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Both Mahurangi College and Otamatea High School competed at the Anchor AIMS Games last month, in what proved to be the largest games to date.
More than 10,000 students from Year 7 and 8 competed in 21 sporting codes in Tauranga.
Mahurangi entered six teams, including three who were entering for the first time, with girls hockey, girls football and boys rugby sevens.
Sports coordinator Karlie Stanbra says netball had the standout result, finishing 45th in B grade with nine wins from 13 matches.
“After winding up in D grade last year securing a spot in B grade was a great achievement,” Karlie says.
Rugby sevens came 40th, winning five of its 12 games while boys hockey won three of its six matches.
“Boys hockey had a disappointing finish after it missed out on making the top eight, which was within its capabilities,” Karlie says.
Girls football won just three of its 12 games, girls hockey just one of eight and boys football took four of its 10 games.
“Boys football performed really well at the last games, but learnt the importance of winning pool stage games after dropping down this year.”
Karlie praised Year 9 student Jordon Thomas who attended the games as a hockey umpire and was selected as an official for the final.
Mason Contractors contributed $2600 in sponsorship for the Mahurangi players.
Otamatea High School entered pupils in mixed netball, multi-sport and gymnastics.
The netball was the school’s first ever mixed team and finished two places better than last year’s side at 56th. Its biggest victory came in a 31-4 win over Huanui followed by a 24-13 win over St Cuthberts.
Both Poppy Scott and Billie Le Mesurier-Cowbourne competed in the multi-sport event made up of a 2.4km run, 3.8km mountain bike
and 1km kayak.
Poppy came in at 24th setting the sixth fastest time in the kayaking section while Billie finished 35th.
Sports coordinator Tina Holst says both girls were nervous before the event but competed well.
Gareth Ferguson competed in gymnastics with exercises on the floor, vault and mat, finishing in 21st place.
“Gareth had a great start sitting at sixth place after the first day but, unfortunately, couldn’t maintain that level of performance.”
Leabourn Passenger Services was thanked for its sponsorship of the Otamatea netball team.
