Victor Ludorum Isaac Munro and Victrix Ludorum Maddy Gordon with Headmaster Patrick Drumm and Guests of Honour Taylah Hodson-Tomokino, Kyle Harris, Karl Te Nana and Isaiah Papali’i.
Team of the Year, Premier Boys Softball, with coaching legend Stu Kinghorn.
Maddy Gordon was named Victrix Ludorum and Isaac Munro Victor Ludorum, at the 2017 Sports Prizegiving Dinner at Alexandra Park on Wednesday, 25 October.
The Team of the Year was Premier Boys Softball, and the boys’ and girls’ awards for Outstanding Achievement in Sport were presented to Orienteer Mitchell Cooper (left) and Swimmer Brearna Crawford (right).
Maddy received her award for excellence in Athletics, Netball, Swimming, Volleyball and Cross-Country. She was also the joint winner of Senior Girls Athletics Champion with Grace Jale. Isaac Munro was named Victor Ludorum for his success with the Premier Boys Softball Team, winning the top Skiing award, and excellence in Swimming, Waterpolo and Rugby.
The Premier Boys Softball won the NZSS title for the fifth consecutive year this year. Mitchell Cooper represented New Zealand at the World Orienteering Championships in Italy and came 6th. Brearna Crawford, still only in Year 10, has won multiple Gold medals in a number of Swimming competitions in New Zealand and Australia, while setting new Auckland and New Zealand records.
Guests of honour were Albertians Kyle Harrris, Taylah Hodson-Tomokino and Isaiah Papali’i, who were interviewed as a panel on stage by Commonwealth Games gold medallist and MAGS parent Karl Te Nana.
Kyle Harris is a Premier Rugby referee, was named Auckland Sevens Referee of the Year this year and in November will officiate at the Dubai Sevens. Taylah is a BMX champion, has represented Samoa on the World Rugby 7s Series circuit, and works part time for Sky Sport between university study. Isaiah went straight from Year 13 last year to a contract with the Warriors, having won the award for New Zealand First XV Player of the Year after helping MAGS win the 2016 New Zealand championship. Former NZ Rugby Sevens player Karl Te Nana won a Gold medal at the 2002 Commonwealth Games, is now known as a commentator for Sky Sport, and has a daughter in Year 10 at MAGS.
The group shared memories of their time at MAGS, and how the school has prepared them for success in their careers. Kyle works in marketing and Taylah has graduated from Auckland University with Commerce degree, is now completing a law degree and also works part time as an auditor at KPMG.
“MAGS taught me the discipline you need to achieve in both sport and work,” said Taylah. “It sets high standards, and it’s worth aiming high because that will prepare you to succeed in the real world.”
Kyle spoke of the transferable skills between sport and work, saying how learning to be a referee had given him tools to manage staff and set standards.
Their comments followed on from those in the speech by Headmaster Mr Patrick Drumm, who said the school’s primary focus was in “growing good people.”
“Sport provides us with the opportunity to set a broad values base to build character, discipline and other skills that can be transferred to the classroom. We expect our students to use their success in the sporting arena to fuel their academic endeavour.”
Departing Director of Sport Mr David Long was farewelled in a speech by former Associate Principal Mr Paul McKinley, who returned from his new role as Principal of Glenfield College to pay tribute to his long-time colleague. Mr Long, who has been Director for a combined total of 17 years, and his wife Chris, who has worked at MAGS for six years in the Advancement Office and as a Mathematics teacher, were praised for their dedication to serving the school, and the lengths they have gone to in helping students reach their potential.
Blue Caps were presented to 47 students who had won Premier Auckland or New Zealand titles, and 32 Black Caps to students selected to represent New Zealand.
Following the awards to the top members of each sport, there was acknowledgement of four students who had played at Premier level for all of their five years at MAGS – Swimmers Katherine Grozev and Flynn Oberdries, Footballer ‘Alosi Bloomfield and Athlete Paige Witehira.