Sporting Excellence

2022 Sport – Annual Report

Sport at PLC continues to provide an opportunity for every student. Be it an introduction to a new physical activity or providing a high performance programme for our talented student athletes, PLC is dedicated to delivering a comprehensive and memorable sporting experience for all students.

The 2022 sports year began with the excitement of the Inter-House Swimming Carnival. All Inter-House carnivals allow all students an opportunity to participate, wear their House colours with pride, earn points for their respective Houses, while at the same time providing valuable racing opportunities for those students who will represent PLC later in the term at IGSSA Swimming. While 7th at IGSSA, the Swim team should be commended on their commitment to training throughout the season and the ability to embrace the early morning training sessions with enthusiasm.

A structure change within IGSSA in 2021 saw Tennis removed from the Term 1 calendar and move to a oneday Carnival in Term 4. While this was disappointing for PLC given our historical success and interest in Tennis, it saw students switch across to Volleyball, AFL and Badminton, many for the first time.

AFL at PLC continued to grow, and following PLC’s success in the Year 7 – 10 IGSSA programme in previous years, a Year 11/12 division was introduced for the first time. The Year 7/8 group went through the season undefeated and were awarded the Pennant, with PLC also taking out second place in the Year 9/10 and newly formed 11/12 competition. These results saw PLC crowned the overall winning school in AFL, in the sports first season as a full competition. Under the leadership of Mr Jacob Johnston, this programme has provided a fantastic opportunity for students to develop skills in a fun, yet competitive environment.

Volleyball saw around 200 students represent PLC in IGSSA matches throughout Term 1. The excitement and noise that emanated from the Hugh Baird Sports Centre on match days clearly demonstrated the growing popularity of this sport in our calendar.

Led by Mr. Boyd Cooper, a former Australian Badminton representative and PLC Health and Physical Education teacher, PLC’s extensive introductory skills badminton programme again resulted in PLC having more players than any other IGSSA school in the competition. The remarkable progress of all players throughout the term was evident as PLC teams claimed second and third placings in the Senior A, and second, third and fourth placings in the Senior B one-day competitions. We expect this momentum and enthusiasm to continue to grow in the coming years.

As one sport season concludes, PLC seamlessly transitions into trials, training and selection for the next term, with Cross Country, Hockey, Netball, Basketball, Soccer, and Athletics taking the spotlight in Terms 2 and 3 in the Senior School.

Our Junior School students were also heavily involved in Minkey and Netball and participated in regular weekend matches. With programmes and options catering to students in Years 1 to 6, PLC exposes its girls to match play for the first time, emphasizing skill development, teamwork, and sportsmanship. It is a delightful experience to witness the smiles on their faces each weekend and observe their remarkable improvement throughout the season.

While participation and involvement for all students will always be a focus, the winter sport season at PLC was an opportunity for us to also celebrate a number of individual and team successes. From some incredible results in Soccer which included winning the pennants in Senior A Soccer, Year 7/8 B Soccer, as well as the Overall Soccer Pennant, to outstanding performances by Annie Pfeiffer (Year 12) and Sienna Hanikeri (Year 12) at IGSSA Athletics - culminating in the Year 11/12 Athletics Pennant win - it was once again a winter of success for PLC.

It was a similar story for IGSSA Cross Country, coming away with the Pennant for Year 11/12 for the second year running, with another outstanding run from Sienna Hanikeri, who crossed the line in first place. At JIGSSA Cross Country, while our Junior School students battled a forecast thunderstorm, all girls ran to their full potential as PLC took home the Champion Pennant in Years 4, 5, and 6 in an extremely dominant display.

Senior A Basketball also took out the 2022 Senior A Basketball Pennant, aided by the expertise of coach and former Perth Wildcat, Mike Vigor.

PLC’s dominance at the Head of the River Regatta continued, winning the 2022 Regatta for the 10th year in succession, as well as the coveted First Eight race. Under the leadership and guidance of Head Coach Mr David Milne, the shed culture of community, fun, teamwork and hard work continues to go from strength to strength. The dedication, commitment and constant strive for excellence by all involved in the Rowing programme is a testament to the legacy that PLC Rowing has created over the past decade.

Another IGSSA Pennant was awarded to the Senior A Water Polo team, who performed flawlessly to take out the Year 11/12 Pennant after being undefeated all competition.

PLC also saw success in Cricket this year in an expanded competition, with the Year 7/8 B Team as well as the Open B’s taking home the Pennant. PLC had over 80 girls involved in IGSSA Cricket throughout the season – more than any other school – in another example of the growth of this sport and the want for our girls to represent their school.

The impressive achievements of PLC athletes and sporting teams throughout the year are a testament to the dedication of our students, coaches, Sport and PE staff. However, beyond the thrill of winning, sport at PLC plays a vital role in laying the foundation for an active and healthy lifestyle for all students. With a wide range of sports and physical recreation activities available, there is something for every student at PLC to enjoy and participate in on a daily basis.