Sport

House Sport

Peter Harrington Just like 2020, the 2021 House Sports Competitions looked different than previous years’, but all students should be proud of the way they showed their House spirit and got involved in the many and varied competitions that were on offer this year.

For the first time in two years, we were able to run the House Athletics Carnival. Lakeside Stadium was the setting for a fierce day of competition. St Edwin’s House took the title away from St Leo’s House who won the Carnival in 2019 and St Edwin’s House Coordinator, Jessica Stevenson, and her House were quite rightly very excited to win.

Our Swimming Carnival was held at Oakleigh Recreation Centre on a very warm day in March. Again, St Edwin’s House went ‘back-to-back’ with a hard-fought victory over St Austin’s House. Congratulations to Jessica Stevenson and all the St Edwin’s House staff and students on two wonderful victories in the major carnivals. The continuation of the ‘House Sport Challenges’ which were mainly based from home, presented some really creative and amazing photos submitted for the House Photo Challenge. Congratulations to Ben Miller from St Austin’s House for winning the House Photo Challenge this year. Ultimately, the De La Salle College House Sports Competition has been different but overall still enjoyable and fair competition. We give full credit to the students for making such a conscious effort to stay involved whilst being at home and maintaining a strong competitive spirit and culture. Special thanks must go to House Coordinators, Angela Runci, Jessica Stevenson, Michael Watty and Andrew Wozencroft and all the House staff for their efforts in promoting involvement in the House Sport Program this year. Here’s to finally getting away from lockdowns in 2022 and getting back to some real House competition throughout the year. I’d like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for their support during my time as House Sport Coordinator. I would like to wish Ryan McDonough all the best in the role moving forward. Peter Harrington – House Sport Coordinator

House Sport – House Photo Challenge Winner – Ben Miller.

Image – Viewing a sunset through a hollow tree.

On Friday 12 March, our College held the annual Swimming Carnival at Oakleigh Recreation Centre.

With St Edwin’s House winning the Athletics Carnival, the other three Houses wanted some revenge. Although it was a half day carnival, the teams provided double the spirit and fought hard for every race. St Edwin’s House came out glorious again and St Austin’s House had another close second finish.

The results were:

1st St Edwin’s House

2nd St Austin’s House

3rd St Leo’s House

4th St Mark’s House

These were followed with some tremendous individual efforts and notably the Year Level champions were: Primary – Harvey Venturini Year 7 – Henry Dwyer Year 8 – James Orton

Year 9 – Alex Hadaway Year 10 – Ryo Hayashi Year 11 – Seb Bunnik

Year 12 – Seb Hadaway Congratulations to St Edwin’s House on winning again and congratulations to the individual Year Level champions. Joel Lagastes – Sports Assistant

On Friday 12 February, De La Salle College held a very successful Athletics Carnival at MSAC.

All students fought hard to win. The results were:

1st St Edwin’s House

2nd St Austin’s House

3rd St Leo’s House

4th St Mark’s House

The Year Level Champions were: Year 7 – Jonathan Mackintosh-Dixon

Year 8 – Aidan Stewart

Year 9 – Zac Barling Year 10 – Hugo Cornell Year 11 – Andre Di Medio

Year 12 – Jack Forer

Congratulations and thank you to everyone involved and to Peter Harrington who worked hard to bring this event together. Joel Lagastes – Sports Assistant

ACC Sport Report

The 2021 De La Salle College ACC Sport program was cut short this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, we were able to play most of the senior and junior sports early in Term 1 and 2 and complete in both the annual ACC Swimming and Athletics Carnivals.

All senior sport teams were a little below the level needed to make finals apart from the First XI Cricket Team. Disappointingly, they lost the final by three runs to a very strong St Bernard’s team. Although no silverware was forthcoming, coaches were extremely impressed with all players’ commitment and high level of performance. Our ACC Swimming team finished second in the overall championship. To finish behind winners, St. Bede’s, by only 15 points spoke volumes for the whole squad. Standout performances included Year 12 students and co-captains, Seb Hadaway and John Beddoe, Ryo Hayashi (Year 10), Seb Bunnik (Year 10) and Damon Lyu (Year 8). Thank you to all coaches and staff for their commitment to our swimming program. This year’s highlight was De La Salle College’s Division 2 win in the ACC Athletics Championships promoting us back to Division 1! Our team managed to beat St Joseph’s Ferntree Gully by a single point to record a memorable win. Special congratulations to co-captains, Seb Hadaway and Jack Forer and Andre Di Medio (Year 11) who managed personal best times/ distances and qualified for the National Athletics Championships. Other notable performances included James Harper (Year 11), Hugo Cornell (Year 10) and Ellis Ashe (Year 10). Special thanks to all the coaches and staff members who helped make the team such a successful one.

