ACC Sport 2012

With 2012 being the College Centenary Year, we were hoping that we would celebrate this great milestone with as much DLS sporting success as possible. After fielding close to 50 ACC Sports Teams from Years 7–12, we managed to win 4 ACC Premierships. Our Champion Teams were: Year 8 Football (“Back to Back” Premierships), Year 7A Basketball, Year 9B Basketball and Junior Golf. Outside of ACC Competition, we won the Weightlifting Sport and Recreation Cup for the second consecutive year and it was particularly ‘uplifting’ as the event was staged in the DLS Gym. Whilst we maintained our place in Division 1 of ACC Swimming in Term 1, we only managed to ‘tread water’ at the 2012 Carnival finishing in 5th place for the second year in a row. We do have some talented swimmers, but we really need to improve our overall swimming ‘depth’. We participated in Division 2 ACC Athletics for the first time in the history of the College in our Centenary Year which wasn’t really a fairy tale script. Whilst we were not able to make an immediate exit from Division 2 in finishing a clear second to St Joseph’s, Geelong, our team effort, enthusiasm and performance was much better than last year. We had 14 team members win individual events and DLS won three out of six 4 x 100m Relays. We will be joined by our ‘Brothers by the beach’ in Division 2 next year so at least the 2013 ACC Athletics Division 2 Carnival should be a classic “Lasallian Showdown”! Towards the end of Term 3, our ACC Cross Country Team had hopes of improving upon their 3rd placing from last year. Despite another honest and determined team effort, we are still ‘jogging on the spot’ after this year’s ACC Carnival behind St Bede’s and St Bernard’s. Although we were clearly ahead of the other three schools in Division 1 and had many top- ten event place getters, the challenge for our 60 runners next year is to ‘run past’ at least one of the Top Two schools in 2013. Our strong involvement in ACC Sport and other sporting activities would not be possible without the willingness of the staff who coach and manage our many sporting teams. I sincerely thank all of the teachers for their time, effort and enthusiasm for the ACC Sport programme at De La, which is of such great benefit to the boys. Special thanks to Simon Brown and Tom Curry, the Sports Assistants, who have not only coached ACC Teams but been integral to the organization and coordination of all things sport at De La. As we are all aware, Mr Peter Riordan is leaving De La after 12 years of loyal, committed and passionate service at the College. Peter has not just been a fine leader for both students and staff in this time but a great supporter of the ACC Sport programme. His constant encouragement and support for the DLS Sports Department is greatly appreciated and will be missed. Participation rates in ACC Sport this year have been very encouraging in Years 7–9 and a little spasmodic at Year 10 and Senior levels. In order to improve upon our 4 ACC Premierships next year, we need all of our ACC Teams to include not only our best sportsmen but committed, determined and enthusiastic De La boys who are passionate about the College being as successful in sport as possible.

Peter Harte Director of Sport