More than 150 Te Kura o Tititea Mt Aspiring College (MAC) students and their coaches and managers will travel to destinations across the South Island to participate in this year’s School Sport New Zealand Winter Tournament early next month.

The tournaments, held twice a year in winter and summer, are an opportunity for secondary schools from all around the country to compete against each other in a range of sports.

MAC principal Nicola Jacobsen said the winter tournament was a great opportunity for students to test their skills against different schools and to make new friends.

“We will have seven teams of students representing the college in four sports: basketball, netball, hockey, and football,” she said. 

“Students and their coaches, managers and whānau will travel to Christchurch, Dunedin, Mosgiel, Invercargill, and Timaru to compete.”

Year 13 student Abbey Ragg said she was looking forward to travelling to Timaru as part of MAC’s mixed XI hockey team.

“I have played in the winter tournament twice before and it’s a great experience playing against teams from other schools who you wouldn't otherwise get to play. It’s also a great week away with my friends making memories.

“We are fundraising to help meet the costs of attending the tournament, including selling raffle tickets, holding a sausage sizzle, and we are also applying for grants so we can make the trip affordable for every family.”

Year 13 student Jack Wyeth is playing in the boys first XI football team in Invercargill and said he was really looking forward to playing football over multiple days at the event.

“I’ve been to tournaments twice before and I really enjoy the energised environment created by teams in preparation for the big games, as well as how motivating it is to push myself to the limits to help our team progress deep into the tournament.

“Our team is part of a fundraiser called ‘Back my player’ where players sell spots on the back of their t-shirts to raise money to help meet some of the costs of the trip.”

The School Sport New Zealand Winter Tournament will take place from September 2-6.

PHOTO: MAC