It’s set to be a busy week of action for athletes from Whakatāne’s two secondary schools with 2025 Winter Tournament Week beginning on Monday.

Students will be competing in a range of sports including basketball, netball, hockey, football, rugby league, equestrian and cycling.

Trident High School has a girls’ netball team going to UNISS in Auckland, a girls’ football team heading to Napier to compete in the Maurice Hulme Tournament, while their boys’ equivalent is off to Christchurch to contest the Jim Wishart Tournament.

The school’s senior boys’ basketball team is again competing in Rotorua, while two rugby league sides, a Senior A and an under-15 team, are heading to tournaments in Takanini Auckland. Hockey teams are competing in North Harbour and Taupō.

Whakatāne High School is sending a girls’ football team to the Grant Jarvis Tournament in Hamilton, and a boys’ side to Auckland for the Malcolm Cowie Cup.

The school’s senior A netball girls team join Trident at UNISS in Auckland and are targeting promotion from division B.

The first XI girls’ hockey team is bound for Wellington, competing in the Federation Cup for the first time in several years, while the boys’ team participates at the Lower North Island Tournament in Taupō.  

Boys’ basketball is off to Tauranga and equestrians are Taupō-bound.

Trident High School tumuaki Mikaere October wishes all the athletes heading away the best of luck.

“Whether on the turf, field, court, track, or arena, you carry with you the support of our school and community,” he said.

“To our girls and boys hockey, girls and boys football, netball, rugby league 1st XIII and U15, equestrian, and cycling teams, go well, go hard, and uphold our values of mākōkō (excellence and striving for quality), atawhai (supporting and caring for one another), and kia manawanui (having courage, resilience, and big hearts).

“We are proud of the dedication you have shown in preparing for this week. Remember, it’s not just about the results but about the way you compete, the spirit you show, and the connections you build.”

He acknowledged the contribution of coaching, support staff and volunteers, without whom the teams could not run.

Boys’ football captain Tait Nelson said they were excited to get down to the South Island.

“We’re optimistic heading in as we have a very talented squad with lots of ability and potential. Although we’re a very young team, this is a great opportunity to give our younger players valuable exposure to tournament football, helping them grow and prepare for the years ahead,” he said.

“At the same time, we want to honour our small group of year 13s and give them the send-off they deserve by aiming to place as high as we can.”

Girls’ football captain Chelsea Kerr said they’d been playing some outstanding football in the lead-up to tournament week and were looking forward to their tournament in Napier.

“Last year was such an awesome experience for us, up at the Auckland competition. We played some great football, had heaps of fun, and made memories we’ll never forget.

“This year we’re aiming to build on that, push ourselves for a strong result, and of course enjoy the whole week together.

“It’s also exciting to welcome some new players into the tournament team, and we can’t wait to see how everyone comes together on and off the field.”

She said their season so far had been positive.

“We finished our season in Division 1 for the Bay of Plenty, which we’re really proud of.

“With lots of new players joining early in the season, we’ve been working hard on building our connections and finding our rhythm as a team.”

Whakatāne High netball coach Te Aorere Walker is excited to get to UNISS after some strong form – a third place in the Tauranga competition and a win in the Whakatāne competition.

“We have been training and building really well and I am so excited to see what the girls can put on the court during tournament week.”