The JPSSA Cross Country Carnival was held in cold conditions on Thursday 22^nd of June at Hale School. The JPSSA Cross Country Carnival was the curtain raiser before the PSA Middle and Senior School Cross Country. This provided the Junior School boys with a unique experience to watch older students compete.

The Year 3 students were involved in a participation event which ran in 2 waves. This was a great opportunity for these students to experience an interschool carnival before transitioning into year 4.

A special thanks to Mr Fris, Ms Sweetman and Senior School students Daniel Delic and Declan Somers for providing extra supervision and guidance at Junior School Running Club on Friday mornings, preparing students for the Interschool event.

Congratulations and well done to all boys who represented the College who displayed great sportsmanship and effort on the day.

Distances covered were:

• Year 3 students ran 1.2kms
• Year 4 students ran 1.5kms
• Year 5 students ran 2.0kms
• Year 6 students ran 2.5kms

The Aquinas College results were as follows:

• Year 4 – 7^th place
• Year 5 – 4^th place
• Year 6 – 4^th place
• Overall – 5^th place

Our best placed runners overall were:

• Hudson Hayes – 4th place in the Year 5 race.

• Jordan Trueman – 8th place in the Year 5 race.

• Grayson Ahrens – 11th place in the Year 5 race.

Special mentions go to Lucah Rolfe and Beau Smith for placing 1^st and 2^nd in wave 1 and to Lewis Hales who placed 1^st in wave 2 of the year 3 participation event.

Thank you to all staff members and parents for all your help and support on the day.

The Junior School House Cross Country Carnival was held on Tuesday, 23^rd May on McMahon Oval. All students from Kindergarten to Year 6 competed, with race distances ranging from 250m to 2.5km. The conditions were perfect for all competitors. Additionally, it was great to see all the students supporting each other, especially those at the tail end of the races.

Final Points

1. Redmond 114.50 points

2. Egan 132.42 points

3. Quinlan 137.82 points

4. Clune 140.56 points

Congratulations to Redmond for being the Champion House and to the following boys who were named Champions and Runners-up for their year level.

Kindergarten & Pre-Primary (250m)
Champion: Adrian Kavoi (Quinlan)

Runner-up: Julian Reyes Fabrega (Quinlan)

Year 1 (500m)
Champion: Archibald Pohla (Quinlan)

Runner-up: Darcy Smith (Quinlan) & Jack Rumenos (Clune)

Year 2 (750m)
Champion: Bradley Vinac (Egan)

Runner-up: Alfred Swingler (Redmond)

Year 3 (1000m)
Champion: Lucah Rolfe (Clune) – RECORD – 3:59.47

Runner-up: James Groombridge (Egan)

Year 4 (1500m)
Champion: Louis Pillay (Quinlan) – RECORD – 6:20.74

Runner-up: Ashton Smales (Egan)

Year 5 (2000m)
Champion: Maxime Blackadder (Egan) – RECORD – 7:25.56

Runner-up: Hudson Hayes (Clune)

Year 6 (2500m)
Champion: Tyson Blakey (Clune) – RECORD – 9:00.88

Runner-up: Duke Danby (Egan)

Congratulations and well done to all boys who represented their House and gave it their all on the day. The boys selected in the JPSSA Interschool Cross Country team will be competing at Hale School on Thursday, 22^nd June and we wish those boys the best of luck.

Lastly, thank you to all staff members, ground staff, Holy Ground Coffee, ICT staff, and Middle School volunteers for all your help and support on the day.

Mr. Clay Murray
Junior Sport Coordinator

Please see the final standings below for the 2022/2023 PSA Summer Season including the Head of the River and PSA Swimming Interschool Carnival.

Congratulations to all boys who represented the College and displayed great sportsmanship and effort throughout their respective seasons.

BLACKWOOD TROPHY

Congratulations to Coach Alex Hayman and Captain Roman Lutton on winning the Blackwood Trophy. Aquinas basketball continues to produce competitive teams from Year 7-12 and that is demonstrated by the 1^st V securing the Blackwood for a 6^th time in nine years.

Finishing 2^nd to Hale in the 2021/22 season was enough to drive our boys to train harder, commit to the program and ultimately put everything into this season. I am so proud of how the young men handled themselves and to return the Blackwood to Aquinas College was outstanding.

A CLOSE 2^nd

Our Cricket, Water Polo, Volleyball and 1^st VIII Rowers all had amazing seasons and were so close to ultimate glory. Although they fell agonisingly short in 2^nd place, they must be proud of their efforts and the way they all represented the red and black. All four groups of athletes took on the challenge to improve from the 2021/22 season and that is exactly what they did.

Our 1^st XI Cricket were exceptional and fell short only to Christ Church, who they drew with in the head to head fixture in Term One. Congratulations to Coach Kristian Morisey and Captain Presley Campbell for the culture you have created and attitudes across all Aquinas Cricketers. Cricket at Aquinas is in a very good place and there is a genuine chance to celebrate Darlot Cup success in the very near future.

