Click HERE
Congratulations and well done to all students, staff and parents/carers on the conclusion of the senior summer season. Special mention to the Year 12s on their final season of summer activities at the College.
Next week we commence the winter season for most activities. All students starting next week need to ensure they have the appropriate attire and equipment for their relevant sport. We will also spend most of the weeks this Term going through selections for the winter season.
Please also be patient with the trials processes and our coaches and staff will do the best they can from what they observe. Students’ attitudes and application at training will also influence their selections. All teams remain fluid throughout the season and selections are ongoing. Whilst we look at previous year’s teams, these are a fresh round of trials and adolescent boys grow and develop at different rates. We also don’t pick on reputation based on external club and representative teams.
If there are any students not happy with their initial selections, they are encouraged to seek feedback on where to improve from their coaches.
*If any parents/carers have any queries or concerns then please contact the Convenor of that activity or myself. Please do not contact or speak to coaches directly.
We had a number of students last weekend competing at the NSW State Nipper titles and they were representing a range of clubs. From all reports, there were a number of Waverley students who won a number of medals and well done to all who went up to Queenscliff.
Congratulations to the 1st Water Polo who had a great win on Saturday of 14-6 against St Ignatius’ Riverwood to complete the season.
Just a reminder that any student requesting leave from their weekend commitments must seek approval in writing from myself and that students are only entitled to two exemptions per year. A number of students have already exhausted these exemptions. The Parent Portal absence notification on the College app is not be used for exemptions please and is only to be used in case of illness and injury.
Last week we also help our House Swimming Carnival over two days at the College Pool. After Years 7-9 had competed on day one, it was Lacey House out in front with a narrow lead.
By the end of day two, Brennan House had stormed home to claim the House Swimming Shield for the 5th year in a row, once Years 10-12 had competed.
Well done to all students and staff for a great two days of action in the water.
Finally, I want to recognise Old Boy Noah Havard (Class of 2018) who was selected this week to compete at the 2024 Paris Olympics in Kayak Sprint. We will all be cheering him on and hopefully he is able to claim a medal.
Mr Steve O’Donnell
Director of Co-curricular (Senior School)
sodonell@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Congratulations to the small contingent of 11 boys who represented their respective clubs at the NSW Junior Athletics Championships from Friday, 8th – Sunday, 10 March 2024 at SOPAC.
Our boys displayed true grit and determination in both the track and field events to showcase various personal bests resulting in a total of 10 medals across 21 different events. Our boys continue to highlight why Waverley College Track & Field is continuing to enter a new era of success.
I congratulate all of our boys and their respective coaches on their ongoing hard work as they strive toward the Australian Track & Field Championships in Adelaide from April 11-19 2024.
100m Prelims (Heat 2 of 2)
4th George Lambousis 12.95s (11th Overall)
200m Prelims (Heat 1 of 2)
5th George Lambousis 26.93s (11th Overall)
800m
24th Koji Howard 2:30.18
1500m
12th Koji Howard 4:47.97
800m
1st Evan Rowbotham 1:59.82 PB
1500m
1st Evan Rowbotham 4:13.31
3000m
1st Evan Rowbotham 9:16.20
Evan Rowbotham: triple gold medalist in the U15 Men 800m, 1500m and 3000m
Javelin
1st Vaidas Levi 41.23m
Long Jump
4th Vaidas Levi 5.24m
High Jump
7th Vaidas Levi 1.50m
800m
7th Lachlan Feain 2:07.84
1500m
1st Lachlan Feain 4:15.13 PB
100m Prelims (Heat 2 of 3)
2nd Wol Albino 11.27s Q
100m Final
5th Wol Albino 11.19s
200m Prelims (Heat 2 of 3)
2nd Wol Albino 22.19s Q PB
200m Final
3rd Wol Albino 22.28s
Shot Put
3rd Zoran Szekeres 13.03m PB
Discus
8th Zoran Szekeres 39.35m
800m
2nd Alex Marshall 1:56.89
7th Jack Richardson 1:59.78 PB
1500m
10th Jack Richardson 4:13.81
Alex Marshall (far left) – silver medalist in the U17 Men 800m
800m
3rd Asher Thomasyu 1.59.67
1500m
10th Asher Thomasyu 4:10.95
Long Jump
4th Ricardo Zanapalis 6.77m (3rd NSW)
Alexander Bissell (100m Hurdles and 400m)
Evan Rowbotham (800m, 1500m and 3000m)
Vaidas Levi (Javelin)
Lachlan Feain (800m and 1500m)
Wol Albino (100m, 200m and 400m)
Alex Marshall (400m and 800m)
Jack Richardson (800m)
Christopher Szekeres (Shot Put and Discus)
Zoran Szekeres (Shot Put and Discus)
Daniel Hornery (100m and 200m)
Asher Thomasyu (800m)
Ricardo Zanapalis (Long Jump)
Mr Jeremy Mark Roff
Head Coach of Track & Field
jroff@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Dear Basketball Parents, Carers, Coaches, and Players,
Please see below details of the 2024 Basketball Presentation Night.
