Geraldton students shine in country week’s successful return

Students and teachers from Geraldton travelled down to Perth last week to represent their high schools at the annual Senior High Schools Country Week events.

Geraldton schools had success in various basketball, netball, volleyball and hockey events.

The event was hosted by School Sport WA, and there were 3000 students and 380 staff from 46 schools across the State for the week of competition.

Because of COVID restrictions and circumstances the event has not been held since June 2019.

The students competed in AFL, basketball, netball, dance, hockey, indoor cricket, speech and debating, touch football, soccer and volleyball.

Games were held in the Mt Claremont area at the Bendat Basketball Stadium, UWA Sports Park, Gold Netball Centre, HBF Stadium, King St Arts Centre and Seamer Sports Centre.

The week concluded on Friday with finals for all sports.

Teams from Geraldton Senior High School, Champion Bay Senior High School, Geraldton Grammar and Geraldton Christian College all sent large cohorts of students and adults to participate in basketball, volleyball, netball, hockey speech and debating and dance.

Coaches were delighted with their teams’ progress through the competitions, with schools’ social media accounts brimming with reports of “resilience”, “respect” and “aspiration”.

Geraldton Grammar Schools’ country week co-ordinator Rachel Opalinski was delighted with her school’s attitude and performance during the week.

“The teams all finished the week on a high but also very tired,” she said.

“The week was very successful and the students’ positive attitude and behaviour both on and off the court were greatly appreciated by all staff.

“The hockey and netball teams finished top of their divisions. All students’ skill and intensity improved every game every day.”

Country week is an important event for all schools, not only for sports but for the development of student relationships. All schools fill their week with trips to Perth landmarks and event centres.

Bounce, Optus Stadium and various shopping centres all played host to groups of excited Geraldton teenagers and their teachers.

All schools had success in their competitions.

Geraldton Senior High School won the boys’ basketball B-division and placed second in both the girls’ E-division volleyball and the girls’ E-division netball.

Geraldton Christian College dominated in the volleyball competition with both their boys’ and girls’ teams winning their grand finals in straight sets against experienced sides.

The girls’ team took out their rivals at Geraldton Senior High School 3 sets to 0.

Champion Bay Senior High school did not make any grand finals but had plenty of spirit across all their competitions, with their boys’ basketball team narrowly missing out on victory in the final game.

Geraldton Grammar School had success across the board and were unlucky not to win their C-division girls’ netball grand final.

BREAKOUT

Full results for all Geraldton schools:

Geraldton Senior High School

Boys’ basketball: Grand final winners B-division

Girls’ volleyball: 2nd place E-division

Netball: 2nd place E division

Champion Bay Senior High School

Boys’ basketball: 8th place B-division

Boys’ volleyball: 4th place E-division

Girls’ volleyball: 6th place D-division

Netball: 8th place C-division

Dance: Joint 6th place A-division

Geraldton Grammar School

Boys’ basketball: 7th place E-division

Girls’ basketball: 7th place D-division

Boys’ volleyball: 5th place E-division

Netball: 2nd place C-division

Hockey: 2nd place C-division

Geraldton Christian College

Debating: 8th place A-division

Girls’ volleyball: Grand final winners E-division

Boys’ volleyball: Grand final winners D-division

Boys’ basketball: 5th place E-division

Girls’ basketball: 8th place D-division