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Mahurangi College has three national gold medals in underwater hockey, after its senior girls team won the NZ Secondary Schools Championship.
The team played at Rotorua Aquatic Centre from September 6 to 9 and dominated Wellington East Girls College to win the final 2-0.
The school first offered the sport in 2010 and has since won national golds in 2013 and 2015 with its junior and senior open sides, and now in 2018.
This year, head coach Elliot Snedden took a gamble and entered the school’s first ever senior girls team, feeling it was their best opportunity for gold.
“I wasn’t sure about the decision until about half way through the tournament when the girls stepped things up a gear,” Snedden says.
“They were a bit shaky when they drew 1-1 with Wellington East in the pool stages, but pulled things together for the final and showed they were the better team.”
Sisters Mackenzie and Rowan Buick, and Julianna Panui-Leth were all selected for ‘tournament team’, made up of the competition’s 10 best players.
Mackenzie was also chosen as female player of the tournament, making her the best female player in secondary school’s underwater hockey in NZ.
“She’s an extremely fast swimmer, very strong and has some stick skills well above high school level.”
During the tournament, Mahurangi beat Tauranga Girls College, Hutt Valley High School, Wellington Girls College and Diocesan School for Girls.
“Rock solid defence was a big factor behind the team’s success, as they conceded just two goals during the whole tournament.
“The biggest difference, though, was the physicality they brought to the games, which comes from being exposed to the mixed team hockey they play in Auckland.”
Meanwhile, both the school’s junior girls and senior open team placed fifth at the championship.
Snedden says they both performed very well, considering how young the players are, and show huge promise for the future.
“We had to bring up some of our junior players to make a senior open team because the girls had a separate squad, but they played well and will be strong contenders for a medal in a couple of years’ time.
The senior girls team boasts three NZ rep players.
“There’s plenty of future potential in the junior girls team as well, with Charlotte O’Connor one to watch after making the tournament team in her first year of playing the sport.”
This year the college had a record number of five players selected for NZ teams and also record participation in the sport with three junior and two senior teams.
“When we started out, no one knew who we were, but we’re definitely recognised as a top college in underwater hockey circles now.”
