Secondary Sport
I trust everyone has had a safe, enjoyable and restful holiday break. We are very much looking to the return of the summer season this weekend with the ISA Round 7 Rowing Regattas for the Junior Rowers, with Sailing returning to the squadron and NSTA tennis beginning next week.
As I mentioned in my return to 2023 Welcome letter we are going to focus this year on the Mission Statement and Values for Redlands Sport and how they are lived within our programs. Our Mission which aligns with the schools is to deliver a school sports program where students develop life-readiness by fostering qualities such as teamwork, responsibility and resilience in a supportive and competitive environment. Redlands provides holistic, diverse and inclusive opportunities for students to let their light shine while striving for excellence in sport and physical activity.
We have also collectively developed a number of values and how they are lived through sport, being:
- Strive for excellence
- Responsibility
- Fun
- Teamwork
- Respect
Over the next few weeks I will delve into how these values will be incorporated within sport and what this looks like for the students and Redlands community.
“Excellence can be achieved only today—not yesterday or tomorrow, because they do not exist in the present moment. Today is the only day you have to flex your talents and maximize your enjoyment. Your challenge is to win in all aspects of life. To reach that goal, you need to set yourself up for success by winning one day at a time. Procrastination is no match for a champion.”
- Jim Afremow, The Champion’s Mind: How Great Athletes Think, Train and Thrive
Redlands Secondary School Swimming Carnival – Tuesday 7 February
A reminder that the Swimming Carnival is on Tuesday 7 February (Term 1, Week 2). Students need to be at school in their departure locations at 7:15am (those on the 200IM bus who need to be on at Redlands Lane at 7:00am) more information can be found on Redlands Pulse – Swimming
Basketball
We hope our Basketball families have enjoyed the holiday break and are looking forward to the recommencement of the 2022/23 Season. A reminder that all team training sessions are compulsory as per the schedule on the Redlands Pulse – Basketball Page. We are back into the ISA Competition in Term 1, Week 1 with all teams playing in Round 7. Please check Redlands Pulse for the game details for this Saturday. All students are required to wear the Redlands Basketball uniform and arrive 30 minutes prior to the start time indicated on the fixture.
Congratulations to Emilie Bessel who has been selected into the U18 NSW Metro State Basketball team. A further congratulations to Renae Garlepp, our Director of Coaching (Basketball) who has been appointed as the Head Coach of the team. Best of luck to both Emilie and Renae when they travel to Queensland for the National Championships later this year.
Sport Uniform
The Redlands Sports Uniform is available through the Uniform Shop & Flexischools, the uniform requirements for each sport are available on Redlands Pulse. Failure to meet these requirements will result in school disciplinary action.
Rowing Camps
During the summer break our rowers attended the January Rowing Camps located in Berry, seeing 36 senior rowers attend their 7 day camp while a further 78 junior rowers attended their 4 day camp. Staying at the Berry Sport and Rec Centre, all accommodation, meals and access to the water is contained in the one location, and this year is our first January camp back in Berry post the 2020 bushfires and in more recent years Covid disruptions.
These camps are our key training block and transition from building our fitness and skill base to race ready training as we take on our major Term 1 regattas. Both squads of rowers completed 2-3 training sessions per day with some very significant improvements to how both individuals and crews are training. Our Rowing Captains Briar Carter and Matthew Fry were outstanding in how they have led the program to ensure that the student body have come together to form a very united program as opposed to individual teams.
We also take the opportunity to select crews for the first part of Term 1, which for our Yr 9-12 students includes the NSW State Championships held in mid-February.
Small Boat Regatta
Many of our senior rowers took the opportunity to race at Penrith on Sat 28th Jan in the NSW Small Boat Regatta where they raced in either single or double sculls with some strong results at what is a highly competitive regatta.
Men’s Under 16 Scull – Zach Borness Yr10 (3rd in the Final)
Men’s Under 17 Scull – Angus McInnes Yr10 (3rd in the A Final)
Women’s Under 17 Scull – Jemima Hugmann Yr10 (5th in the A Final)
Men’s Under 19 Double Scull – Finn Woodward Yr12 & Pat Walker Yr12 (5th in the A Final)
Women’s Under 19 Double Scull – Georgia Verschoor Yr12 & Cat Croll Yr12 (6th in the A Final)
Women’s Under 19 Double Scull – Briar Carter Yr12 & Alice Bennett Yr12 (8th in the A Final)
Swimming
Over the holidays Xander Halfen competed at the NSW Senior State Age Championships, Xander finished with 2 Silver medals in the 50m Backstroke and the 200m Freestyle, a Bronze medal in the 100m Backstroke, a 4th place in the 200m Medley Relay. Xander also finished with a number of Top 20 results. We look forward to seeing Xander compete next week at the Redlands Carnival and beyond!
Tennis
A warm welcome back to all new and returning tennis players! We hope you have had a restful break and are ready for the next season of competition!
Training will commence for all groups on Thursday 2 February and we will continue in the same training schedule as Term 4 until the end of Summer Tennis. Please refer to the newest update email for training group rolls as some students have been moved. Competition and Development Squad will begin next weekend so please keep an eye out for emails regarding teams and the draw in Week 2.
We hope players enjoyed the Holiday Training Camp as well and we look forward to another great season of Summer Tennis!
Please contact Ms Caitlin Wong should you have any questions regarding Summer Tennis.
Mr Cameron Ellis
Head of Secondary School Sport
cellis@redlands.nsw.edu.au