Trybooking has now closed, however, a small number of tickets will be available at the door. If you still require tickets, please contact Mr Anthony Gibbs.
Mr Anthony Gibbs
Convenor of Basketball
agibbs@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Waverley College are pleased to announce the commencement of our Rugby skills sessions. These sessions will focus on:
These sessions are open to all Senior School age groups (Years 7-12) and will commence from Wednesday, 20 March 2024.
Venue: Queens Park
Day/Time: Wednesday 6:45am
For any questions, please email ldrewmorris@waverley.nsw.edu.
Waverley College are pleased to announce Eddie Paea from The Kicking Academy will deliver kicking skills sessions for all age groups.
These sessions will commence on Friday, 22 March 2024.
Players who would benefit from these sessions include any player who wants to improve their in game kicking and goal kicking skills.
Venue: Queens Park
Day/Time: Friday 6:45am
Skills targeted:
For any questions, please email ldrewmorris@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Mr Lachlan Drew-Morris
Director of Coaching – Rugby
ldrewmorris@waverley.nsw.edu.au
A huge thank you to all students, parents, carers, convenors, staff and coaches for your efforts over the 2023-24 Summer co-curricular season. In particular I want to mention the parents of the supporters’ groups as well as wish all of Year 12 the very best in their final round of summer activities this weekend.
Next week we have the CAS Swimming and Diving Championships on Thursday, 14 March 2024. This is a compulsory event for Years 8, 11 and Prefects. The outline of the day and related information can be found via this LINK.
The following Saturday is a sport-free weekend for Years 7-12 as we will be conducting our winter staff and coaches induction. On Monday, 18 March 2024 we commence our winter season for a number of activities and the winter training schedule can be found via this LINK. It is also on the College website and has been sent out on the College app.
On Wednesday, 20 March 2024 we will also hold a Rugby Information Night for any parent or carer of a son who plays Rugby, and we will include the 2024 Game Management Guidelines with the new trial tackle law. We would encourage as many people as possible to attend this event. To RSVP please use the message sent on the College app.
We have had a number of students representing the College at higher levels again this past week.
This includes 1st Cricketers Aarush Soni, Hunter Eldridge and Jono McDonald in their comprehensive victory over GPS by CAS.
Henry Walker and Henry Read in the U15 CAS Cricket who were also able to defeat GPS.
U15 CAS Cricket
Congratulations to Tristan Lee and Lincoln Tanner who represented CAS at the U17 Water Polo trials, with Lincoln being selected in the NSWCIS squad. Well done also to Max Gregson who represented CAS Tennis against GPS this week also.
We also have a number of students representing their various surf clubs at the State Nipper titles this weekend and we wish these students well for their events.
This week, Year 8 students Harry Welfare, Will Collignon, Brashen Uncle and Dexter Francis travelled to the Snowy Mountains to represent Waverley in the College team in Division 3 of The Boost Mobile Australian Mountain Biking Interschools Competition.
Competing against schools from across New South Wales (including King’s, Scots, Marcellin, Cranbrook and Snowy Mountains Grammar), they made impressive times in the Norco All-Mountain race (6km enduro style racetrack) and The Fox Flow (5km track on Thredbo’s famous Kosciuszko Flow Trail).
“The boys put their hearts into racing, were proud to represent Waverley and did really well for their first time there … they had the best time and really challenged themselves.” – Bonnie Collignon
Waverley four, we congratulate you!
Please note that there are a number of summer presentation evenings coming up and we hope to see as many students and families at these as possible.
Good luck to all Senior School students in their final round this weekend.
Mr Steve O’Donnell
Director of Co-curricular
sodonnell@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Recently, the College hosted a function for approximately 30 Old Boys from our 1992, 1994, 1995, 1998 and 2006 CAS Premiership-winning teams. Also in attendance was long-serving, legendary coach, Mr Curt Forrester, who coached the four 1990s teams to their premiership success.
