Prep Sportsmaster

MR ROBERT EGAN prep sportsmaster

2018 was always going to be a memorable one, with the Gold Coast welcoming the world, at the Commonwealth Games, our junior sports program growing from strength to strength and the GPS celebrating its centenary year. This year was an ideal opportunity for TSS to show sport as one of our fortes, to the rest of Queensland, Australia and indeed the wider world’s sporting community.

Each year is indeed remembered differently. The past 12 months will be remembered in a large part for the emergence of our new Prep Hall, Prep car park, sandstone grandstand and oval regenerations impact on our sporting program. All four projects came to fruition throughout the summer months of 2017/18 and had an immediate impact, promoting our Prep venue to one of the premium sporting venues on the Gold Coast. Hosting in the region of thirty fixtures on any given weekend, the oval and Prep Hall proved a picturesque site, with our new GPS guided field marking system and up to date sporting equipment providing the precision our boys deserve. These projects highlighted a major investment in our boys’ future. 2019, and beyond, promises to see similar investment in the Prep sporting facilities, with a number of projects planned, including the regeneration of our outside undercover courts. A sensational time to be a budding athlete at the Prep School.

Our Junior Sports program continues to thrive. TSS is unique in this regard, being the only school based program on the Gold Coast in the Gold Coast District and Football Gold Coast competition. The junior rugby and junior football programs compete along the length and breadth of the coast, showing our true band of brothers unity, with boys from Preschool all the way to Year 12 now able to pull on a TSS jersey. 2018 was of particular significance for the junior football program, as we celebrated the inaugural year of TSS Preparatory FC, branching out on our own. This area of our program provides the first taste of formal competition for many of our boys and plenty of opportunity to learn the fundamental skill base and structure of sport, ideal preparation for the GPS. The extended season allows for teams to work on important life lessons such as commitment, resilience, sportsmanship, continuity and team work, to name just a few. The junior program continues to grow, with over 250 boys engaged in formal sport for 22 weeks of the year. Watch this space.

Our school motto is ‘Palmam Qui Feruit Merat’ – “May he who merits it, bear the Palm”. It is at this juncture, between discussing our junior and GPS program, it is important to highlight that the road to success is a shared one. Working together and helping others can be both rewarding and fulfilling. These lessons are at the heart of sport at TSS and can be seen in our staff, boys and parents alike. This support, drive and passion is the reason the Prep School has seen so much personal and team success again this year. 2018 saw over double figure representatives at Hinterland and State level, as well as several boys representing TSS at Nationals. Results we can all be proud of, well done.

GPS sport and activities celebrated 100 years of strength this year. It has been great to look back at some of the history makers and inspirational stories coming out of the nine GPS schools, and seeing the importance TSS has played, in what can only be described as the premier school sports competition. This year not only recognised the history, but did so with new beginnings introducing the magnificent Centenary Flag to each school, that is visible at the major championships and resides at TSS year round. There has been wide spread success across TSS this year, with our GPS cricketers, sailors and rowers taking home their respective championships. The Preparatory boys grew in stature in 2018 with plenty of highlights across cricket, debating, swimming, football, tennis, crosscountry, gymnastics, rugby, basketball,

chess and track and field. Three of the championship sports, athletics, cross country and swimming, results were pleasing at sixth, sixth and fourth respectively. Each sport producing individual success in regional, state and national representative honours. Chess produced some terrific performances, including a 100% win percentage in round 7. Several boys went on to make the State chess team. GPS basketball continues to grow here at Prep, fielding five teams which included our 6A boys taking their respective title of GPS Year 6 Champions and the trophy of The Most Successful TSS GPS Team, for the second year in a row. Our GPS Rugby recorded one of their most successful seasons, fielding five teams and seeing boys go on to represent at regional and State level. Our cricketers were out in record numbers, filling six teams and producing some high grade batting and bowling. Cricket was one of several areas, including golf, debating and gymnastics, which saw growing numbers and representative honours to boot. As the Preparatory Schools fifth year in GPS concludes, it’s great to see a winning attitude of determination, drive and leadership develop in our Years 5 and 6 boys, which is providing a path to success.

