Sport

Whanganui High School offers a wide range of sports to our students.

We also offer a Sports Performance Programme. This programme targets a selected range of students and offers a more advanced training and support, that will allow them to reach the next level of their athletic performance.

Sports Performance Pathway 2022

Junior Pathway
Every student at Whanganui High School has the opportunity in Y9-10 to access a quality fundamentals programme to equip them for sport. Every junior who signs up for the programme will receive an adequate level of coordination, balance, agility, flexibility, muscle and joint stability to engage in sport. Presented with a play rather than a competition focus.

Senior Pathway
Senior students who are focused on their sport have access to quality advice and support to manage their ongoing development. This will be the performance component. Winter (April-September) general conditioning/athleticism. Summer (Oct-March) athlete focused. Also part of the development will be leadership and coaching.

Goals
Promote the programme in the Y9-10 level to students who need support to stay in sport or who have transitioned out of organised sport. Focus is on being an ‘activity club’ not sport specific components and students will maintain physical activity and sport will be accessible to them if desired.

Athletics

Background
Whanganui High School has a very strong athletics programme, and have shown its great depth especially in sprints in local and regional competitions. A look in the local rankings shows how well our WHS and ex WHS athletes have been going in the sprints. We have five current and two past athletes in the top 8 men's ranking and seven current athletes in the top 8 women's ranking in our local region. We also have three of our students who have made the New Zealand Secondary School team. Athletics also acts as a conditioning base for other codes within the school and many athletes within the programme have gone on to represent the school at high levels in other codes due to their excellent conditioning.

Structure
As well as our annual athletics sports, Whanganui High School students compete and train through the school. We have a year-round programme with emphasis on Athletics in summer and Cross Country and Conditioning during winter. This also fits in with winter sports requirements especially for juniors.

Competitions
Club nights are every Tuesday evening Terms 1 & 4, 6:30pm at Cooks Gardens.

School Athletics this year (whole school, year 9-13) will be held at Cooks Gardens term 1 on Tuesday 28 February.
Whanganui Secondary Schools competition is on Tuesday 14 March.
North Island Championships are in Palmerston North 1-2 April.
N.Z.S.S Champs are in Christchurch 8-10 December 2023.

Training Days: Monday after school will be for Y9 till 4:30pm. Tuesday is club night (optional). Thursday after school for all till 4:30pm and Saturday mornings 9:30am at Cooks Garden or other venues. There is an entry level and performance group to suit age and experience.

Contact: Mrs L Murphy for details or behind the gym on training days @ 3.15pm.

Coaches: Greg Fromont & Elaine Baker

Badminton

Badminton is held in Term 2 and 3 on Fridays after school in the Te Wehi and Te Mana Gymnasiums from 3:30pm - 5:30pm.

Competitions this year:
Juniors - Central 6 competition, Whanganui Secondary School Championship, Junior tournament - Term 4
Seniors - Whanganui Secondary School Championship, Tournament Week - Term 3

We also traditionally have 2 Inter-school competitions throughout the year.

Basketball - Boys

Played on Friday evenings at Springvale Stadium 4:00pm – 8:30pm.

This year our Senior A Boys will be playing in the Competitive League on Friday night vs other Secondary School teams.

Social Teams (both Snr & Jnr) play on Friday nights in the Whanganui Secondary School League.

Practices will be confirmed by the coach.

Basketball - Girls

Played on Friday evenings at Springvale Stadium between 4:00pm - 8:30pm

The Senior A and Junior A teams usually play on Thursday nights in the Premier League.

Social teams play on Friday nights in the Whanganui Secondary School League.

Practices will be decided by coach and each team, and will normally be after school.

Cricket - Boys

The 1st XI play inter-school matches and are in the T20 weekly competition.

We also play Inter-school Sports Exchange matches.

Training is after school on a Friday.

Play TBC - Senior
Play TBC - Junior

1st XI Coaches: Steve Meredith
Junior Coach: Steve Meredith

Cricket - Girls

Girls' Cricket is a developing sport at Whanganui High School.
We have a large 1st XI squad.
No experience is necessary to start playing, just a good attitude and a willingness to participate.

Training is after school for one hour.
Played on Wednesday (tbc).

All equipment is provided and the girls wear PE tops and black shorts/pants.

1st XI Coach: Warren Marr

Cross Country

Structure
As well as our annual Cross Country Champs, Whanganui High School students compete and train through the school. We have a year-round programme with emphasis on Cross Country and Conditioning during winter and Athletics in summer. The Cross Country programme caters for winter sports players.

Competitions
The WHS School Cross Country takes place on Wednesday 10 May at Whanganui High School. Year 9 and Year 10 students will be preparing for this in PE classes.

From the school event, teams will be selected for the Whanganui Secondary School’s competition, which takes place on Tuesday 16 May - Relay Race & Tuesday 23 May - Individual Race.

Our most successful runners will then be invited to represent Whanganui High School at the National Secondary Schools' Cross Country event held in Palmerston North on 8-10 December 2023.

Training Days: Generally, Tuesday and Thursday at school from 3:15pm, with some Saturday morning trainings close to competitions.

Coaches: Greg Fromont & Elaine Baker

Football - Boys

Interschool and Tournament Week games will be played by 1st XI Boys.

There will be occasional interschool games during Terms 2 & 3.

Training is after school on WHS fields.

