By Tanya Faulkner
School sports talent is shining across Knox as the best of the best have competed for top placings.
On Tuesday 18, and Thursday 20, July, the top school teams in each sport from the Bayswater, Rowville and Scoresby districts battled it out for the top placings in this years’ Knox District Winter Sports finals, competing in netball, soccer, teeball and AFL.
Each sport had both girls and mixed competitions, with the girls AFL competing early this year.
The champions of the day included Karoo PS for girls AFL and netball, Lysterfield PS dominated the girls teeball, St Simons won both girls soccer and mixed AFl, Park Ridge PS ran away with the win for mixed football, and runners up in the girls AFL, Regency Park PS won mixed netball, and The Basin PS won the Teeball mixed finals.
School Sport Victoria winter sports coordinator Matthew Campbell said the two days were a big success, with some high-level sports being played amongst the schools.
“All of the kids had a great time, and the level of skill seems to be getting better, especially since lockdown, they’re finding their groove again,” he said.
Mr Campbell said prior to the finals days, each school district hosted their own sports days to find out who would go head to head.
“Each school district ran two sports gala days in Term 2 for each of the sports, where all of the schools played each other.
“They then play a finals round within that to find the top 2 in each district in each sport to play in the District Winter Sports finals,” he said.
The top team from each competition in the finals earns their spot at the Eastern Metropolitan Regional Finals played next month.
Mr Campbell said the soccer finals, in particular, showed some great skill across the teams, leading to some strong wins.
“Many students from St Simons and Waverley Christian College play in local soccer clubs, and their skills excelled across their games.
“St Simons went undefeated in the girls soccer competition,” he said.
The day wouldn’t have been possible without several volunteers, teachers, coordinators and parents who helped bring the school galas together in the lead up to the finals.
Mr Campbell said without them, his finals days wouldn’t have been possible.
“A special thank you to all the umpires, parents, and hard-working teachers that supported the event.
“Especially the District Coordinators including Joshua Maroney, Ashley Eimeracher and Kathleen Weatherby,” he said.
Mr Campbell wished his congratulations to all the teams that competed in the Knox Division Winter Sport finals, and for those who are set to compete in the upcoming Eastern Metropolitan Regional Finals.
