GPS Open team representatives with Director of Football Coach Nottage with Christian Aukuso, Jake Weinstein and Sam Lewis, Mr Andrew Taylor (left) and 1st XI coach Mr Terry Palapanis (right). who were part of the victorious NSW Schools squad. Footballers do the Basketball snares College proud on national title representative stageJake Weinstein, Sam Lewis (both Year 12) and Christian Aukuso (Year 11) represented Newington College is very proud of footballers the NSW Schools team coached by Newington’s from our 1st XI and 16A teams who received Director of Basketball Mr Rex Nottage at the representative honours during the AAGPS season, School Sport Australia Combined Basketball including a record number from the Opens team. Championships in August. These results are a fitting reward for the years of dedication these The team played 7 games in 6 days and finished with an unblemished boys have shown in developing themselves and contributing to the record in the preliminary rounds, putting them at the top of the Football program. group. A semi-final victory over Victoria led the team to a much- anticipated match-up against Queensland, a team NSW beat in The following boys made it into a GPS team and participated the preliminary rounds by one point. in the Combined Independent Schools (CIS) Secondary Football The team found itself down 21–0 with two minutes to play in the first Championship at Valentine Sports Park in Glenwood, the quarter. According to Coach Nottage, there was a lid on the basket headquarters of Football NSW, in May. at the NSW end while Queensland could not miss. However, the New South Welshmen stayed the course, chipping away at the deficit until OPENS: U16S: by the start of the third quarter it was even. The last quarter saw NSW Jordan Harrity Taliesin Dorigo overpower Queensland to win 86–76 and secure the championship. • • It was an unbelievable game and tournament. • Louis Ryan • Lachlan Critchfield Edward Herron Anthony Arancio Sam and Christian were selected in the Australian All Schools team as • • a reward for their outstanding performances and Christian was named • Dimitri Vallas • Stylianos Vasili MVP of the tournament. • John Argy • Joshua Lakkis Jake, the NSW team’s captain, said: ‘It was a surreal experience • Alex Papadopoulos being able to represent the school alongside Sam, Christian and Coach Nottage as part of the NSW Schools basketball team. I thoroughly Apart from playing for silverware and the title of 2022 NSWCIS enjoyed playing with the group and to win the national championship Champions, players also competed for selection in the NSWCIS was a feeling like other. It was a true reflection of the hard work and teams to compete at the NSW All Schools Championships against dedication that the team put in.’ NSW Combined Catholic Colleges (CCC) and NSW Combined High Schools (CHS) teams at Valentine Sports Park in June. Congratulations to Coach Nottage and the boys for this fantastic achievement! John Argy (Opens) and Lachlan Critchfield (Under 16s) were rewarded for their outstanding performances with selection in NSWCIS teams. Thank you to Mr Rex Nottage for his assistance in writing this article. Mr Andrew Taylor Director of Football Service| News Spring 2022 | Stanmore 7–12 | 29