<< Peninsula New 26 November 2007 - College makes sports awards >>

College makes sports awards

Brisbane Water Secondary College celebrated its annual Sporting Excellence Presentation Night at Woy Woy Leagues Club recently.

Major awards included The Rodney Fowler Sporting Award which was given to Bennett Leslie.

The Contribution to Sport Award was given to Kate Styles and Jake Raw as juniors and Sally Oman and Ryan King as seniors.

Junior Boy Sports Person of the Year went to Jason Hayward and the Junior Girls Sports Person of the Year went to Shana Jones.

Senior Boy Sports Person of the Year went to David Mainwaring while the Senior Girl Sports Person of the Year was Renee Mainwaring.

The most outstanding Team of the Year Award was given to the Under-14s Girls Futsal Team.

"This celebration is always an important part of the college calendar year because it recognizes and acknowledges both participation and high achievement," acting college principal Mr Gus Vrolyk said.

"Within our community and further afield, the college continues to forge a strong reputation for providing tough but fair competitors and teams.

"We also continue a growing domination in team sports, individual sports and in district and regional and state competitions.

"The college recognizes and values the role of sport in the development of young people.

"However, sporting opportunities offered to students are the result of the commitment and efforts both of the community and through college staff."

Mr Vrolyk said the school's students were fortunate to live in an area where there were numerous "top sporting facilities".

"They are fortunate to have the strong support of the Peninsula community with its tradition of sporting excellence," Mr Vrolyk said.

"They are fortunate that coaching staff from the college are passionate about sport and are willing to share their time and knowledge to enhance skills, and facilitate student enjoyment through participating in a wide range of sporting activities.

"Sporting and other clubs in the area give generously of their time, expertise and money to support us."

Mr Vrolyk said the evening recognised a variety of levels of sporting achievement, including all -rounder awards, sporting blues given to students selected at regional level to compete at state, state and national medallists, college champion house awards and combined high school knockout teams.

A special award was presented to Mr Mark Cribb for his service to school sport both at the college and prior to that at Woy Woy High.

"Mr Cribb has been outstanding in his commitment and devotion to school sport for over 20 years," Mr Vrolyk said.

"Over that time hundreds of individuals and a great number of teams have benefited from his knowledge and skills.

"In the last three years, he has been instrumental in the success of the College Sport Academy.

"The award presented will be a perpetual shield entitled the Mark Cribb Services to Sport ward."

Mr Vrolyk said the evening was supported through Woy Woy Leagues, Tonkin Drysdale and Partners, Country Rugby League, the Umina Campus P&C Association and the Woy Woy Campus P&C Association.

Mr Vrolyk said the night was highlighted with a guest appearance by Braith Anasta from the Sydney City Roosters, who spoke of the "challenges and joys" of being a professional footballer in the NRL.

"He also reminisced about the enjoyment of participating in sport whilst still at school," Mr Vrolyk said.

Mr Vrolyk said the evening highlighted the tradition of sport in public schools which was one of "inclusiveness, of bringing together young people of diverse backgrounds and skill levels in sport and providing them with opportunities".

"These opportunities create teamwork, resilience and character-building experiences," Mr Vrolyk said.

"It also creates those moments that people never forget about school.

"Whether they succeeded and won or did not, it is the shared experience, the fun and exhilaration that is remembered."

Press release, 14 Nov 2007 Gus Vrolyk, Brisbane Water Secondary College