4 minute read
School Pride
Swimming Ahead
Taryn Roberts has had a breakthrough year – qualifying for a national open final and gaining selection in her first Australian swimming team.
Taryn Roberts, Year 10, had wrapped up her Australian Olympic Trials meet, with a highlight qualifying for the 1500m freestyle final, and was ecstatic about her selection in an Australian Youth team to train in Mackay and compete in Brisbane. COVID has placed those dreams on hold, but Taryn is not slowing down at Rocky City club training, still pushing ahead to pursue her swimming dreams. “I’m really sad about everything being cancelled but I have to keep remembering that this is a big picture at the end of the day,’’ Taryn said. Taryn also continues to be inspired after watching Australia’s swimmers at the Olympics including Ariana Titmus, Emma McKeon and Kaylee McKeown. At the nationals, Taryn swam her 800m against Ariana Titmus (2 gold, 1 silver, 1 bronze at the Tokyo Olympics). Nerves played their role in Taryn’s swims at nationals, but it was an experience she will never forget. “I realised that one day I wanted to be like them and they inspire me to try and be better,’’ Taryn said. “I didn’t swim my best but I’ll take away what I did wrong and hopefully improve next year when it’s Commonwealth Games trials.
AROUND THE GROUNDS
ATHLETICS
RGS won an 18th consecutive Rockhampton District Secondary Schools Athletics Championship title at North Rockhampton State High School in July. RGS had 69 students selected for the Rockhampton district team, but unfortunately the Capricornia trials for the State Titles were cancelled due to COVID restrictions in south-east Qld.
CRICKET
The RGS Year 7 – 9 cricket team qualified for the State Final of the Queensland Cricket Schools T20 competition. After winning the Rockhampton district round, RGS defeated Mackay’s Mercy College in Mackay before winning the North Queensland final against Malanada State High School in Home Hill.
CRICKET
Leading Qld cricket coaches Terry Oliver and Vic Williams visited RGS on 4 September to run a clinic for RGS cricketers. Students from Year 7 to 12 participated in the clinic held at RGS, for RGS students.
School Pride
RGS sports teams have been proudly wearing the red and black across many sports throughout Term 3, being humble in victory and gracious in defeat.
NETBALL
RGS netball teams wrapped up playing commitments for the 2021 season. The First VII, Magic, represented the School, and the Capricornia region, in the Vicki Wilson Cup State Finals in Brisbane – an event that was earlier postponed due to COVID restrictions. After facing some tough competition, and battling injuries, the team won two of their eight games. Earlier in the term, teams played in the Rockhampton Netball Association grand finals. Premiers – Magic (Senior A Reserve Div 1); Lakers (Senior C); Redskins (Junior D2) and Stars (Junior E1). Runners-Up – Meteors (Senior A Reserve Div 2); Suns (Junior D1) and Heat (Junior F3).
RUGBY LEAGUE
The RGS First XIII rugby league team played in both the Aaron Payne Cup and Rockhampton District Secondary Schoolboys Rugby League competitions during Term 3. In the Aaron Payne Cup, the team scored wins over Emmaus College (Rockhampton) and Shalom College (Bundaberg) but unfortunately missed the finals. The RGS Year 10 Cowboys Challenge team also missed this year’s finals. In the Rockhampton District Secondary Schools Rugby League grand finals the First XIII scored a thrilling 4 point win over St Brendan’s College in the grand final. Jaiden Green was player of the final. The 7As also celebrated a premiership, scoring a strong win against St Brendan’s College with Nick Crawford named RGS man of the match. The 8B team fell four points short in their 8C grand final against Mt Morgan State High School. Clay Rabbitts-Hick was RGS player of the final.
PRIMARY FRIDAY SPORT
RGS Primary students were among the grand finalists in the Rockhampton District Friday Sport competitions for netball, rugby league and tennis. Students also participated in the non-competitive hockey fixtures during this Friday Sport block. RGS Grand Final results: Netball – RGS had wins in the Jnr A and Jnr D grand finals against Frenchville and Ridgelands. Rugby League – The 6As had a 22-6 win over Frenchville while the 6C team suffered a narrow loss against Frenchville. Tennis – it was a clean sweep of premierships for RGS at Victoria Park with wins in A grade (RGS1 v RGS2), B grade (v Frenchville), C grade (v Berserker) and D grade (v St Paul’s).
RUGBY UNION
RGS returned to the Western Sevens in Emerald during July. The RGS 13 years girls and boys teams won their divisions. Dylan O’Donnell (Year 8) and Marnie Whitehead (Year 8) were respectively named their team’s players of the carnival. The RGS open boys and girls teams both placed 2nd. 15 girls were 3rd and 15 boys placed 4th.
AUSTRALIAN RULES
The RGS Primary School AFL team competed at the NQ AFL Championships in wet conditions in Townsville. The team defeated Ryan Catholic College (Townsville) in their opening game before a close loss against Whitfield State School (Cairns) in the grand final.
TAEKWON-DO
RGS Taekwon-Do Club students participated in the United ITF CQ Championships in Duggan Hall. The Championships hosted four Rockhampton clubs and one from Sarina. RGS students won 34 medals. All the students worked hard in the lead up to the event and their sportsmanship and perseverance on the day made their Instructor Mr Kennedy very proud.