The night began in the PAC (Performing Arts Centre) Foyer where the Old Boys had the opportunity to catch up with each other, reminisce about their playing days and share their stories since leaving the College. Many of the Old Boys addressed the gathering and spoke fondly of their time at the College and playing together under coach Forrester.
Coach Forrester was presented with a framed Waverley Basketball singlet with a plaque containing the words: “Honouring Coach Forrester for his outstanding contribution in leading Waverley 1st V Basketball to victory in the 1992, 1994, 1995 and 1998 CAS Premierships.” Unfortunately, the 2006 premiership-winning coach, Mr Tim Hudson, was unable to make it.
Before the start of the 1st V game against St Aloysius’ College, Mr Forrester and Old Boy representatives from each of the premiership-winning teams participated in a brief on-court banner presentation where members of our 7As and 7Bs players presented Mr Forrester and each Old Boy with a banner.
Each banner was then hung up at one end of the court to be displayed during the game. Waverley Basketball is extremely honoured and grateful that Mr Forrester and the Old Boys were able to attend the night and help celebrate these magnificent milestones in the College’s history.
There are many other people to thank for their help in organising the event including Head Coach, Mr Matthew Johnston, Waverley Basketball Supporters’ Club president Mrs Juliette Carter; 10A/B coach Mr Damien Thompson; Old Boys Mr Achilles Peshos and Mr Linden Smith-Hyde; our Marketing Department, in particular Mrs Emma Laurence and Mr Angus McPherson; TAS Technician Mr Perry Stanbrook; and Senior A/V Technician Mr Bishoy Wasef. Finally, thanks to Principal Mr Graham Leddie, Director of Co-curricular Mr Stephen O’Donnell and Assistant Director of Co-curricular Mr Stephen Wilmot for their attendance and support at the game.
Mr Anthony Gibbs, Convenor of Basketball
Mr Anthony Gibbs
Convenor of Basketball
agibbs@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Dear Basketball Parents, Carers, Coaches, and Players,
It’s time to get our community together and celebrate all the hard work and achievements this season.
Join us and find out!
Book tickets HERE.
*RSVP no later than 10pm Tuesday, 12 March 2024.
Waverley College are excited to be running a three day Volleyball Holiday Camp hosted by ProVolley.
This Volleyball camp will be an excellent opportunity for your son to improve his skills while having fun with friends.
The camp will run in the College Gymnasium from 22 – 24 April 2024, 8:30am til 12pm on each day.
Please sign up HERE to register attendance and pay for tickets.
Click HERE
We are rapidly moving towards the end of the Summer season with two more weekends for the Senior School and three more for Junior School teams.
Our 1sts Touch Football had a great result against Trinity last weekend, and our Swim Squad performed really well at the annual Christian Brothers Swimming Carnival on Saturday evening to take out both the overall and intermediate shields, despite missing a number of swimmers due to a range of other events last weekend.
2024 annual Christian Brothers Swimming Carnival
Well done also to Aarush Soni, Hunter Eldridge and Jono McDonald who were part of the CAS 1st XI Cricket who chased a big ISA total in an impressive victory on Sunday. These boys will be also part of the team playing GPS this Sunday.
CAS 1st XI Cricket
This week we are playing local rivals Cranbrook in most activities, and I want to remind all students and parents/carers to ensure that Codes of Conduct are adhered to at all times.
View the CAS Code of Conduct HERE
Last weekend we also had a number of students competing in a range of events. This included metSEA Swimming, Branch Nippers and State Oztag.
Well done to all of these students and especially to the U15s South Sydney Oztag team which won the State titles.
State Oztag Under 15 Champions
The U13 Easts Oztag State Cup team comprised Oscar Mac Domhnaill, Jackson MacAskill, Kai Kolster, Oliver O’Donnell, Talin Opai, Hugo Cummins, Joesph Di Blasio, Jack Baker Sedgman and Louis Coleman, who competed at the NSW State Oztag Championships in Coffs Harbour.
The boys played 6 games and won 4, showing sportsmanship, skill and determination in every game. The team finished 3rd in their pool, making it an amazing achievement. Oscar Mac Domhnaill and Jackson MacAskill were awarded MVPs.
We also have received a number of requests for students to attend both the State and National Surf Lifesaving titles, based on their recent performances. If there are any other students requesting leave to attend these, can I please request these are submitted asap.
We also have some key dates coming up this Term in regards to the co-curricular calendar:
Good luck to all teams and activities this coming weekend.