It was a similar story for 1^st Water Polo Coach Tom Hoad, Captain Aidan Harvey and the playing squad who finished 2^nd. With a draw in Term Four, the Round Nine match with Christ Church was going to be an early grand final. Unfortunately, the red and black were not at their best and with Aidan Harvey playing with a shoulder injury, the 2023 title would again be celebrated at Christ Church. With the majority of players returning and some talented young prospects coming through our Middle School, I am excited at what lies ahead for AC water polo.

Ethan Dodd and Captain Mitchell Barnett again took on the challenge to defeat Hale School in volleyball for the Br Carrigg Shield. The two schools have produced an exceptional standard of volleyball over the last two seasons and with the addition of Sam Hoskin as Assistant Coach, there was a feeling that this could be our year to return to the top of the table. The senior players took on extra sessions, adjusted the way they played and with the help of numerous games against former Aquinians, they were very well prepared for the top to the table clash late in Term One. Sadly, once again, Hale were too good and celebrated back-to-back Br Carrigg Shield success.

This year, the first VIII rowers was again led by old boy, Steve Saunders, having returned to the College last season. The boys challenged at the Head of the River in 2022 and with many Year 11’s returning in 2023, Aquinas’ Challenge Cup drought of 25 Years was potentially going to end. With numerous wins at lead up regattas, everyone knew the Head of the River was going to be a tightly contested event. Our boys put on a great display of teamwork, comradery and determination and were edged out of glory by a very efficient Trinity Crew. Although 2^nd place is not what the boys were aiming for, they should hold their heads high for what was a great season.

Credit to all crews and coaches for ensuring Aquinas remained on the podium in 3^rd position for overall points and congratulations to Trinity College who retain the Hamer Cup with a very dominate day on the water.

CELEBRATE THE SMALL WINS

Although tennis at Aquinas has not had the success of other sport recently doesn’t mean they aren’t making progress. With numerous Middle School players knocking on the door of the 1^st VI and the inclusion of international tennis player Jessica Moore to the coaching ranks, there was a vibe amongst the players that success was near.

With close losses throughout the season the momentum was building and the squad knew the Term One rematch with Hale was going to be our best chance for a win, and that’s exactly what they did. Aquinas 1^st VI tennis celebrated their first win in over 4 years. Credit to Coach Mike Gill, Manager Ben Puris, Assistant coaches Dwayne Augustin and Jessica Moore as well as the players for constantly striving for improvement even without the weekly success. Your efforts have been recognised and I hope to see all tennis players return stronger and hungrier for success and competitive tennis in Term Four.

THANK YOU

We extend a tremendous amount of gratitude to the coaches and managers for their exceptional coaching expertise and unwavering support of our sporting program. The enthusiastic staff have been instrumental in ensuring that our sporting program is the best it can possibly be, and we recognize that without their time, effort, and support, none of this would be possible.

Our heartfelt thanks go to Steve Burke, Shaun Williams, and the Ground Staff at Aquinas for their tireless efforts in maintaining and setting up the sporting facilities for us. The boys are fortunate to have such excellent facilities at their disposal, and we appreciate all of the hard work that goes into keeping them in top condition.

We would also like to express our appreciation to the medical staff and our outstanding admin team for their hard work and organization behind the scenes. Your contributions have not gone unnoticed and have been critical to the success of our program.

Lastly, we extend our sincere thanks to Tom Campbell from Total Sports Photography for capturing the incredible moments of our program on social media. To stay up-to-date with the Aquinas College Sports program, please follow our 'aquinascollegesports' Instagram account.

Tasmania 2023

The beginning of the year is always an exciting time for many students – the return to school, catching up with friends, and getting back into a routine. However, for the senior rowing team at Aquinas College, the start of the year meant a trip to Tasmania for a rowing tour like no other.

The tour took place over two weeks, with the first five days spent in Hobart. With the boys rowing out of The Hutchins School shed, they were treated to some of the best views of the Derwent River and surrounding hills. The first two days were used to get a feel for the river and some of the unique challenges that come with rowing in a new environment, such as negotiating the large cruise ships and active port in the centre of Hobart.

In addition to on-water training, the team was able to explore their surroundings by hiking Mount Wellington through the extraordinary Lost Field, where they enjoyed spectacular views of Hobart and the region. The group also took part in laser skirmish and visited the Museum of Old and New Art (MONA). These activities offered a chance to bond and create memories outside of their shared passion for rowing.

The on-water rowing training increased throughout the week, with additional ergo sessions at the University of Tasmania and running sessions in Sandy Bay adding to the training load. A rest from training over the weekend was well earned as the boys departed Hobart for the next leg of the tour.

