High school’s rare double triumph ‘surreal’
STUDENTS and staff at a Gold Coast high school are celebrating a remarkable double triumph, after its girls volleyball teams were crowned Australian champions at both Year 8 and Year 11 level.
Riley Akanoa, Year 8, and Grace Milne, Year 11, were also both selected as the most valuable player for the tournament for their respective age groups.
Head of Health and Physical Education at Benowa State High School Ian Hutchison, who coached the Year 8 team while the Year 11 champs were coached by Gavin Mackay, said the rare double triumph was a
“surreal” moment. “We’d won one in 30 years and then we won two in the space of an hour,” Mr Hutchison said. “They’re incredibly hard to come by because there’s only five boy and five girl national titles handed out each year.
“It was quite incredible. It was actually surreal.
“You wake up Sunday morning and say, ‘holy hell, how did that happen?’ ”
Mr Hutchison said the success at the Australian Volleyball Schools Cup last month came on the back of a yearslong program that had produced a number of elite players
including Nicole Sanderson, Jessyka Ngauamo, Emma Burton, Kara Inskip and Aleisha Stevens.
“We’re very proud (of the winning teams) and we’re very proud of the whole program,” Mr Hutchison said.
“It’s kind of a cultural thing that we’ve taken a long time to develop ... We’ve had a range of players that have ended up playing professionally and for Australia.”
Mr Hutchison said the triumph was a reflection of the success of the sports program at Benowa, which in the past has been best known for its academic achievements.
“The things that are happening in sport in Benowa State High School are unbelievable,” he said.
“As an example, at the end of the year, during our sports awards, for senior sports person and junior sports person, if you haven’t played for Australia you’re not even on the shortlist. And that’s remarkable.”