The remarkable golden run of success for Whakatāne Intermediate’s badminton team continued at the recent Bay of Plenty Year 7 and 8 Teams Competition, which brought more than 150 students from across the region to Tauranga.

Schools qualified for the championship through their local regional tournaments, with Whakatāne Intermediate fielding 16 teams, made up of 32 students.

In the Division 1 Championship, the outstanding pairing of Bella Mitton and Myanna Wilshier remained unbeaten throughout the day to claim the top prize.

Their final was a hard-fought battle against schoolmates Kayla Heiberg and Scarlett Holding, who had also gone through the day unbeaten. With each match decided by just five points, both teams showed remarkable skill and composure, with Bella and Myanna taking gold while Kayla and Scarlett secured silver.

The boys’ Division 1 competition was dominated by Bay of Plenty representatives, but Whakatāne Intermediate’s Heath Gallagher and Tyler Barton rose to the challenge, playing matches well beyond their years. Their determination and skill earned them a well-deserved bronze medal.

In Division 2, the Whakatāne Intermediate girls achieved a clean sweep of the podium. Mahly Rikirangi and Liv Stilgoe played outstanding badminton to claim gold, while the pairing of Mikayla Cao and Willow Peden secured silver. The bronze medal went to Toula Haddock and McKenzie Nurrka, capping off an exceptional day for the squad. Not to be outdone, the boys’ Division 2 pairing of Ants Boswell and Marco Carter produced a superb performance to take gold, while Rex Gowing and Logan Owen added silver to the medal haul.

The strong results continued in Division 3, where Maine Smith and Paige Boswell played consistently across the day to earn gold. In the same division, Ariel Barnes and Azrah Mathis added to the team’s tally with a bronze medal in the girls’ competition, while Korbin Cranswick and Ilario Bulakoso secured bronze in the boys’ draw.

Coaches Kendra Lowndes and Will Doney said they were delighted with the team’s results. “We are overwhelmed with the achievements of the team,” they said. “The students have put in so much effort throughout the year, and to see them apply their new learning at such a high-level competition is a fantastic reward for all of this hard work.”

The focus for the squad now turns to next week’s AIMS Games, which will see the team compete in the largest Year 7 and 8 badminton competition in the country.