College of the Year

An award recognising secondary schools for overall sporting excellence and participation.

Kuranui College

A new strategy for sport in 2019 focussed on creating quality opportunities for all. A code of conduct to support students and volunteers, and a sports specific section for its website were created. That resulted in growth and participation in many sports such as smallbore shooting, tennis, mountain biking, volleyball, and chess, as well as the more traditional sports. Kuranui students excelled, representing Wairarapa in athletics, equestrian, cross-country, shooting, swimming, hockey, rugby, netball, cricket, and football. Teams won Wairarapa competitions in hockey, rugby, cricket, and touch. Rathkeale College

Rathkeale provides a wide range of sports opportunities for all 330 students, catering for participation through to those athletes who aim to perform at excellence level. The top rugby, football, and hockey teams compete in regional competitions, while other teams play in local leagues. Rathkeale also has three summer and three winter sports exchanges with traditional rivals. Those who have excelled at a high level include Sam Blundell & Joe Falloon [motocross], Kosta Mills & Jack Hunter [athletics], Jake Jonas [cricket], Riley Grover & Jonty Roubos [football], James Church [swimming], as well as many others. St Matthew’s Collegiate School

A highlight for St Matthew’s Collegiate is the 1st XI cricket team placing third in 2019, and second in 2020 at the NZ Secondary School Gillette Venus Cup finals. The team has also qualified for the 2021 finals. The hockey 1st XI contests the Intercity Championship, and the football 1st XI plays in the Manawatu competition. The top netball team were runners-up in the 2020 Wellington Regional Division Three competition and played in the Netball Wairarapa Premier One competition. Athletics, swimming, and shooting are also strong sports, with several students having competed at national level.

Wairarapa College

Waicol has the largest number of participants and volunteers, and has tasted success at regional and national level. Waicol teams played competitions in Wellington, including the boys’ football 1ST XI and the rugby 1ST XV, both in premier grade, and the boys’ cricket 1ST XI [premier three]. The two hockey 1ST XIs played in the Intercity competition in 2020. The boys’ team won the Wellington championship in 2019. The ‘A’ netball team made the 2019 Premier One final, losing to Harcourts. Tui Dugan [football], Daisee Omundsen [boxing], and Mackenzie Tait [squash] are among the students who have achieved at a high level.