TOKOMAIRIRO HIGH SCHOOL
Jackson Savage and Tyrese Gemmell
Sport: Indoor bowls
Achievements/goals: Second in pairs at SISS 2023. Hoping to win SISS 2024 tournament and place in the singles event. We also want to win the pairs in our school championship and be the top team going through to the South Island champs.
How did you get into the sport: My teacher thought I would be good at it because we can stay focused and think tactically in sport. Our teacher plays outdoor bowls and wanted to get something started at our school. Mrs J arranged an outside coach to come in and help us get started. Chris Moffitt from South Otago organised to get more quality gear for free for us. This year we have 12 new players.
Training: We train once a week for 45 minutes at school. We hold a weekly pairs competition to make it competitive. Last year we carpooled into Mosgiel to meet with the club there. This year, because our numbers are high, we will invite them down to us for a battle. We have players from years 7-13 and all train together. Mrs J will select the top players from our in-house competition to play for our school in the South Island championships.
OTAGO BOYS’ HIGH SCHOOL
Ruie Hyslop
Sports: Athletics and triathlon
Achievements/goals: Winning the South Island secondary schools 3000m in athletics last year and coming third in the South Island secondary schools triathlon recently held in Oamaru, after just starting out in the sport.
How did you get into the sport: I got into long-distance running because of our school cross-country and decided to continue to train and race in other events. Triathlon was new to me, but my parents suggested I should give it a go, so I entered in the Challenge Wānaka secondary schools event and really enjoyed it.
Shamus Young
Sport: Trapshooting
Achievements/goals: This month I made the NZ under-21 international shooting team and the NZ junior shooting team for trapshooting. The NZ teams then shot off against the rest of the world. The NZ junior team shot really well, shooting 496 out of 500 targets in some challenging conditions. We hope to win a world title. My goal is to make the NZ open team or possibly the NZ worlds team and travel to different countries to shoot.
How did you get into the sport: I have always loved hunting and shooting stuff and found that was another way I could continue this passion. I like how challenging the sport can be, especially how mentally tough it is.
Alexis Owen
Sport: Surfing
Achievements/goals: Two-time NZ world surfing junior representative, including a trip to Brazil; three-time NZ junior surf champ, current NZ U16 champion. My goal is to make it to the Olympics and compete for NZ.
How did you get into the sport: My parents taught me at a young age and it has always been something I enjoy.
BLUE MOUNTAIN COLLEGE
Annie McRay
Sport: Ice hockey
Achievements/goals: Gaining first place in a women’s tournament in Dunedin and also getting a trophy for most dedicated player. I hope to one day play in the competition in Australia and Canada.
How did you get into the sport: We happened to be in Alexandra when there was a have-a-go ice hockey day on, so I went along and loved it. I have since been playing for four years.
LOGAN PARK HIGH SCHOOL
Fletcher Melville
Sport: Surfing.
Achievements/goals: Placing third, two years running, in the Otago surfing championships and being a part of the Otago-Southland scholastics team. I also placed 10th in the U14 boys grade at the 2023 New Zealand scholastics championships. My goals are to win more competitions and keep improving.
How did you get into the sport: I have been surfing since I was 3. My Dad put me on a board when I was young, and I just loved it and have continued to do it since.
COLUMBA COLLEGE
Laia Mactaggart
Sport: Skiing
Achievements/goals: Winning all the freeride ski competitions at my home mountain (Treble Cone) in 2023. This included the NZ Junior Freeride Tour, TC Mini Mountain and a second place in the TC Gnarlom. In freeskiing, my biggest achievement is coming second in NZ for the U14 Junior Freeride Tour. My aim is to stay on my feet (avoid crashing), while pushing myself to be a better, stronger skier, ultimately scoring higher than I did last year. My ultimate goal would be to qualify for the NZJFT and get invited to compete in the Junior World Freeride Tour. This would allow me to compete against other girls around the world at some of the famous resorts and mountain faces.
What do you most enjoy about skiing: I love so many aspects of skiing from getting the first chair in the morning, to flying down the mountain and jumping off rocks with my mates, being at the top of a competition with all the thoughts running through my head, and the feeling of landing my drops and going over the finish line.
CROMWELL COLLEGE
Nevaeh Reddy
Sport: Openwater swimming
About the sport: Competitors swim a designated course in natural bodies of water, such as lakes, oceans, and rivers. Distances in openwater swimming vary, ranging from shorter distances like 1km and 2km to longer ones such as 3.8km, 5km, 7.5km, and even 10km. Some events extend beyond 40km.
Achievements: 10th in 5km and 11th in 2.5km at NZ openwater champs at Taupo, silver and bronze at South Island schools at Akaroa, first in age category and third overall in 5km at Ruby Island Swim, first in age category and second fastest female overall at Whakatipu Legend 5km, second in 1.5km at NZ schools.
How did you get involved: I heard about the local Ruby Island Swim held in Wānaka. I thought it would be a cool experience to try, and since then, I have kept on competing and I love the sport, and the sense of community openwater swimming fosters. Most towns these days have openwater swimming clubs, and I would love to encourage more people into doing this amazing sport.
TRINITY CATHOLIC COLLEGE
Isla Simonsen
Sport: Handball
Achievements: Playing in the U17 New Zealand indoor handball team and getting selected for the beach handball women’s squad.
How did you get into the sport: I wanted to try a new sport, so I started playing handball for school in 2022 and have played ever since. There are some really exciting pathways in handball and a number of Otago secondary school pupils represent NZ in this sport, which is very cool.
