A selection for the secondary school team as well as two consolation plate wins, were some of the highlights at the recent New Zealand Secondary School squash championships in Palmerston North.
St Paul’s had two boys and one girls team compete in the national competition which saw Year 13 student Temwa Chileshe selected for the New Zealand Secondary School team as the number one seeded player.
The boys’ A team – consisting of Temwa, Jack Collins (Year 12), Brendan Hunt (Year 13), Lachlan Cowley (Year 12) and Patchara Jirapanyayut (Year 13) had comfortable wins in their first two games against Francis Douglas and Gisborne Boys, but unfortunately lost to Tauranga Boys in the quarter finals. The boys went on to beat Christchurch Boys 4/1, followed by a loss to Whangarei Boys. They finished up in sixth place.
The boy’s B team – consisting of Raymond Chen (Year 13), Luke Henderson (Year 13), Charlie Jackson (Year 11), Herman Wei (Year 13) and Divakrin Naicker (Year 13) – lost a very close encounter against Orewa Collage in their first round. They bounced back to win their remaining four games against Avondale College, Palmerston North Boys, Marlborough College and Rongotai College, winning the consolation plate.
The girls’ team – consisting of Nicola Boyd (Year 11), Tyler Steer (Year 13), Jessica Tod (Year 13), Rachael McLanachan (Year 13) and Daisy Wang (Year 13) had a loss against Orewa Collage in their first round, but went on to win against Palmerston North Girls, Katikati College and Ruapehu College. A close loss against Kamo High School saw the girls win the consolation plate.