The Cricket Supporters’ Club invites all players from Years 5- 12, coaches and families to celebrate another season of great cricket. The evening includes a BBQ dinner; awards with Trivia Game hosted by our First IX; a fun hit in the nets; and lots of exciting prizes to win.
Tickets: Tickets are $15 per person (including players) and include BBQ dinner, soft drink and lucky door prize.
Tickets must be purchased before the event – book HERE.
Also buy tickets for a chance to win some fantastic prizes in the raffle – 1 for $5, 3 for $10 or 5 for $25. All money raised goes towards supporting cricket at Waverley College, including extra coaching, gear, and equipment.
When: Wednesday, 13 March 2024, 6pm-8:30pm
Where: Braidwood and PAC
Click HERE to view the flyer.
Click HERE.
Well done to all activities on some excellent results last weekend. In particular I want to congratulate the 1sts Water Polo on their 13-2 victory over Riverview, the 1st XI Cricket on their resounding win against Knox, as well as the 8A Cricket on defeating Knox on the last ball of the day. Our 1sts Basketball came from 25 points down to take the match into overtime and were desperately unlucky to lose by two points, however our 2nds, 10As, 9As, 8As and 7As Basketball all recorded wins along with a number of other teams.
Well done to Aarush Soni, Jonathon McDonald and Hunter Eldridge in their selections in the CAS Cricket squad.
We have a number of students away at various activities this weekend including State Oztag, Branch Nippers and MetSEA Swimming. Our swim squad are also at the annual Christian Brothers Swimming Carnival on Saturday night and we wish all of these students well in their various endeavours.
Next week we are holding our House Swimming Carnival at Waverley College over two days. On Thursday, 29 February 2024, Years 7-9 will have their events during Periods 3-6 and will be in class for the first two periods of the day. These students will be able to wear PE attire for the whole day and obviously need their swimming attire.
We will publish the events schedule at the start of next week. Years 10-12 will have their events on Friday, 1 March 2024, following the same format of being in class Periods 1-2 and then undertaking the swimming events after recess.
Our last round of summer sport is on Saturday, 9 March 2024 and the following weekend is a sport-free weekend for Senior School students. We do, however, have the CAS Swimming and Diving Championships on Thursday, 14 March which is also a compulsory supporters’ duty for Years 8 and 11. Many of our Winter season activities and trials will commence on Monday, 18 March 2024 with internal trials on Saturday, 23 March 2024 and Saturday, 6 April 2024 for all team-based sports.
We do also have some presentation evenings coming up for Basketball, Cricket, Swimming and Water Polo and these details sent out on the Waverley app.
We will also be running some of the Winter Supporters’ groups meetings over the next couple of weeks and invite any parent/carer from Years 5-12 to join us for these events.
Good luck to all teams and activities this weekend.
Mr Steve O’Donnell
Director of Co-curricular
sodonnell@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Waverley students combined with St Clare’s College to form our inaugural Dragon Boating team. A joint venture with Easts Dragon Boating Club—led by Head Coach Katy McDonald—the program involved a series of Thursday and Sunday morning Rose Bay training sessions.
At the prestigious Luna New Year Dragon Boating Regatta at Darling Harbour last Saturday, we fielded two crews in the Mixed Division, one Women’s crew and one Opens crew. Students paddled in two heats and a final race in each division. The 200m fast furious races are both taxing on the body and mind. Paddlers must be disciplined and determined to execute each stroke with precision and strength.
Our students responded positively to coach feedback, improving technique and teamwork each race, culminating in medal-winning final performances—a silver in Opens and Bronze in Mixed divisions.
We are very proud of the students for their efforts on the water and the responsible and courteous way they conducted themselves in training and in competition. On behalf of the team, I thank the Easts club for their outstanding coaching and team management to bring out the best in students.
Mr David Parnell
Dragon Boat Coach
dparnell@waverley.nsw.edu.au
On Saturday, the 1st V faced off against second-placed Knox Grammar School in what was expected to be an extremely tough game. Unfortunately, the Waverley boys came up short despite the game going into overtime, falling 81-79 in an extremely close and hard-fought game.
The game started with an early surge from the Waverley boys taking an 8-0 lead early, forcing Knox to call a timeout. After Knox had a scoreless first half of the quarter, they picked up their intensity and started hitting a few threes evening out the score. After a highly contested first half, Knox went up by 25 points in the 3rd quarter. Things were looking bleak for the 1sts although efforts from Flynn Busteed started Waverley’s come comeback. In the 4th quarter, Waverley had fought back with Angus Peshos’ two free throws, sending it to overtime with 0.2 seconds on the clock.