The recipe for success this year has been falling down nine times but getting up ten. Give everything a go. Get out of your comfort zone and try something new. Sport at Prep does not finish with GPS or Junior Sport, there is so much more on offer. The cocurricular program continues to grow year by year, in both its participation numbers and broad spectrum of sport on offer. There are upward of fifteen different clubs on during the year, with eight to ten running at any one time during each week. The clubs vary from team sport, such as football, rugby, AFL and basketball, alongside individual sporting endeavours such as swimming, gymnastics, fitness and tennis. This year I would like to highlight two of our new clubs, which have seen resounding success in their first year. Those clubs are our Prep gymnastics and 2 on 2 basketball competition. The Prep gymnastics program, launched back in February, is now seeing upwards of 80 boys a week taking part in the program. Gymnastics is a sport that teaches our boys how to manage and move their bodies and is renowned for developing core strength and athleticism. It has been wonderful to see the boys embrace these programs throughout the year and we look forward to the continued success. Our 2 on 2 basketball competition takes place during break times. The short, sharp format of the game, has been a resounding success for our boys, peaking interest in participants and spectators alike. This enjoyable and engaging, short format of basketball is perfect for our current generation of boys going through Prep.

Each week, I feel privileged to receive a number of messages from coaches and parents alike, letting me know of our boys success in other areas of sport. I have discussed the depth of our talents earlier in this article, but the breadth of our boys’ sporting endeavours would take your breath away. These range from equestrian, martial arts, sailing, surfing, adventure running, cycling and snow sports to name just a few. Over the year, our boys have competed locally, nationally and internationally across these sports, showing variety is the spice of life. A bit closer to home, our HPE and core skills program continues to thrive. We have had several high profile visitors or visits this year including Northcliffe Surf Club, World Champion Ironmen, Olympic Divers, Australian Rugby players, Gold Coast Suns players, Queensland Rugby and internationally renowned coaches. It is great to see the calibre of our staff and the amount of resources which the boys can access continues to grow. One of the many highlights this year fell to our U10 rugby boys, who made their way up to Sanctuary Cove to train with the Australian rugby team ahead of their fixture against Argentina. The afternoon consisted of skills, drills, kicking balls into a back of a car, shirt signings and more. A wonderful experience for all involved including the Wallabies, whose fortune changed after training with our TSS boys, seeing them beat Argentina at Cbus Stadum the following weekend.

A huge part of TSS Prep is of course our House competition, which is a time to unify, celebrate and compete as four Houses under one roof. House sport is like no other sports competition. Our carnivals and House competitions give our boys a chance to work in unity outside of their year groups, make new friends, support each other and develop House spirit. This year’s carnivals were

fiercely competitive with an array of winners:

INTER-HOUSE CROSS COUNTRY

Overall House Champion 1. Musgrave 2. Mitre 3. Dixon 4. Shepherd

Age Championship

9 Years 1. Sam Ray 2. George Kakavas 3. James Twemlow 10 Years 1. Leo Llewellyn 2. Jack Stapleton 3. Orlando Bos

11 Years 1. Angus James 2. Oscar Yared 3. Jack Gallie 12 Years

1. Callum O’Connor 2. Jed Gallie 3. Griffen Poole

School Champion - Angus James

ATHLETICS CARNIVAL RESULTS

Overall House Competition 1. Musgrave 2. Dixon 3. Mitre 4. Shepherd

Age Championship

9 Years 1. Nicky Hall 2. George Kakavas 3. Jem Uccellini 10 Years 1. Leo Llewellyn 2. Jack Stapleton 3. Lachie Crain

11 Years 1. Angus James 2. Oscar Yared 3. Craig Russell 12 Years 1. Cesare Bos 2. Callum O’Connor 3. Jasper Cleland School Champion - Cesare Bos