The next two nights were spent on the east coast of Tasmania where the boys visited the Port Arthur Historic Site and explored the fascinating history of the region. They also enjoyed a thrilling jet boat ride around the Tasman Peninsula, which gave them a new perspective of Tasmania's rugged coastline. A lunch break at Fortescue Bay saw the boys take the challenge of plunging into the icy cold waters of South-East Tasmania for a very refreshing swim.

One of the highlights of their trip was a trek on the Freycinet Peninsula. The six-hour hike provided an awe-inspiring view of the beach and cerulean waters of Wineglass Bay. The boys descended into Wineglass Bay before trekking across to the remote Hazards Beach.

After all the excursion had to offer, the team travelled to Lake Barrington International Regatta Centre for their last week of training. As one of Australia's premier rowing facilities, Lake Barrington offered the ideal location for the team to prepare for the upcoming season. The team had been looking forward to the opportunity to train in such a well-equipped facility. The International Regatta Centre was the boys base for next five days as the focus of the tour changed to preparing for the weekends racing.

The conditions on Lake Barrington for training were perfect, with calm waters and stunning weather surrounded by the amazing forests of North-West Tasmania. The boys were able to train hard and focus on the finer details of their technique and preparation for the regatta.

During their last few days in Tasmania, the team participated in a regatta against other schools and clubs from the area. It was a fitting way to end the trip, testing their newfound skills and experiences from the previous weeks. The team was able to put into practice all that they had learned and develop into a well-oiled machine, with all boats performing to their best abilities.

Despite the challenging conditions of racing against unfamiliar crews and some extreme weather conditions on the last day, the boys did exceptionally well. Their hard work and dedication paid off as they won multiple races.

The team bonded and strengthened their connection during the trip, affirming the College's longstanding tradition of developing top-tier rowers. For many, the tour was one of the highlights of their time at Aquinas College, providing memories and experiences that will last a lifetime.

The tour to Tasmania was also an opportunity for the boys to connect with the wider rowing community in Australia, as they met new competitors and potential future teammates. The exposure and experience gained from racing against other schools and clubs will undoubtedly aid them later on in their individual careers.

As the boys departed from Tasmania for their return to Perth, they were left with newfound skills, memories, and experiences that they will take with them for the rest of their lives. As First Eight coach, Steve Saunders, reflected on the success of the tour, he spoke of the pride in the team's hard work and the joy of watching them mature and excel both on and off the water.

The tour to Tasmania was more than just a rowing trip, it was a testament to the power of shared experiences and dedicating oneself to a common goal. Every member of the team came out of the tour with a greater understanding of their teammates, the sport, and themselves. The trip will no doubt inspire the Aquinas senior rowing team in years to come, serving as a benchmark to aim for. For the younger rowers, the next tour is planned for January of 2025.

By Nick Collins
Director of Rowing

In the lead up to this year’s Head of The River, over fifty old Aquinas rowers made their way to the River Centre for a long table lunch, where they reminisced on their past successes and celebrated the future endeavours of the Aquinas rowing program.

The event was a celebration of their shared history, the friendships that had been formed on the river, and the sport that had brought them all together. The special guest for the lunch was Max Cunningham, a former Aquinas rower and Olympian from the 1960 Games in Rome.

The long table lunch provided a great opportunity to reconnect with old teammates and, for some, to meet younger generations of alumni who share a common bond of rowing. The lunch festivities had the old rowers lined up at a beautiful long table in the River Centre's boat bays between the eights over-looking the Canning River.

There was also the chance to tour the new facilities, which had left the old rowers in awe. The facilities offer world-class equipment and space, providing the next generation of rowers with everything they need to take their talents to new heights.

During the lunch, old rowers presented the College with some memorabilia from their time rowing for the school. Tim Meagher kindly donated the rudder from the boat he coxed in 1957 and The Hesford Family found a truly unique piece of Aquinas Rowing history, a rowing club flag believed to be from the 1940s.

As the long table lunch came to an end, many participants shared their acknowledgments of how the day had rekindled their love for their sport and the beautiful facility that they were privileged to be in. Being able to come back and visit, they said, had made them all feel like they were back within the rowing community that they had left behind.

The long table lunch had been a great success, connecting old teammates, coaches, and supporters who all shared a passion for Aquinas Rowing. The facility at the Aquinas River Centre offers a bright future for the program, ensuring that future generations of rowers will have access to the same quality of equipment, support, and opportunities that the alumni before them had. With events like the long table lunch, the history of Aquinas rowing lives on in the present and offers a stunning future to the years ahead.

It is events like these that remind us of the importance of community, and the power of sport to bring people together. The long lunch for old rowers from Aquinas College was a testament to the enduring bonds that are formed through sport, and a celebration of the shared values that underpin the sport of rowing. With the success of this year’s event, a future long table lunch is planned for next season in the lead up to the 2024 Head of The River.