In overtime, Waverley was unable to win the game, losing the game by two points in a very strong outing, but unfortunately pulled up short.
Waverley’s record now is 2-5, with St Aloysius’ coming up this Friday night in what will be another exciting game.
The game against Knox was a crucial one for the 2nds, who still have hopes of winning the CAS premiership. Fortunately, they were able to pull away with the win 55-50 after a tremendous effort from the 2nds players.
Knox started well and got to an early 10-point lead, although the scoring of Rory Donnellan was able to slow their momentum and kickstart Waverley’s comeback. In the second quarter, the 2nds evened out the score and from then on it was a dog fight until the fourth quarter. In the fourth quarter, the likes of Giles Strachan and Renato Rovacchi were able to give Waverley a slim lead. Knox kept fighting until the end, although the Waverley boys’ composure on defence was able to give them the win by five points.
The 2nds record now improves to 5-2 and their hopes of winning the CAS are still alive. They aim to continue their winning ways this week against St Aloysius.’
On Saturday the 10As were able to take a comfortable lead through the game against Knox due to their hustle on the defensive end that led to easy transition points. The likes of Nico Palacio, Petros Kalpouzanis and Jonte Garvey helped them pull away with a convincing win. They kept this pressure up the whole game and were able to win 64-17 and this continues their undefeated season.
The 9As had a strong win over Knox in a competitive game that Waverley won due to their ability to play with pace and execute hard, solid defence. This helped them hold a lead throughout the entire game. Malachai Rangan and Oli Lau were big factors in helping them win 41-23.
The 8As had an intense game with both teams playing hard and physical defence. Led by Lucas Barber and Lachie Bayly, Waverley was able to keep up this pressure and was rewarded with a hard-fought 39-36 win.
The 7As had a fiercely competitive game against Knox. It was a back-and-forth affair that came down to one possession, with Waverley taking home the win 34-32 against a talented Knox team.
Sergej Jakovljevic
(Captain of 1st V)
Mr Anthony Gibbs
Convenor of Basketball
agibbs@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Last weekend, Waverley College once again faced off against tough opponents, Knox Grammar, on their home ground. Knox, after winning the toss, opted to bat on a favourable wicket for batting. Joe Packington delivered an impressive opening spell of pace bowling, claiming figures of 2/25 off 8 overs, showcasing his ability to challenge top batsmen when hitting the right areas.
The entire Waverley bowling unit maintained immense pressure on the Knox batsmen, leading to their collapse and a restricted total of 9/152 from 50 overs. In response, Waverley’s Aarush Soni and Johno McDonald built a crucial 85-run partnership, securing the team’s second victory of the season, with a display of patient yet aggressive batting, a focus for the remaining games.
Meanwhile, the 8As journeyed to Gillespie Playing Fields to face their opponents. Despite losing the toss and being asked to bowl first, the team focused on maintaining line and length with the small boundaries. Knox’s number three batsman dominated, scoring 113 runs off 58 balls, helping his team reach 179 runs in 30 overs. However, Waverley’s Henry Walker (79) and Louis Croser (54) provided a strong start in response. Despite facing a challenging situation after losing three wickets, Cameron Spies and Liam Chalmers displayed resilience, timing their run perfectly to secure victory for the 8As with a boundary off the final ball of the innings.
1st XI v Knox
In other news, congratulations are in order for the 1st XI for winning the CAS South Harbour T20 competition. Although they progressed to the final against Barker at Queens Park, defending 93 runs proved too difficult, as Barker chased down the total with three overs to spare. The team appreciates the support from all the fans and fellow cricketers who cheered them on during the match.
I would like to once again encourage all players to attend the batting club sessions starting at 7am on your allocated day. It’s a great opportunity to work on your craft irrespective of where you bat in your team.
Mr Greg Elliott
Convenor of Cricket
gelliott@waverley.nsw.edu.au
The Waverley College Rugby Supporters’ Club will hold its Annual General Meeting on Monday, 4 March, 2024 at Queens Park Pavilion, 6pm.
Any parents/carers and friends interested in getting behind the Waverley College Rugby Program in 2024 are welcome to attend, as we discuss plans for the exciting season ahead. All welcome!
Parents/carers unable to attend this particular meeting, but who are interested in assisting with Waverley College Rugby, are invited to register their interests with the Convenor of Rugby, Mr Harry Lind by emailing hlind@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Mr Harry Lind
Convenor of Rugby
hlind@waverley.nsw.edu.au
The Sydney Interschools Snowsport Championships are held during school holidays at Perisher from 16-19 July 2024.
