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The largest intermediate school sporting tournament in the Southern Hemisphere kicked into gear earlier this month, with hundreds of young Hibiscus Coast athletes making their mark among more than 14,000 athletes at this year’s AIMS Games in Tauranga.
Ōrewa College’s Rip Rugby team completed its campaign with a silver medal after reaching the gold medal final at Blake Park in Mount Maunganui, where it faced fellow Hibiscus Coast school Whangaparāoa College in a wet evening match.
The Ōrewa team, which included some Taipari students enrolled in the college’s rūmaki reo programme, put together a strong run to reach the final. Whangaparāoa ultimately won 3-0, bringing Ōrewa’s tournament campaign to an end.
After the match, the Ōrewa players performed a haka tautoko, supported by competitors from other schools as they acknowledged their opponents’ efforts.
The support extended beyond the competitors themselves, with parents, whānau and fellow Ōrewa College teams braving the rain to cheer on the Rip Rugby squad in the final.
Jade White, speaking on behalf of the team’s parents, thanked those who came out to support the players.
“It was very much appreciated to see so many friendly faces cheering on our team.”
The result was one of several highlights for Ōrewa College across the Games. Students Connor Bateman and Cooper Marshall also claimed silver in the Year 8 Boys’ Orienteering Rogaine, improving on their bronze medal from last year.
The college also celebrated a different kind of success when Ōrewa College athlete Brody Kerr received an AIMS Games sportsmanship award after officials noticed him cheering on athletes from other schools whom he did not know. The award recognised Brody’s encouragement of fellow young athletes, with his support at the start line helping competitors feel seen and encouraged before they took part.
Whangaparāoa College sent teams competing in netball, girls’ football, boys’ football, mixed rip rugby and boys’ basketball. Individual students also represented the college in golf, BMX, mountain biking, swimming, gymnastics, canoe racing and cross-country.
Alongside the Rip Rugby title, the college recorded several individual successes: Emmerson Taylor finished second overall in the Women’s Artistic Gymnastics Step 7 competition, placing first on beam and floor and second on bars.
Alexia Elmiger won silver in the Year 8 girls’ canoe racing, finishing second among 23 competitors, while Max Whitelaw claimed bronze in BMX, placing third in the Year 8 boys’ competition out of 26 competitors.
in BMX.