1st XI Coach: Gary Johnston & Adam Tipper

Football - Girls

1st XI play in the Manawatu Secondary Schools League on Wednesdays in Term 2 & 3.

Training is after school on WHS fields.

1st XI Coaches: Warren Marr & Steve Kerfoot

Hockey - Boys

Most games are played at the Gonville Turf in Alma Road or the Collegiate Turf in Grey Street during the week, with the 1st XI Boys & Girls teams travelling to play in the Palmerston North League.

Practices are at Whanganui High School or at the Gonville Hockey turf after school/evening.

Cost:
1st XI - $360 approx (dependent on turf fees)
2nd XI - $150 approx (dependent on turf fees)
Please be aware that travel costs may be added on for the teams that are playing in Palmerston North. Uniform will be allocated once fees are paid

Equipment: Must have own stick, shin pads and mouthguard.

1st XI Coach: Luke Kirk

Hockey - Girls

Most games are played at the Gonville Turf in Alma Road or the Collegiate Turf in Grey Street during the week, with the 1st XI Boys & Girls teams travelling to play in the Palmerston North League.

Practices are at Whanganui High School or at the Gonville Hockey turf after school/evening.

Cost:
1st XI - $360 approx (dependant on turf fees)
2nd XI - $150 approx (dependant on turf fees)
Please be aware that travel costs may be added on for the teams that are playing in Palmerston North. Uniform will be allocated once fees are paid

Equipment: Must have own stick, shin pads and mouthguard.

1st XI Coaches: Jacinta Manville

Netball

Grades are: Juniors (Year 9 & 10) and Seniors (Year 11-13).

Senior and Junior trials will be held at the end of Term 1 at the Springvale Stadium.

Competitions are on Saturday afternoon at Laird Park Netball Courts in Peat St.

Uniform: PE top and a black skirt purchased from Andersons, 184 Victoria Avenue.
Senior A1 will have a uniform supplied to them.

Practice time depends on the coach but is usually after school.

Senior A1 Coach: Lisa Murphy

Rowing

Wanganui is fortunate to have an excellent facility for all year-round rowing. We have an arrangement with the Aramoho Whanganui Rowing Club with approximately 50 students who are able to take advantage of the facilities and coaching.

If you are interested in Rowing or becoming Coxswain, the sport of Rowing could be your choice of activity whilst at WHS. The Coxswain steers the boat and gives the Crew instruction about their performance.

Practices are either Saturday or Sunday mornings and three or four evenings per week in summer. In Winter coaches run indoor fitness classes where possible.
There will be a ‘Learn to Row’ programme for new Rowers starting in April 2023.

The season starts in September/October and ends in March/April after the Maadi Cup Regatta. Rowers participate in a number of regattas over this time.

Rugby

Most year 9 students who are interested in Rugby play for one of the schools Junior teams.

Please note that Wanganui RFU rules state that students are not permitted to play for a club team unless permission is granted by the Principal.

Trainings will be confirmed once teams are sorted.

Uniform: Students are supplied with a rugby jersey, shorts and socks for each game.

NB: Fees need to be paid prior to the start of the regular season. No pay no play.

1st XV Head Coaches: Mike Lama & Erine Te Waaka
Girls Rugby Coach: Rob Roy

Softball

Our students play in a Inter-School competition at the Braves Softball Park Monday evenings. Training days are Monday before the game 4.30pm-5.30pm.

Equipment: Own glove, WHS PE top, covered shoes or boots.

Coaches: Paul Brewer & Hayden Wilson

Touch

There are trials for a Girls and Boys team you will need to keep an eye on the school daily notices for when they will happen.

We also enter teams in Term 1 for the Whanganui Secondary School League.

Uniform: WHS PE top and black shorts.

Coach: Kerwyn Morgan

Volleyball - Boys

Trials for Junior teams are at the start of Term 1.
Senior Competitive teams trial in Term 3.
Opportunities to create own team also exist for Senior social students.

Practices vary during the week, and will e confirmed once teams are sorted.

All Junior students participate in an Inter-school competition in Terms 1 & 4 at a small cost, run by Sport Wanganui.
Senior Social teams play Term 1 only. Games are Wednesday after school at Jubilee Stadium.
Senior Boys and Girls Competitive teams work towards going to Secondary School Nationals in Term 1 and play in the Manawatu Competition on Tuesday nights in Term 1.

Cost: $10 - Juniors and Social Seniors playing in local competition.
Competitive Seniors: $165 for Palmerston North competition and cost of Nationals is separate (approx $200).

Coaches: Anastasia Tamaniyaga, Shaun Tahana-Tyson, Dave Gough

Volleyball - Girls

Trials for Junior teams are at the start of Term 1.
Senior Competitive teams trial in Term 3.
Opportunities to create own team also exist for Senior social students.

Practices vary during the week, and will e confirmed once teams are sorted.

All Junior students participate in an Inter-school competition in Terms 1 & 4 at a small cost, run by Sport Wanganui.
Senior Social teams play Term 1 only. Games are Wednesday after school at Jubilee Stadium.
Senior Boys and Girls Competitive teams work towards going to Secondary School Nationals in Term 1 and play in the Manawatu Competition on Tuesday nights in Term 1.

Cost: $10 - Juniors and Social Seniors playing in local competition.
Competitive Seniors: $165 for Palmerston North competition and cost of Nationals is separate (approx $200).

Coach: Katrina Thompson

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(*) Last Reviewed: June 27, 2022

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