Snowsports are open to all students from K-12 to compete, regardless of their level of ability. All competitors must be able to execute link turns and ride a chairlift/T-bar confidently, prior to competing in the championships.
Events include:
The preliminary event schedule is below.
Families are responsible for making their own travel and accommodation arrangements, as well as purchasing lift passes, ski hire and equipment. No College uniform is required.
Waverley College has a growing group of students participating each year across all Divisions, so come and join the fun.
If your son is interested in competing and would like to register their expression of interest for the event, or you need more information, please contact our parent volunteer and school co-ordinator Paula McCabe pmccabe@pmclegal-australia.com
Entries open mid May 2024.
Click HERE.
Well done to all players, staff, coaches and parents/carers on a positive first full round last weekend against Barker. Our Year 7 Water Polo Team were outstanding and a three quarters of our Basketball teams all recorded victories over the weekend.
In 2024, Rugby Australia and World Rugby are implementing a specific new rule change around tackle heights in all community rugby, including in schools. The new law is that all contact must be below the bottom of the sternum and this has been successfully implemented in other countries such as New Zealand, that has seen a reduction in concussions by 30%.
We will ensure that all of our rugby coaches, as well as players, are trained and prepared for the season with this new law. For any significant change in a law within a sport there will be a period of adjustment, however, any positive change that will keep players safer around concussion is something that we definitely support. We would also ask that all players and parents/carers in rugby make themselves familiar with this new law.
We will also still follow the Rugby Australia concussion protocols for ALL of our activities. This includes 19 days of no sport or training and medical certificate clearance before returning to any matches or training. If any student suffers a concussion in an external club game it is also imperative the College is informed of this, to ensure student welfare and safety.
Next week we are also taking our summer activity photos for the Senior School teams. All students need to be in correct summer playing attire and these photos will be taken on the Birrell Street Basketball courts as per the schedule published.
Please note that Water Polo teams will be in PE attire and the Swimming and Diving squad photos will be taken on the day of the CAS championships on Thursday, 14 March 2024. We will also be sending Years 8 and 11 to the CAS Swimming and Diving championships on this day for compulsory supporters duty.
The College uniform requirements can be found on pages 39-40 of the College Diary.
View the Summer Sports Photos timetable HERE.
In 2024 we will also hold our House Swimming Carnival at the College and this will be split over two days.
We will send out more information closer to this date.
Best wishes to all activities this weekend.
House Swimming Carnival in 2023
Mr Steve O’Donnell
Director of Co-curricular
sodonnell@waverley.nsw.edu.au
On Saturday, the 1st’s V Basketball team faced off against Barker. Unfortunately, Waverley came up short against Barker, falling 119-97, in a disappointing loss for the players.
The players were led and motivated throughout the game by Eden Byrd’s shooting and scoring ability, which kept them in the game whilst Barker had a lead early. After Barker’s early lead, the 1sts were able to chip away at the score and eventually bring it down to only a 9-point deficit, however as this happened, Barker picked up the intensity on defence, and was able to force a lot of turnovers from Waverley to raise the deficit to 40 points. The boys never stopped fighting however, and managed to cut the lead down to 22 points, in a loss where the offence did very well, however, their defence let them down.
The 1sts record now drops to 2-4 as they hope to bounce back next week against another tough opponent in Knox Grammar.
The Waverley 2nds come into the second half of the CAS season with a record of 4-1 and in the fight to win the competition. They faced off against Barker, who they suffered their only loss to last year, and were hoping to get revenge.
The game started with an early lead for Barker, the Waverley boys were unable to match their intensity as they jumped to a 10-point lead. As the game progressed the score went back and forth but remained at the 10-point margin. As the fourth quarter went on, Barker stretched their lead to 15 and things were looking bleak for the Waverley boys.
With the efforts from the likes of Giles Strachan, Hudson Hatchett and Renato Rovacchi, the 2nds were able to reel in the deficit, making the game go down to the wire. Unfortunately, the deficit was too big to come back from, and the 2nds suffered their second loss of the season, 43-41.
The 2nds record now falls to 4-2, and they will have to win the rest of their games this season to have a chance at winning the competition. They hope to work towards this starting next week against Knox Grammar.
