St Peter’s Cambridge sports prefects Milana Tapper and Murdoch Bech celebrate their school’s victory in this year’s Battle of the Waipa Schools competition.
St Peter’s Cambridge has won the 2023 Battle of the Waipa Schools, beating Te Awamutu College and Cambridge High School to lift the trophy.
The private school hosted the annual inter-school event, which involved hundreds of year 9 and 10 students, last Thursday.
St Peter’s won girls’ and boys’ badminton and sevens rugby, girls’ year 9 and 10 basketball, boys’ year 10 basketball, erg rowing, girls’ football, lacrosse, general knowledge and theatre sports.
Te Awamutu College dominated in chess, year 10 netball and girls’ volleyball and Cambridge High took out year 9 boys’ basketball, boys’ football, girls’ and boys’ hockey, year 9 netball and boys’ volleyball.
St Peter’s sports prefects Murdoch Bech and Milana Tapper organised and ran the day with teacher and student support.
Milana said it was a good chance for students to have some friendly competition with schools they might not usually play.
“I know we usually play Hamilton teams for a lot of events – Te Awamutu or Cambridge might not be in our pool usually, or in our division,” she said.
“It’s also a chance for players who are usually in, say, a prem team, to actually be able to play with their mates, and the year 9 players being able to step up and play with some year 10 players as well, which is think is good for their development”.
Murdoch said the highlight for him was watching the St Peter’s girls’ sevens rugby team.
“There were heaps of people out there supporting them and the roar – you could hear it from down the lacrosse field,” he said.
For Te Awamutu College year 10 student Anna Swney, it was a chance to “step up as a leader” and captain her lacrosse team while sharing some of her tips and knowledge with year 9 students.
Te Awamutu College sports director Chris Wynn said the day was about encouraging physical activity and building relationships between Waipa’s three high schools.
“The idea is to get people just interacting,” he said. “There are winners, there are points, but at the end of the day, as long as we’re all out here and we’re doing stuff I’m pretty happy with that. That’s what it’s about.”
Te Awamutu College graphics and design teacher Noel Cox said the day had been “fantastic”.
“The kids have thoroughly enjoyed themselves,” he said.
Georgia Wynne (Cambridge High School) bolts for the goal line, chased by Anna Swney (Te Awamutu College) during a hard-fought lacrosse battle.
St Peter’s Cambridge player Tara Peterson smashes a pass during a hockey match against Te Awamutu College?, chased by Tallulah Blair.
Sid Davis carves upfield for Te Awamutu College.
Cambridge High School fends St Peter’s player Jack Calcinai.
St Peter’s Cambridge student Louise Dijksta goes in for a tackle on Cambridge High School. St Peter’s won the match.
Te Awamutu College lacrosse player Anna Swney vies for position with Cambridge High School players Georgia Wynne (right) and Eden Honeyfield.
