Eight students and two Old Collegians participated in the NZF Futsal National Junior Festival and Youth Championship as members of Waikato Bay of Plenty teams. The competition took place from 9-13 July at the ASB Sports Centre in Wellington.
A total of 550 players from across New Zealand participated in the event with more than 50 coaches, 40 team staff and 24 referees also in attendance.
The north of the country stood out in the U19 category with Waikato Bay of Plenty taking out the boys section. Deputy Head Boy John Penyas, Sam Masterson, Ben Bowden, Matthew Collier and Old Collegian Daniel Goodwin were all members of the winning U19 Wai BOP team with Deputy Head Boy John Penyas being awarded MVP.
St Paul’s also had students representing the U16 boys and U19 girls Wai BOP teams. Hannah Lockwood-Geck, Renee Piggott and Libby Main all represented the U19 girls team which placed third overall under the guidance of Old Collegian Daniel Goodwin. Harry Porritt was a member of the U16 boys team which placed fifth overall with coach and Old Collegian Dylan Groom giving advice from the sidelines.
This success comes of the back off a successful first half to the secondary school season with St Paul’s 1st XI qualifying for the national tournament which will be held during the first week of September.