The 10As come into this round with an undefeated record of 5-0, and they hope to continue this undefeated streak against a tough Barker opponent. Waverley’s leaders stood up for them this game led by Nico Palacio’s tenacity on defence, Jonte Garvey’s rebounding and finishing, and Francesco Scarpa’s scoring in the post. They were able to beat Barker convincingly with a 43-23 win where defence was the standout for the team.
The 9As played a tough Barker team. The team played a strong game, however Barker was able to outmatch them. They were led by Oli Lau and Malachai Rangan, as they unfortunately lost 51-37.
The 8As had a close game against Barker, resulting in a 12-point loss that was fought hard until the end by the players. The final result was 44-32 to Barker. Charlie Gibbins’s speed and Max Malley’s defence were able to keep Waverley 8As in the game, but unfortunately, they were unable to pull through with the victory.
Coming into their first game in high school, the 7As played an exceptional game of Basketball, winning by 5 points, with the final result 46-41. Right from the tip-off the players played with all their hearts, diving for every loose ball. Remy Garvey and Lachie Lever helped them get their first win in high school.
Mr Anthony Gibbs
Convenor of Basketball
agibbs@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Click to view fixtures, training schedules and maps
We had a great start to the Term 1 co-curricular activities last weekend and this week. Our Year 7 trials were of a high standard and we were also well represented in Water Polo and in the Basketball Blitz fixtures. This week is our first full round of all activities against Barker.
All students need to ensure they are correctly attired for weekend fixtures and that they are at their games 30 minutes prior as a minimum. For those away fixtures please ensure you allow enough time for busy Sydney traffic on the weekend.
Our 1st XI also played in the CAS T20 South Harbour fixtures last weekend, and played some very exciting Cricket to make the final next Wednesday afternoon, also against Barker. In Waverley’s first fixture they defeated CAS Cricket powerhouses Cranbrook 5/133 – 9/129 and then defeated Trinity 7/123 – 6/96. It would be great to get as many supporters as we can around these boys next Wednesday afternoon.
Just a reminder that next week is the final opportunity to request a change in winter activities for all students. Also, if any student is requesting leave from weekend commitments, this request needs to be emailed to myself and not done via the absence app please. We already have had a number of requests for State Oztag and various surf lifesaving carnivals this Term.
I also want to send best wishes to all of the staff and Year 7 students attending the first camp for the year next week, and I am sure you will have a great time.
Good luck to all activities this weekend.
Mr Steve O’Donnell
Director of Co-curricular
sodonnell@waverley.nsw.edu.au
The first five games on CAS Basketball in 2023 showcased a strong performance by Waverley Basketball. Out of the 178 games played, Waverley emerged victorious in 100 of them, highlighting an overall successful start to the season.
Impressively, Waverley had four teams go undefeated through the first five games. The 4ths, 10As, 10Bs and 8Fs demonstrated exceptional skill and teamwork, securing wins in all of their respective games. These undefeated streaks not only contributed to the overall success of Waverley Basketball but also reflected the dedication and talent of these specific teams.
We also had another five teams with a 4-1 record. The 2nds, 3rds, 5ths, 10Es and 8Es. All these teams will be competing to win the CAS in their respective competitions, so we wish them good luck.
Throughout the holidays, Waverley hosted several camps and participated in three tournaments. Waverley’s 10As came 3rd overall in their tournament at Shore, beating Barker to claim 3rd place.
For the 2nds, they played in the Newington Classic. The 2nds were reigning champions, having won the tournament last season, and were hoping to defend their title. The 2nds started strong by defeating a tough Newington team in their first game, then followed it up by beating King’s in another physical game. In the 3rd game, Waverley unfortunately lost to Knox, but followed it up by defeating Reddam to come 3rd.
The Waverley 1sts played in the Trinity Challenge coming up against Sydney Grammar in their first game. Waverley came out the gate with great intensity and was playing hard every possession and kept this momentum going through the whole game, ending the game winning by 30 points. In the 1st second game, they faced a talented Newington team who eventually ended up winning the tournament. The game started with both teams playing physically, though Newington was able to take a 10-point lead and keep it for most of the game, eventually winning the game by 15.
Waverley’s final game of the day was against another tough opponent in St Augustine’s, who started the game playing well. As the game continued, Waverley was able to shrink their lead to get it within 10 points, but unfortunately, it wasn’t enough.
In the final game, Waverley played King’s and got out to a 17-point lead early in the game, but wasn’t able to hold onto this lead and King’s was able to come away with the one-point win.
Last weekend the 7As, 8As, 9As, 10As and 2nds took part in the annual CAS Blitz Day, where schools play against every other CAS school team in a shortened game format. This provides a good chance for the teams to gain an understanding of how their opponents like to play and what their tendencies are like, which can help them and their players scout the opposing teams for when they play each other later in the season.