SWIMMING HOUSE CARNIVAL RESULTS

Overall House Competition 1. Dixon 2. Musgrave 3. Shepherd 4. Mitre

Age Championship

9 Years 1. Jack Quinn 2. Sam Drew 3. Peter Sa

10 Years 1. Hudson Sheehan 2. Kyle Grassick 3. Beau Sargeant 11 Years 1. Craig Russell 2. Carson Skipps 3. Oscar Eddy 12 Years 1. Merrill Thilwind 2. Kael Saw 3. Adam Nickalls

School Champion - Merrill Thilwind I would like to share my gratitude for all of our coaches, parents, officials and administrators who have worked tirelessly this year to provide the platform from which our boys flourish. Your dedication, hard work, knowledge and expertise shape our boys into the exceptional men we see move onto the Senior School.

Thank you to the following staff members for their contributions this year;

Swimming Ms Cole, Mr DuFeu, Mr Proud

Cricket Mr Baker, Mr Hoppe, Mr Sproule, Mr Beecher and Mr Tones

Track and Field Mr Egan, Mrs Goudy, Mr Wyer Chess Mrs Anderson

Cross Country Mr Fellowes, Mr Egan

GPS Football Mr Dolan, Mr Tones, Mr Beecher, Mr Sproule

GPS Rugby Mr Trevethan, Mr Close, Mr Fellowes, Mr Sproule

Junior Rugby Our dedicated parent coaches and officials - Mr Sproule, Mr Fellowes, Ms Gittens, Mr Trevethan, Mrs Schroder, Mr Egan, Mr Bradford and Mr Wallace.

Junior Football Mr Lemos, Mr Crawford, Mr Coates, Mr Roy, Ms Dean and Mr Armstrong.

Basketball Mrs Schroder, Mr Robinson, Mr Tones, Mrs Sams, Ms Matthews, Mr Gullotta

GPS Tennis Mrs Goudy, Ms Eaton

Sailing Mr Massey, Mr Newton

GPS Debating Mr Newton, Mr Hoppe

Touring is always one of the highlights of the year’s program. During the Autumn/Winter break, 33 boys, five staff members and countless supportive parents headed off to New Zealand on our 2018 sport tour. The tour took the boys the length and breadth of the New Zealand North and South Island, from Auckland to Christchurch and on to Queenstown. The ten day tour

afforded our boys all the experiences and benefits of international travel, coupled with the sporting challenge and excitement. This was the first time for many of our touring team overseas and an exciting time for all to immerse themselves in the NZ culture and traditions. The 2018 touring group really embodied the adventurer spirit, embracing everything from subtle changes like currency to more obvious changes like sleeping in a different bed, taking it all in their stride. The challenge put to our boys was one of, ‘give everything a go’, share in the schools and billeting families’ routine and experience the differences and similarities boys in New Zealand deal with as they grow up. It was great to see our TSS boys’ resilience and selfconfidence grow throughout the trip as they solidified friendships amongst their school friends and created lifelong friendships with boys over the ditch. It was great to see all the hard work and preparation the coaches had put in prior to the tour come to fruition on the court and pitch, as our boys went up against Kings, St Kentigens, St Andrews and Waikiki Schools. All of our fixtures were highly competitive, we finished with a fairly even score card, including four wins and one draw throughout the tour. Overall the tour was a huge success for the staff, students and accompanying TSS families. The trip really highlighted the personalities of our boys, who were complimented throughout for their manners, performance and energy. Well done to the touring TSS boys of 2018. A favourite of mine, World Heavy Weight Boxing Champion, Anthony Joshua, reminded us in a recent interview about keeping things in perspective. He said;

‘Don’t let your successes go to your head or your failings go to your heart’. As the end of year approaches, we will look back at 2018 fondly. It’s been quite a year. Looking through grounded eyes, as the World Champ suggests, take stock of your tests and progress, before designing opportunities for an exciting 2019 in front of us.