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Last month, four local high school teams pitted themselves against some of the country’s best at the annual AIMS Games held in Tauranga.
This year, 9600 Year 7 and 8 students competed in the tournament across 21 sports, including students from Otamatea High School and Mahurangi College.
Mahurangi competed in netball, hockey and football, while Otamatea competed in netball.
The Mahurangi College boys’ hockey side placed sixth out of 17 teams, playing seven matches across five days.
Team manager Angela Thomas says finishing one place behind Belmont Intermediate, who clinched first place in Harbour A grade this year, was a real achievement.
Striker and North Harbour rep Jordon Thomas managed 23 of the 25 goals the team scored over the week.
Mahurangi College boys’ football finished 13 out of 59 schools after playing eight games over four days.
“Playing at that level for a long period of time was a bit of a shock for the team, but they learned to work as a team quickly,” Mahurangi College football team manager Leanne Barry says.
“The organisation of the event was absolutely phenomenal with no hitches and great officials in every game.”
Goal keeper Mathew Elder was the team’s outstanding player, only letting in four goals during the tournament and also dealing with a penalty shoot-out – the team won 5-4 to go ahead of Rosmini College in the final standings.
Otamatea’s netball team played in the B grade for the first time, finishing 57 out of 112 teams overall.
“The team did amazing up against some tough opposition, a lot of players played their hearts out and showed every skill they have learnt over the season,” Otamatea High School netball team manager Jodie Bennetto says.
The star players were Maia Fairburn and Poppy Scott, who were the gel in the mid-court, despite both being Year 7 and some of the shorter players at the games.
Mahurangi College netball competed in the D grade, finishing 100th overall
Team manager Sandra Hawken says the tournament style and opposition skill levels meant the team gained plenty of valuable experience.
