Top secondary school Officicals and Coaches acknowleged
BUSY REF: WHS student Charlie Brown was named Official of the Year at the Whanganui Secondary Schools Sports Awards at Cullinane College.
Winners of the coach and official of the year at The Hits Whanganui Secondary Schools Sports Awards 2017 are both from mainstream sporting codes.
Coach of the Year went to Wanganui Collegiate's Zeal Hanna, assistant coach of the senior boys' rowing squad.
Surprisingly, there was only one nomination for this category, but Hanna was such a worthy contender, the judges had no hesitation in awarding him the title.
Hanna assisted with all major boats in A finals at Maadi Cup and the bronze medal winning under-16 coxed four at the North Island Secondary Schools regatta and the under-15 coxed four that was fourth at nationals.
Hanna is one of the most successful coxswains in recent times at WCS. He coxed the 2016 eight to first in the A final, for only the second time in eight years.
After a successful coxing career, he dedicated himself to being an assistant coach for the senior squad.
He gave up countless hours for the development of his peers and all without being paid a cent. In fact, he paid to come away to the regattas to coach while all other adult coaches travelled for free.
Official of the Year was awarded to Charlie Brown, a tireless football fan who has been invited to officiate on many occasions by New Zealand Football.
Brown is a qualified level two football official, a level one assistant referee and a level one futsal official.
These duties have included refereeing at several secondary school tournaments at a national level, where Brown has had to apply to take time off school to allow him to do this.
Brown referees school age, women's and men's league football on Saturdays and Sundays.
He has also been asked to referee at the national age group federation tournament and national women's games in December.
Brown received mulitple awards for the Whanganui group at the 2017 Central Football Awards for his refereeing and one as a player.
A special mention was made of speed stacker Jasmine Anthony.
She was given a Recognition of Achievement award for her time as a New Zealand representative.
Anthony has maintained her skill for speed stacking for many years and has been selected to represent New Zealand for the past three years.
She has competed locally, nationally and internationally.
Anthony has maintained national records in the 15-16 female age group, gaining second place overall at the 2017 national sport staking championships and first in the relay.
By Iain Hyndman
Wanganui Chronicle 2/11/17