at the FISAF Pacific Open.
Training regime: Monday-Friday after school and Sunday afternoons.
Sporting dream: Represent NZ at the World FISAF Championships.
What motivates me: Being the oldest male in the country competing, wanting to be a good example to younger kids competing, in particular boys. My great coaches motivate me to be better, by giving me big goals and striving to be better. My mates within the sport motivate me as well.
Neo Salomonsson (14)
Sport: Swimming.
Highlight: Winning a silver medal in 200 butterfly at my first national (age group) competition after just having turned 14, as well as getting podium placings in seven of my nine individual events at the New Zealand secondary schools championships and breaking four Otago age group records along the way.
Training regime: Four to five 1.5-hour sessions in the pool and three body weights and workouts at home per week.
Sporting dream: To represent New Zealand on an international stage and inspire others to swim.
What motivates me: I have a genuine passion for swimming and the desire to always improve and achieve personal bests. I also love the feeling of being strong, fit and healthy that swimming gives you. And of course, the thrill of competing and achieving set goals is a big motivating factor.
Matt Bolter (17)
Sport: Middle distance and distance running.
Highlight: Placing 12th in Under 20 8km at NZ XC Champs with a time of 27min 10sec.
Training regime: Six days a week of running, made up of two or three hard sessions, a long run and easy runs. Mileage peaks at 75km per week. Strength and mobility work to complement running. Coached by Mike Weddell.
Sporting dream: Compete at an international level.
What motivates me: Enjoying my training and seeing my progress.
TAIERI COLLEGE
Philippa King (18)
Sport: Aerobics
Highlight: Competing at the FISAF Pacific International Open in Melbourne this year with my fitness team, where we placed third.
Training regime: Four hours of training a week, including a fitness session, plus an hour of coaching younger athletes.
Sporting dream: To compete at the FISAF world championships.
What motivates me: Watching the amazing international athletes and the challenge of learning new skills.
TRINITY CATHOLIC COLLEGE
Ruby de Graaf (16)
Sport: Volleyball.
Highlight: Making the New Zealand under-19 squad.
Training regime: 3-4 two-hour trainings a week.
Sporting dream: To play college volleyball in the US.
What motivates me: Support from family and friends, sharing my knowledge and getting to meet new people and travel .
Aya Oseki (16)
Sport: Handball.
Highlight: Coming first at the national beach handball championships with the Otago Toroa women’s team, and making the New Zealand under-17 indoor handball team for the IHF Trophy Oceania in New Caledonia.
Training regime: I train with my Otago squad twice a week, along with training camps throughout the year with the New Zealand squad. I also play netball and basketball, which helps with different parts of my handball.
Sporting dream: Representing New Zealand in beach handball and continuing to represent New Zealand in indoor handball.
What motivates me: Ever since I started playing in Year 9 for my school, I have loved playing the sport. The strength, intensity, and technical aspects and also the teamwork and community make it such an awesome sport to play. This love helps motivate me to get better and do as well as I can in it. I have had some awesome mentors and coaches that have helped me grow as a player and become more confident and hard-working.
LOGAN PARK HIGH SCHOOL
John Barham (18)
Sport: Handball
Highlight: Representing New Zealand at the under-19 world championships in Croatia.
Training regime: Handball requires agility and speed, quick feet, fast mind. Many hours on sharpening those skills. Travelling to meet players from Auckland, Wellington and Canterbury to train on a regular basis leading up to tournaments. Diet and mental health key areas of our training regime.
Sporting dreams: Represent New Zealand at the Olympics.
What motivates me: What I love about handball is that it has given me a lot of opportunities to excel personally and physically.
QUEEN’S HIGH SCHOOL
Jorja Gibbons (17)
Sport: Athletics.
Highlight: Being selected in the New Zealand secondary schools athletics team which competed in Brisbane in April 2023. Getting this opportunity was amazing and I learnt so much from the experience.
Training regime: In summer, I train Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday and I compete on a Saturday.
Sporting dream: To be named in the New Zealand under-20 team next year and then the Commonwealth Games and Olympics Games teams in the future.
What motivates me: I have a great support network in mum, dad, my brother, my grandparents, my school, athletics friends, and the officials who run the athletics meets each Saturday. I have had the love for athletics since I could walk and I have just continued to improve in the sport.
Elise Carline (17)
Sport: Basketball
Highlight: Being selected in the Junior Tall Ferns Squad for the Fiba under-17 Oceania championships to be held in Papua New Guinea in October.
Training regime: Between school basketball, club training and games, Hoiho trainings, and other Otago representative team practices and games, I have basketball commitments seven days a week.
Sporting dream: To make the Tall Ferns and to join a college basketball team in the United States.
What motivates me: I love playing and training as part of a team and the support network it provides. I am involved with teams at a variety of different levels and enjoy the challenge I receive from each team. Seeing my improvement motivates me to keep pushing myself harder. My grit and determination to achieve my goals and play at the highest level I can, continues to motivate me. I enjoy earning medals and trophies as recognition for my achievements.
- Information provided by the Otago Secondary Schools Sports Association.