By Nick Collins
Director of Rowing

The Junior School House Athletics Carnival was held on Monday 3rd of April on Memorial and Lynch Ovals. Fantastic weather was on display which saw many great achievements on the field and on the track.

The boys competed with great spirit, enthusiasm, and sportsmanship. Two houses were extremely close all day, ending with a 12-point difference in favour of Redmond House as victors, claiming the David Jones Trophy narrowly ahead of Egan House.

Congratulations to the following boys who were named Champions and Runners-up for their year level.

Year 3
 Champion: James Groombridge - 23 points

Runner-up: Yash Chowdhury - 17 points

Year 4 
Champion: Angus Milne - 43 points

Runner-up: Lucas Johnson - 24 points

Year 5
 Champion: Maxime Blackadder - 50 points

Runner-up: Grayson Ahrens - 40 points

Year 6
 Champion: Luca Zoiti - 42 points

Runner-up: Lincoln Mathanda - 23 points

Final Points

1. Redmond - 981

2. Egan - 969

3. Quinlan - 841

4. Clune - 768

Thank you to all staff members, ground staff, ICT staff, parent volunteers and Middle School volunteers for all your help and support on the day.

Clay Murray
Junior Sports Coordinator

A dip in the College pool was welcome relief for the whole Middle School on what was a scorching summer afternoon. The carnival catered for all levels and motivations – quality individual swims for those targeting competitive endeavours, two divisions/distance relays for House success and WAR games which maximised participation. Our final novelty event of the day saw an initially confident group of Year 9 boys take on the staff ‘dream team’ including; Mr Matkovich, Mr O’Neill, Mr Justin Morisey, Mr Kristian Morisey, Mr Dempsey and Mr James Valentine. Class and experience shone through with the teachers finishing 30 metres ahead at the wall!

Two of our Middle School students have summarised their experiences;

“Overall, I thought it was an awesome day. I liked how everyone got to participate. It was a great way to meet new people early in the year, chatting behind the blocks before the races.” Brodie Moir (Year 7 Bryan)

“As part of the winning Glowrey House team, everyone there was really cooperative, with lots of chanting and excitement that made the environment really fun to be in and showed the great attitude of Aquinians.” James Harwood (Year 9 Glowrey)

The final standings saw Glowrey first, Treacy second and Bryan third ahead of Edmund House. Many thanks to the staff and parents that assisted on the day and of course, the students for their outstanding efforts and behaviour on the day.

Mr Craig Herbert
Head of Treacy House

This year’s Senior School Swimming Carnival went spectacularly, with the Cullity Lions roaring their team-mates on, the Durack Dragons firing through the water, the Prendiville Panthers Clawing their way through into 2^nd place. But in the end, it was the mighty Wolf Pack of Chaney that howled with success, taking home the House Swimming Trophy and dowsing the Head of Chaney and alpha wolf, Mr Montgomery, in a shower of ice-cold water. Overall, the support and effort from all boys and staff present was palpable and made for a great morning and start to the Inter-House competitions for the year.

The 2023 Junior School House Swimming Carnival was held on Thursday 16^th February at the Aquinas College Pool. All boys from Years 3-6 participated in individual events and team games. It was fantastic to see the boys displaying a high level of sportsmanship, respect, and teamwork all day. Redmond House won the carnival and claimed the Prendiville Trophy for the fourth year in a row.

Final House Points:
REDMOND – 806
EGAN – 768
QUINLAN – 668
CLUNE – 660

Congratulations to our champion and runner-up boys below:
Year 3

Champion: Lucah Rolfe (Clune)
Runner-up: Kobe Gonsalves (Quinlan)

Year 4

Champion: Louis Pillay (Quinlan)
Runner-up: Nicholas Chan (Redmond)

Year 5

Champion: Cael Veverka (Clune)
Runner-up: Jordan Trueman (Redmond)

Year 6

Champion: Spencer Whitfield (Quinlan)
Runner-up: Alexander Chan (Redmond)

Special mentions to our record breakers below:

Lucah Rolfe from Clune house who broke the Year 3 25m freestyle, breaststroke, and butterfly records with times of 18.26s, 25.63s, and 21.83s respectively.

Cael Veverka from Clune house who broke the Year 5 50m freestyle record with a time of 33.96 seconds.

Jordan Trueman from Redmond house who broke the Year 5 butterfly record with a time of 41.52 seconds.

Congratulations on your outstanding achievements.

Congratulations and well done to all boys who represented their house and gave it their all on the day. The boys selected in the JPSSA Interschool Swimming team will be competing at HBF Stadium on Thursday, 9^th March, and we wish those boys the best of luck.

Lastly, thank you to all staff members, ground staff, ICT staff and sports coaches for all your help and support on the day.

Clay Murray
Junior Sports Coordinator