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Diocesan sporting achievements 2017

The Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle has a proud tradition of sporting achievements as demonstrated by the talented and gifted athletes in our schools who travel through our school pathways to elite levels. 

Bernadette Duggan January 24, 2018

In 2017 many students have continued to excel in a variety of sports as shown by the large numbers who represented at all levels in all of the sporting pathways.

Throughout 2017 many secondary students represented the Diocese at NSWCCC events with a significant number achieving success at these events and in turn then representing NSWCCC at the NSW All Schools Championships.

Swimming

The following students represented and competed for the NSW Combined Catholic Colleges in the All Schools Championships - a tremendous achievement for all students:

Cross Country

There were some outstanding individual achievements at the NSWCCC Cross Country Championships with seven students being named in the NSWCCC team. These students then ran as members of the Combined Catholic Colleges team which competed at the NSW All Schools Championships.

Athletics

In Athletics, over 100 students from the Diocese competed at the NSWCCC Athletics Championships. Many students medalled including:

To top off a fantastic day of competing the Diocese had three athletes named as Age Champions. They were Ebony Newton, Emily Whelan and Leroy Reid.

In other sports a number of students secured positions in NSWCCC teams:

Water Polo - Amelia Hodgson (St Peter's, Maitland) and Eliza Limn (San Clemente, Mayfield)

Softball – Grace Wrixon (St Mary's, Gateshead)

Golf – Pyper Hollis (St Clare's, Taree), Corey Lamb (St Joseph's, Lochinvar)

Touch Football- Bailey Ritchie (St Mary's, Maitland), Connor Edwards (St Peter's, Maitland), Maya Stewart (St Francis Xavier's, Hamilton)

Hockey - Samuel Mudford (St Clare's, Taree), Rory Walker (St Francis Xavier's, Hamilton), Harry Wade (St Clare's, Taree), Neve Dibley (St Francis Xavier’s, Hamilton)

Netball - Dakota Thomas (St Paul's, Booragul)

Basketball - Shakera Reilly (St Mary's, Maitland), Jacob Foy (St Francis Xavier’s, Hamilton)

Rugby Union – Harrison Kettles (St Paul's, Booragul), Tim Ryan (St Catherine's, Singleton)

Rugby League (15s) – Tom Cant, Sam Robinson, Noah Ryan (St Peter's, Maitland)

Cricket - Joseph Hart (St Francis Xavier’s, Hamilton), Caleb McNeill (St Joseph's, Aberdeen)

AFL(North Girls) – Halle Craigie (St Peter's, Maitland), Michelle Maricic (San Clemente, Mayfield)

Football – U16 CCC team Blake Archibold (St Joseph's, Lochinvar)

Triathlon -  Ben Edstein and Sonia Sullivan (St Peter's, Maitland), Hugh Higgins, Walter Pankhurst and Chloe Hollingsworth (St Joseph's, Aberdeen), Jack McCurdy, Jack Caldwell and Kal McDougall (St Mary's, Gateshead), Jackson Eckford (St Joseph's, Lochinvar), Jeremy Edstein, Lachlan Guy and Scott Haynes (St Mary's, Maitland) and Sarah Gardiner (St Paul's, Booragul).

Further representative honours were achieved with an outstanding eight students on the 2017 NSW All Schools Honour Roll. They include:

A credible eight athletes have been recognised by being named as recipients of the prestigious NSWCCC Blue Award which celebrates the best sporting achievements of Catholic Secondary students throughout NSW. They will attend a ceremony at St Paul’s College in Manly in February this year. The worthy recipients are:

Our primary students have been just as successful with 106 students being selected in a NSW Polding team. They include:

AFL

Open Rugby League

Basketball (Girls)

Basketball (Boys)

Cricket (Boys)

Cross Country

Diving

Golf

Netball

Boys Football

Girls Football

11 Years Rugby League

Rugby

Softball (Boys)

Tennis

Touch (Girls)

Touch (Boys)

Athletics

Swimming

Seven outstanding primary students who represented Polding were then selected in the NSWPSSA team for a School Sport Australia or Pacific Schools Game event. They were:

The extraordinary goodwill and hard work of our teachers who assist as school sport coordinators, convenors, coaches, squad managers and officials, greatly contribute to the undoubted success of the carnivals in which our students participate.

Of course, for staff to be available we must thank all of our principals who support the teachers’ involvement and CSO Director of Schools, Dr Michael Slattery for the interest he has shown in all student athletes and their achievements in the Maitland-Newcastle Diocese.

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