Highlands launch sports academy

Being a big intermediate school in Taranaki, Highlands tends to do fairly well in inter-school events.

But when it comes to the intermediate school nationals, the AIMS Games, they see there’s room for improvement.

Highlands teacher in charge of sport Rhys Clark said seeing that environment prompted them to look into a programme to help develop student athletes.

‘‘It’s just about getting them game ready, making sure they understand what it’s like to be part of a competition that lasts for a week and what’s needed to get to that point.

‘‘It’s not only the sport side of things but their gamesmanship, creating good habits, creating good people, making them aware of the nutritional side of things.’’

After a trip to Auckland late last year to see how some of the schools up there ran their programmes, Clark brought some ideas back with him to try make them work for Highlands.

The programme, which starts in the first term of the upcoming school year, will consist of two sessions each week, on Tuesday and Thursday mornings, with a theory session for every two practical trainings they have.

For the first term, 40 student athletes had enrolled in it.

Only open to year eights at the school, students had to go through an application process which involved writing a letter, a fitness testing day involving a beep test and burpees, and the coaches check in with teachers to see if those who applied worked hard in class.

‘‘There was a deadline for the letter, so the first thing was that deadline is deadline, which some of them missed the cut because of. But that’s just another learning process for them.

‘‘It’s about making good people as much as it is about making good athletes.’’

Clark said they received around 80 applicants and had to cut the crop down to 40. The programme wasn’t sport specific, and was open to any year eight students who wanted to apply, not just top-level athletes.

Clark said Highlands had been receiving interest from other Taranaki schools who were interested in starting something similar when the programme was still just ideas on a piece of paper.

‘‘There’s nothing that we know of at this age group in the region, so it’s something to get off the ground.’’

One of the athletes in the programme was 12-year-old Riley Tuuta, who was heading to Australia this week to represent New Zealand at a five-day under-14s basketball tournament.

‘‘I want to learn good habits. So, like, when I go over to tournaments - eat lots of food, get lots of rest and everything like that and learn about nutrition.’’

Tuuta said although the application process was hard work, it was rewarding at the same time.

‘‘You know you did well in the tests so you deserve to get into this programme, even if you’re not the best. If you’re attitude is really good and you help out others then you still had a chance to get in.’’ Goalkeeper Grace O’Hanlon is the only uncapped player named in the 2017 Black Sticks women’s hockey squad.Former Hockeyroos goalkeeping aspirant Grace O’Hanlon is the lone uncapped player in the Black Sticks women’s 2017 national squad.

Head coach Mark Hager named an initial group of 21 players, with five more to be added following next month’s test series in Argentina, yesterday.

Those five players are expected to be experienced faces Anita McLaren, Gemma Flynn, Charlotte Harrison, Petrea Webster and Sophie Cocks, who are taking a break from international hockey and were not available for selection.

The squad includes nine players with more than 100 test caps, led by versatile defender Stacey Michelsen (216).

At the other end of the scale is 24-year-old O’Hanlon, who has previously lived and played her hockey in Australia.

O’Hanlon is a former Queensland representative and was a member of the Hockey Australia women’s national development squad last year.

It is understood she qualifies to play for the Black Sticks through her father, who is from New Zealand.

The other big winner from the announcement was 20-year-old Midlands defender Frances Davies, who earns a call-up after strong performances at last month’s Junior World Cup and test series against Malaysia in Stratford.

Hager said it was an exciting phase for the squad as they hunt for more success this year with the focus shifting towards the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.

‘‘After an Olympic campaign you always see changes for different reasons and I’m excited about the group we have going forward.

‘‘It’s pleasing to see some great young athletes coming through and pushing for places, and that’s why players like Frances Davies and Erin Goad have been rewarded,’’ Hager said.