5 minute read
A Spotlight on Lucia and Dennis
After many years of dedication, hard work and determination, 2020 was the year to send Year 13 students Lucia Doak and Dennis Yang out on a high. Both had slightly different agendas for finishing their school Water Polo careers; however, both have had a huge impact on the sport at Kristin as well as on fellow players in general.
LUCIA DOAK
Celebrating more than five extraordinary years with Kristin School is Lucia Doak, the current captain and inspirational leader of a very young Premier Girls' team. Under the guidance of top coach Ricky Thomson, in 2019 the girls finished an outstanding 3rd at the New Zealand Secondary School Championships. With the Senior players moving on, and the team consisting of over half Junior students, it was always going to be a challenging year for Lucia. However, she calmly took it all in her stride. Junior player Una Dennehy had the following to say:
Having Lucia lead our team this year was an experience our team were very privileged to have. Despite losing significant parts of our team from the previous season, Lucia stayed positive throughout every game, win or lose. She is an extremely kind person and a talented Water Polo player, a perfect combination for leadership. Treating everyone with respect, many, if not all our team members look up to her. Having many new younger players in our squad, Lucia took it upon herself to mentor and guide them, along with Ricky. She and the other Seniors created a team environment (in and out of the pool) that is extremely positive and encouraging and I know it will last for years to come.
Lucia’s list of achievements is exhaustive! Starting at Kristin in Year 7, Lucia was MVP for her team and named in the tournament team for North Harbour U12A team. This set the trend for the following years. In Year 8, Lucia was also playing in the Juniors and a Senior team. In Year 8 and Year 9 Lucia played in the U14A team for North Harbour, winning gold in the Auckland and New Zealand leagues with her team. The Junior Girls' team for school won Gold at the Challenger Cup, North Islands and New Zealand Secondary Schools Championships. The first year Lucia was named in an NZ squad was 2016.
2017
Kristin School Junior A team Premier Girls' team (4th at New Zealand Secondary Schools Championship) North Harbour Water Polo Club U16A (2nd in Auckland league, 1st at Nationals) U18A (Bronze at Auckland league and Nationals)
New Zealand Representative Born 2000 National Squad
2018
Kristin School Premier Girls' (3rd in College Sport Auckland league, 3rd at North Islands, 4th at Nationals)
North Harbour Water Polo Club U16A (1st in Auckland league, 5th at Nationals) U18A (Silver at Auckland league, 1st at Pan Pacific Youth Water Polo Festival, 1st at Nationals) Senior Women (2nd in Auckland league, 1st at Nationals)
New Zealand Representative NZ Senior Women’s Development team NZ Women Born 2000/U18 team for World Youth Cup NZ Secondary School Girls' team NZ Women Born 1999 Junior squad for World Juniors
2019
Kristin School Premier Girls' (3rd in College Sport Auckland league, 6th at North Islands, 3rd at Nationals)
North Harbour Water Polo Club U18A (Gold at Nationals) U21A (Gold at Nationals) Senior Women (Gold at Nationals)
New Zealand Representative NZ Women Born 1999 Junior team for World Juniors NZ Women Born 2002 Youth squad NZ Secondary School Girls' team (Captain)
And to cap that off, in 2020 Lucia was selected once again in the NZ Women Born 2002 Youth squad for the World Champs and named as the non-travelling reserve in the NZ Senior Women’s team for Tokyo 2020 Olympic qualifying. Unfortunately with COVID-19 restrictions many of these tournaments have been suspended.
DENNIS YANG
The Boys’ Premier Water Polo team were a very tight-knit group, and for2020 they had their minds set on a medal at the New Zealand Secondary School Championships, having gained pre-qualification for division one from their 2019 result. Over the years, this group of boys have bonded so well, they almost made the Senior School Swimming Sports Day their own day of interteam competition. Taking control of the pool at the conclusion of the House relays, these boys created their own swimming races, such was their enthusiasm and passion for the pool! Back to Water Polo, the boys remained unbeaten in the College Sport Auckland league from Term 1, and can well and truly call themselves champions, led by Dennis Yang.
Dennis has had a five-year Water Polo career at Kristin School as well, and these achievements have seen him also gain success outside school.
2017
Kristin School Captained Junior Boys' team (MVP, 1st at North Harbour Junior League, named Player of the Year, 3rd at Junior North Island Championships, named in tournament team)
North Harbour Water Polo Club U16A (2nd at National Championships)
New Zealand Representative National Youth Squad
2018
Kristin School Premier Boys' team (3rd at division two National Championships, named in tournament team)
North Harbour Water Polo Club U16A (1st at National Championships, 2nd at Pan Pacific Youth Water Polo Festival) U18A (2nd at National Championships, 2nd at Pan Pacific Youth Water Polo Festival)
2019
Kristin School Captained Premier Boys' team (Lead team to qualify for division one at North Islands and New Zealand Secondary School championships)
North Harbour Water Polo Club U18 A (1st at National Championships) U18 (2nd in U18 and 1st in Men’s division: 51st at Hawaiian Invitational Water Polo Tournament)
New Zealand Representative U18 NZ Men’s team (1st at Australian Interstate Championships)
Born 2002 Youth World Championships squad
It is sad to bid farewell to both these talented players from Kristin School, under any circumstances. However, we look forward to seeing both Lucia and Dennis continue to grow as amazing people, and to follow what we hope will be very long and impressive Water Polo careers.
Along with Lucia and Dennis, we also say goodbye to other very instrumental Year 13 players this year. Christina Yang has dedicated much of her time at Kristin to the sport of Water Polo, not only playing but also coaching Flippa Ball and Water Polo teams. Skye MacLeod came to Kristin at the beginning of 2019 and not only headed straight into the Girls Premier team but also gave her time back to the sport by coaching an Intermediate Water Polo team. Oli Dennehy, Luca Harris, James Reid Akehurst and Jacob Watson Jones have all significantly contributed to Water Polo and Kristin School - not just by playing but also coaching numerous Flippa Ball and Water Polo teams, which is a full year’s commitment. Through their achievements at Kristin, these boys have also represented North Harbour Water Polo. All these Year 13 players will be hugely missed and we wish them the best of luck.
Sherren Findley
