Forty Manurewa High School students made up 16 teams who took part in the Auckland Secondary Schools Waka Ama Champs on Saturday at Orakei Basin. The teams were:
4 x Boys W6
3 x Girls W6
7 x Mixed W6
2 x Mixed W12
Under the guidance of Head of Sport, Mel Martene, the students had trained intensively for six weeks in preparation for the champs, twice a week at Pakuranga's Outrigger Canoe club and twice a week during school lunch breaks focusing on core strength and conditioning. Ms Martene knew Manurewa had to train particularly hard to compete with other experienced teams who enjoy much more time training on the water.
The students understood the challenge ahead, and rose to the high expectations of the demanding, intense training schedule. Their efforts paid off with the following results:
1st place getters:
Division 2 W6 mixed Champ Final
Division 2 W12 mixed Champ Final
Division 2 W6 boys Champ Final
Division 2 W6 girls Champ Final
Division 1 W6 mixed Plate Final
2nd place getters:
Division 2 W6 mixed Champ Final
Division 2 W12 mixed Champ Final
Division 2 W6 boys Champ Final
Division 1 W6 boys Champ Final (a big step up, after placing 2nd in Division 2 last year!)
Division 2 W6 mixed Plate Final
3rd place getters:
Division 2 W6 mixed Champ Final
Division 2 W6 boys Plate Final
Ms Martene said "It's a great result and I think everyone was happy with what they achieved at the end of the day - but by no means are they satisfied, they all want to place first which is great to see. They're an excellent group of ambitious, motivated and determined students." Ms Martene noted some standout performances from:
Division 1 boys, 2nd Champ Final
Dan Maireroa yr 10
Vaopuka Tefono yr 10
Cedric Wiremu yr 10 (first year paddling)
Sione Mateialona yr 10
Niko Moala yr 9 (first year paddling)
Bailey Hoear yr 10 (first year steering)
Division 2 boys, 1st Champ Final
Josh Palupe yr 10
Lex Pohahau yr 10 (first year paddling)
Joseph ligaliga yr 10 (first year paddling)
Mosese Teuhema Yr 9 (first year paddling)
Duane Malupo Yr 9 (first year paddling)
Division 2 girls, 1st Champ Final
Taharangi Kingi yr 10
Pearl Rhind yr 10
Jocelyn Waddell yr 10
Drew Ofanoa yr 10
Rosiah Telelina Crichton yr 9 (first year paddling)
The squad was:
Dan Maireroa yr 10
Vaopuka Tefono yr 10
Cedric Wiremu yr 10
Sione Mateialona yr 10
Bailey Hoera yr 10
Josh Palupe yr 10
Lex Pohahau yr 10
Joseph ligaliga yr 10
Jioji Tuilovoni yr 10
Tamehana Subritzki yr 10
John Crawley yr 10
Mosese Teuhema yr 9
Duane Malupo yr 9
Uati Aso yr 9
Tupu Tupu yr 9
Niko Moala yr 9
Pele Motuga yr 9
Paul Turia yr 9
Trisjon Vikita yr 9
Petaia PapaliI yr 9
Vaililo Anaua Talaileva yr 9
Abraham Sovea yr 9
Charles Samuelu yr 9
Fatai Tuitavuki yr9
Taharangi Kingi yr 10
Pearl Rhind yr 10
Jocelyn Waddell yr 10
Drew Ofanoa yr 10
Tyroszhae Toby Marsters yr 10
Rosiah Telelina Crichton yr 9
Jade Hoera yr 9
Leilani Collins yr 9
Huia Upward Simeon yr 9
Losa Pakau Tefono yr 9
Bree Toby yr 9
Chelcee Tautuhi Bishop yr 9
Lavenia Latu yr 9
The teams will start training again in February.