Sport

Erin Szalman experience, for both of us. S: It was good to get back into water polo for the first time in a few years, and to see

Across Terms 2 and 3, the team get closer with each Friends’ has had an eventful other. water polo season, with the T: Yeah, it was nice to Boys 7/8 team winning the watch the team improve over finals 11-6 against Taroona, the season, some players went with both College Boys from no experience at all, to teams, as well as the Girls actually being better than me.9/10 Blue team, making it to What were some of your the semi finals. season highlights?

Year 11 students, Sophia S: Winning a friendly game MacDonald and Tilly against Friends’ BlueEllingsen, who coached T: It was good to see our the Girls 9/10 Blue team, team beat the Boys 9/10 team spoke with Focus about the in training.successful season. S: Being able to combine

What was it like to coach our years of experience, to a school water polo team for have such a successful team. the first time? S: In our semis, the whole

T: It was a learning team was keeping with it, persisting, and not letting themselves give up even when we were down at halftime.

T: Seeing everyone put all of their effort in at training, even people who joined the team halfway through the season.

T: Having to be at the Clarence pool, training until 9:30, as well as staying at the pool so late on Friday nights.

S: Having biased umpires in our games.

Thank you very much to the 9/10 Girls Blue coaches for taking the time out of the day to partake in this interview, and congratulations to all players for a successful season. Girls 9/10 Blue, Ella Chan, Sophie Neal, Violet Bunting, Erin Szalman, Emily Lo, Mia Lewis, Issy Leckie, Lizzie Ralph, Millie Wells. Photo Tilly Ellingsen.

Badminton is an easyto-learn, social sport which provides countless physical benefits. Badminton, similar to tennis, is a racket sport played within a rectangular court, however, instead of a tennis ball, a shuttlecock is used. The aim of the sport is to hit the shuttle over the net and into the opponent’s half of the court in a manner where it can’t be received.

Peter Appleton of The Friends School has been promoting and, at times, coaching this sport since becoming elected as manager.

Peter is recognised and loved for his passion for this sport with his numerous assembly appearances where he humorously presented badminton results and The Friends’ School’s successes.

Peter, in fact, was not obsessed with the sport before he began coaching it. He said he had played the sport multiple times as a recreational activity but never competitively and never really appreciated the game until he began coaching it, cheerfully adding that his Badminton skills were more in management instead of the actual sport.

Peter’s favourite part of the sport is the social aspect, including meeting parents and discussing their children’s progress. He was also excited about Friends’ achievements this season, saying that, “The Friends’ School is looking to secure a 7th consecutive School Badminton Trophy this year. It will truly be a ‘Feast’ of badminton if we manage this incredible feat and worthy of a ‘Viking Clap’ when we present trophies in the first assembly in Term 4.”

Students who want to participate next year should follow the bulletin and sports sign-up links specifically between April to August. Peter encourages students to take part in the sport and hopes that Friends’ can have many more successful teams in the future.

Anna Mulcahy swimming distances in a set time, performing first aid The Bronze Medallion is a training program supported by the Royal Lifesaving Society of Tasmania that some Year 10s chose to complete as part of their PE course in Term 3 of this year. It includes 6 weeks of practical training in the pool, where students aim to attain different competencies in areas such as rescues, and CPR, learning now to secure someone in a spinal hold, assessing someone for breathing, and pulling someone safely out of the water. Students also use their critical thinking skills to assess situations to decide who is a priority in situations where several people may need their support. There is also a theory component including papers assessing the students’ water safety and CPR skills.

Year 10 students said that they have enjoyed taking the course. Josie Gunner said that her favourite part was learning how to rescue people and that completing it was a unique experience: “I have enjoyed doing the bronze medallion course because it breaks up normal school life.”

“I chose the Bronze Medallion course as it seemed fun and like a good opportunity to take as well as most of my friends were doing it,” said Georgia Bennett. She said she recommends other students to do it because it is a great learning experience. Trish Menadue, teacher of a class of Bronze Medallion participants, said that the course is a great certificate to have as “Students build their skills up, and they’re really quite confident in their rescue techniques and being able to support others in the water.” Their qualification could also lead to future career opportunities.

Left: Year 10 students, Jye Castle, Auley Greenhill and Ben Sillifant, practising the huddle. Photo: Trish Menadue.

2021 saw the resumption of a fairly normal year of Friends’ basketball in the SSATIS rosters, after the reshuffling and other sports clashes of 2020.

High School boys and Firsts competitions were held in Term 1 this year and while no team made finals, there were some very close games that were great to watch and skills from the players improved over the season.

Our Firsts Boys also competed in College Championships in July and finished a very credible third in their division.

High School girls came to the end of their season in Term 3 with a great flourish. At the time this report was written, our Year 8 Division 1 Girls and Year 7s were looking to make their final.

Tasmanian High School Championships are being held in November with Friends’ School entering teams. Below: Friends’ Firsts Boys playing Newstead College at College Champs 24 -25 July this year. Jeff Lau (Year 12) taking a lay up with the rest of the team ready for the rebound. Coach Ronnie Riggs looking on. Photo: John White.