We now look ahead to this coming week and the resumption of the regular CAS Basketball season, with a very tough round of fixtures against Barker.
Last round against Barker, Waverley was successful in winning 24 of the 35 games played against Barker. The 1sts hope to turn things around in the second half of the season, improve their 2-3 record, and enact revenge against Barker after losing by 26 points last time.
For the 2nds however, they hope to continue their four-game win streak as they sit at 4-1 and are in contention to win the CAS. They are also looking to get revenge on Barker, as Barker handed them their only loss of the season so far.
We wish the best of luck to all teams competing this week and especially to all the new Year 7s who are playing their first-ever games for Waverley
We wish James Dyson-Merwe, 1st V player and captain, congratulations on his incredible achievement of securing a scholarship and earning a spot at the Basketball Centre of Excellence at the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra! James will be playing and training with some of the best players and coaches in Australia whilst continuing his schooling in Canberra. James’ hard work, dedication, and undeniable talent have truly paid off, opening doors to exciting opportunities in his basketball journey.
His presence at the Centre of Excellence is well deserved and reflects the hard work he has put in, on and off the court. As he moves on to the next chapter in his basketball life, we hope he continues to hone his skills and embraces every opportunity and experience that comes his way. His success has certainly been an inspiration to us all, and we do not doubt that he will continue to achieve great things! We wish James continued success, joy, and fulfilment in his future basketball endeavours.
James Dyson-Merwe: back row second from left
Sergej Jakovljevic
Captain of 1st V
Mr Anthony Gibbs
Convenor of Basketball
agibbs@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Welcome back to the College community and a very special welcome to our new members of the College.
While many of us were holidaying over summer, three of our students were striving for victories in the pool, on the court, at the beach and on the field. I’m delighted to report on their exceptional holiday achievements.
Congratulations to Ryan McNamara (Year 9) who was selected in the NSW team and competed at the 2024 Australian Pool Life Saving Championships in Melbourne. We’re proud that Waverley Old Boy Andrew Bowden (Class of 2001) was his coach.
Ryan had a great championships, and is now a five time Australian Champion after winning gold in all five U14 events, as well as being crowned the U14 Overall Champion.
Congratulations to Cooper Ryan (Year 10) who was selected to play for NSW under 16s at the Australian Indoor Volleyball Championships. He finished with silver after being undefeated in all pool and finals matches.
He also won for the second year in a row, the gold medal at NSW Beach Volleyball Youth Championships (U17s). Selected in the NSW elite squad of 10 boys (he is the youngest), he recently travelled to Adelaide to compete in Australia’s oldest beach volleyball tournament, the adults SA Open. Cooper now plays predominantly in adult tournaments and is the leading points holder in the national rankings for his age.
Congratulations to Kahu Capper (Year 12) who represented New Zealand as the New Zealand Māori Captain for the 2024 Pasifika Youth Cup. Kahu scored an impressive four tries and 14 conversions, resulting in 44 points across four games. Kahu was also awarded the prestigious Pasifika Youth Cup Player of the Tournament.
Congratulations also to James Dyson Merwe (Year 12) who has accepted this week a scholarship to the AIS for Basketball with the possibility of representing Australia at the Junior World Cup being held in Turkey in June this year. Unfortunately, James has had to move to Canberra for this amazing opportunity, leaving behind his Year 12 friends and colleagues. We wish him all the very best in this exciting opportunity.
We also had a large number of students and staff who gave up much of their time over the holidays to continue training and preparing for the 2024 season – a huge thank you to these members of the community.
Term 1 is a busy start to the year and I want to remind every parent/carer and students of some of the expectations:
Click to view the CAS Code of Conduct
We are also accepting applications to change winter activities and this strictly concludes at the end of Week 3. Any student requesting a change will need to come and collect the required form from the Co-curricular office please.
Finally I want to thank and congratulate those students in Year 7 who have made a great start to the year. In particular our Year 7 Manchester City Academy Football students who are under the direction of Mr Ben Charlton.
Any queries regarding the program can be directed towards Mr Charlton via email: bcharlton@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Good luck to those students playing and trialling this weekend.
We would like to acknowledge the Gadigal people of the Eora nation who are the traditional Custodians of the land on which Waverley College is located. We pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging. We are committed to honouring Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ unique cultural and spiritual connections to the land, waters, seas and sky and their rich contribution to society.
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