In Term 2 sport, all ACC football and soccer teams were able to represent the College after no participation in 2020. The Senior Soccer team led by Peppe Di Ciccio were the standouts making the Grand Final only to be outclassed by a very strong St Mary’s team. Other notable performances from our football and soccer squads included Peter Crellin’s Year 7B footballers who narrowly missed a grand final appearance on percentage and Chris Martin’s Year 9A and Matt McLellan’s Year 10 soccer teams who only missed finals appearances because of COVID-19 restrictions. Many thanks to all coaches and players for their commitment to training and games. Overall, we were disappointed that COVID-19 had stopped us from partaking in many ACC competitions this year, especially in Term 3, but strongly encourage all students to get involved again and move forward into a strong 2022 ACC Sport year. Peter Harrington – ACC Coordinator

At De La Salle College we are blessed with some fine sportsmen in our Chess Club, showing consistent practice and enjoyment every Monday and Friday lunchtime.

It all started on the chessboard at the beginning of this year with students grouping together in Chess rooms and College libraries. As the year progressed, we found ourselves moving from the physical chessboard to the virtual remote experience. Using Tornello Tournaments (provided by Kids Unlimited) we were able to keep our traditions going and due to limitless availability of boards, we grew as a club. Our College Chess Captain, Lachlan Wong (3rd year in a row) has shown great initiative to support all Chess enthusiasts to be able to get involved. Thomas Edwards and I are the coaches behind the scenes making sure inclusiveness and fun are the key to this game. This year we are fortunate to have been involved in some online ACC Tournaments including the Open, Intermediate and Junior events. De La Salle College had great success in ACC Open Chess Tournament where 130 students competed against each other. Highlights of this included: • 1st Place in the Frankston Regionals (Open Division) • 2nd Place in the ACC Open (Division 1) • Qualifying for Nationals • Placing 4th in States (Open Division) • Placing 7th in States (Middle Division) Chess students never give up and will have once again the opportunity to represent De La Salle College at State Championships, and just like last year hopefully we will once again thrive and make Nationals. Justin Bourke – Chess Coordinator

eSports

eSports at De La Salle College had some explosive growth in 2021 under the leadership of Chris and James Seeman (Year 12). The squad now consists of 13 teams across three games. Our teams had several successes throughout the year with two Rocket League teams finishing equal 5th in the State and our League of Legends team winning the Victorian Championships. The League of Legends team went on to represent Victoria in the National Competition and at the time of writing, were secure in 4th place and only two wins away from the Grand Final. Due to their success, the team was also able to participate in the Monash University Arcade Expo competing against Monash University students. The community the students have built around the eSports Squads is its strength, there were several teams with students from every campus and it was commendable to see how they worked together. Students also supported House Competitions, bringing an electric atmosphere to the events. These students have shown comradery, teamwork, resilience, respect and quality communication during these trying times and have represented De La Salle College in high esteem. Stephen Brick and Justin Bourke – eSports Coordinators

Ryo Hayashi (Year 10)

Competed at the 2021 Australian Age Swimming Championships (Nationals) held on the Gold Coast in April.

Andre Di Medio (Year 11) Won Gold in the Men’s U18 Pole Vault at the Australian National Athletic Track and Field Championships in Sydney and at the Victorian State Championships.

James Harper (Year 11) Competed in the 2021 Victorian State Athletics Championships for Shot Put, Discus and Javelin for Glenhuntly Athletics Club. He medalled in all three events and qualified for Nationals in Sydney.

Jack Forer (Year 12)

Awarded a Silver medal in the Under 20s 800m State Athletics Championships and received a qualifying time for the Nationals in April.

I have been swimming for 13 years and swim at Firbank Aquastars. My favourite strokes are the 200m/400m individual medley and 200m butterfly. I love swimming because it is very comforting to be in the water and it puts a smile on my face whether training is hard or not. I enjoy the feeling of being behind the starting blocks before a race as it is a combination of total confidence and nervousness.

Throughout my swimming journey I have many achievements that I’m very proud of and they mean the world to me. It reminds me that hard work always pays off and the harder you work, the more success you will have. De La Salle College has supported me as a swimmer and a student from day one. They’ve taught me the quality values you need as a person in and out of the pool. Ryo Hayashi (Year 10)

I have been in the athletics field for 13 years and never looked back! I recently joined the Athletics Victoria division. My favorite race growing up was the 400 meters, yes, the death event! But I was well suited to it. More recently, my favourite event would be the 200 meters and pole vault. The thrill of it makes me ecstatic. I love the ability to connect and strive to do better. I think of my achievements as stepping stones on a path to represent Australia. De La Salle College plays a big part in my athletics and athletic decisions. The College provides support through extensions to assignments or general tasks and supports me in my ACC Athletics competitions, providing funding for the National Championships in my chosen sport, pole vault. I cannot thank the College enough for always having my back. They have molded me into the man and athlete I am today. I am forever in their debt.