Caitlyn Dakin girls who played Club, those who had only played School football and girls who had

As a part of the SSATIS co- never even touched a football. curricular options in Term 2, The girls AFL teams at the Year 7 and 8 girls could Friends’ are often full to sign up to play Australian capacity, not only because Rules Football. of the numbers that want to

The team is coached by play the game but because of ex-football legend, Shaun Shaun’s inspiring coaching. O’Rourke, who played school The Year 7/8 girls had an football in Ulverstone and amazing season, only losing then moved to Hobart and two rostered games: one to played for local football clubs Fahan and one to Sacred Hobart and Sandy Bay. As a Heart. They were lucky result of his knowledge, skill, enough to play in the Grand love of the sport and sense Final against Sacred Heart, of humour he never fails to dominate the play and take inspire the players and get home the premiership trophy them working well as a team. for The Friends’ School for

The 2021 Girls Year 7/8 the first time. Team consisted of 24 eager Congratulations girls, for players who were ready to all of the hard work you put embrace the challenge of the into this season and good school football season. luck for season 2022!

The team was a mix of Back Row (L-R): Dom Baker (Assistant Coach), Jason Frawley (Assistant Coach) Divinia Mills, Lucy Wells, Juliet MacIntyre, Sarah Lovell, Keeley Saunder, Mae Farrer, Hannah Zalstein, Matilda Wilson, Ursula Nation, Elizabeth Grimm, Sophie Kruimink, Romy McHugh, Elsie Batchelor, Shaun O’Rourke (Coach) Front Row (L-R): Emma Xu, Naoimh Greenhill, Cy Taylor, Anthea Frantzis-Kantar, Poppy Baker, Annie Pavlides, Cherri Frawley, Imogen Atwell, Rosie Salmon, Mia O’Rourke, Coco Loney Photo: Bill Avery.

Stella Mitchelmore season because of an injury, Emily said that, “Both the Year 9/10 team and the 1st

Thinking about joining a Girls teams got through to School hockey team? Emily the grand final but, sadly, lost Rawson, a Year 9 student, has and therefore came second been playing hockey since she place.” was 10 years of age. Emily At the time this article was enjoys hockey because it isn’t written, Emily said that the exclusive and always very Year 7/8 Girls team were still encouraging: “I absolutely playing and by the sounds of love every aspect of the sport things appeared to be doing as it is a fun challenging way very well, having a good to maintain fitness, play with chance at a medal. and against friends, make The school hockey season new friends... It is also an for Years 7 and 8 is rostered for extremely fun and fast game Term 3 and for Years 9 to 12 to play and every single game in Term 2. There are around is different so there is never a 7 rounds, therefore plenty of dull moment.” games. Training usually takes

Friends’ girls hockey teams place on a Thursday when the were very successful this year. turf is free and depending on Although unable to play this the coach’s availability.

Hockey Heroes! 2021 Year 7/8 Girls team: Grand Final Winners. Back (L-R): Madeline Windsor, Hannah Zalstein, Gabby Hill, Wavey van Dorsselaer, Sophie Kruimink, Laura Bevan, Charlotte Ralph. Front: (L-R): Grace Winspear, Adelaide O’Donoghue, Emily Rawson, Cherri Frawley, Coco Loney, Stella Pritchard, Anika Jolley. Photo: Supplied.

Henry Webster 6-0 during the regular season. As expected, the Friends team lost but competed much

During Semester One, a better than they did in the team of four tennis players 2020 season. were selected to represent Henceforth, the Hutchins The Friends’ School in the team played against Saint Opens tennis competition. Patrick’s who, like Hutchins, Thereupon, they competed were undefeated in their against the best players from roster. Although this may be southern independent and true, Hutchins were far too religious schools. strong. Hopefully next season,

It was a tough season the gap between Friends’ and played over seven weeks and Hutchins shrinks again. the Friends’ team ended Thank you to the 1sts their season with 3 wins and tennis coordinator Annabelle 3 losses. As a result, they Woods for organising this scraped into the finals, placing year’s team. Also, a big thank second overall. Consequently, you to David Tumbridge the Friends’ team played away who coached and selected the from home against a strong team this year. Hutchins team who had gone

Noah Swan which sees more and more coming back to play. Generally, the new courts

The School’s informal have been a success in basketball scene has seen everybody’s mind. Year 9 a substantial growth in student, Logan Boxall, said popularity of late. Each day, “It would be great if they you can see people from all opened up the top courts year levels playing basketball sometime soon… but it’s around the High School great that the bottom ones are campus and with the new there.” instalment of the lower Many hope that the courts, students can enjoy an School basketball scene can abundance of space to play. continue to grow. Charlie

One thing which many Cosgrove (Year 9) said that people agree on, is that he would like it if the sport basketball is great because of became popular enough that the way it allows everybody to there could be more training participate and have fun. opportunities during the

“Basketball is good because SSATIS basketball season, of the social interactions with while Alanah Edwards (Year each other and the physical 9) said it would be fantastic to activity,” said Nitish Gilkum have a few more basketballs (Year 8). to use.

There is a welcoming sense By the looks of it, the on the court that everybody popularity of recreational can join in and have a go, basketball will not diminish regardless of skill level. People anytime soon. Its future is a play as a team and encourage bright one. one another in a manner