Andre Di Medio (Year 11) I’ve participated in athletics since I was five years old. I joined the On-Track Program at Caulfield Little Athletics because my sisters were doing athletics and my parents thought I’d enjoy it. I received the Caulfield Little Athletics Long Service Award for attending 11 years in a row. I’m now a member of Glenhuntly Athletics Club and have been for four years. I have represented Victoria four times in my favourite event, javelin, but I compete in shot put, discus, high jump and 400m for fun. I missed the 2020 Australian Athletics Championships due to COVID-19, however, I was lucky to compete in Sydney in April 2021 coming 5th overall in the U18 Age Group with a throw of 53.64 metres.

Athletics is a great way to hang out with mates and to keep fit. My family supports me by driving me to training and all over Melbourne to compete in the summer AV competitions. De La Salle College supports all students who want to participate in athletics, or any other sport offered. Students participate in House athletics where we can go on to represent the College in ACC and the All Schools Athletics Competitions. Unfortunately, COVID-19 has really impacted these events over the past two years. Hopefully next year we will be able to compete in these competitions. James Harper (Year 11)

I have been competing in athletics for the past 6 years. As a Year 7, I was extremely lucky to be involved in ACC Athletics, a year in which De La Salle College won. The leaders created such an enjoyable environment and culture, this cemented my involvement in the sport. My preferred events are the 800m and 1500m. However, my favourite experience was winning the 4x400m in my final year with some of my closest mates including Seb Hadaway. Through my training, I was able to progress onto the State Championships in which I placed second in the 800m. From there, I was given the opportunity to represent Victoria at the National Championships 2021 in Sydney earlier this year. I will always be thankful for the contribution of De La Salle College in supporting their students’ sporting endeavours. Thank you to Kevin Mannix and Peter Harrington, who have both been unwavering in their support and guidance. Jack Forer (Year 12)

I was privileged to be selected as St Austin’s House Sports Captain for 2021. I am extremely proud of everyone’s efforts throughout the year, especially in the House Carnivals where we narrowly came second both times. A tremendous improvement from following years. It was awesome to see students across all Year Levels involved in the events and chanting. This carried on throughout the year in the lunchtime activities, including the Kinnoull sprints where we won and edged ever closer to knocking St Edwin’s House off the top spot. I am lucky to be involved in such a great House working alongside the four St Austin’s House leaders who have shown admiration, optimism and determination and built a positive House culture. Hopefully this year’s momentum in St Austin’s House can be continued with the help of our magnificent House Coordinator, Angela Runci, and next year’s leaders. GO AUSTINS!!

Jake Miller – St Austin’s House Sports Captain

2021 has been another great year of sport in St Edwin’s House. After the changes to the House Sport calendar in 2020, we were hungry to once again prove who should be on top. St Edwin’s House came out and won both the House Athletics and Swimming Carnivals, and have currently won all of the available weekly Lockdown House Challenges. In St Edwin’s House we have a culture which places great importance on participation, which has served us well in being able to get every point possible by ensuring we have entered a student in each event. The House Leaders are very proud of the way the Edwinners have quickly adapted to House Sport and tried their best in every activity. Sebastian Hadaway – St Edwin’s House Sports Captain Never did I think that we would have to endure another year of COVID-19. De La Salle College was lucky enough to run a few key events that we didn’t get to see last year, such as the Athletics and Swimming Carnivals. We saw such great participation around the St Leo’s House cohort in all College-run activities. Being part of the leadership team, we saw many students in St Leo’s House and De La Salle College show a boundless amount of strength and resilience in a year that was so difficult once again. Lachlan Doyle – St Leo’s House Sports Captain

After a year without any major House events, St Mark’s House set out striving for success in 2021. In Term 1 we had a very successful Athletics Carnival, with the students of St Mark’s House making their voices heard, with high levels of participation and support from all. In addition to Athletics, the Swimming Carnival was also held in Term 1, and that was met the same high spirits and competition. Throughout this year there have been multiple weekly House competitions and it has been great to see so much commitment to these events with every student embracing the House culture by competing to win as well as supporting one another.

Thomas Welling – St Mark’s House Sports Captain