SIS Athletics Winners

On Tuesday 22 august, over 120 enthusiastic students from across all four campuses represented Padua College at the SIS Athletics carnival at Casey Fields.

After weeks of carnivals, team meetings, discussions, selection trials, unexpected injuries and withdrawals, we all hoped our students would excel... and excel they did! Despite tough competition, our students performed superbly by placing highly in a range of events from 100 to 1500 metres, from long jump to discus and much more.

In the end, Padua won seven of the 12 age-group pennants and the Junior and Intermediate Shields, the Boys and Girls Aggregate Shields and the overall Championship Shield. Congratulations to all the students who attended on the day and many thanks for the way you represented the College and yourselves.

Special thanks to the many students that 'stepped up' to compete in events that were not necessarily their forte or those who competed in older age groups. Thanks to Nicole Love, Anna Whittaker, Jenny De Longville and Holly Debnam, for your tireless work over the last five weeks or so and your support prior to and on the day. Also, thanks to the staff that assisted on the day.

Emilio Di Paolo
SIS Sports Co-ordinator (M)

Herald Sun Shield Champions

Last Friday, 1 September, I had the amazing opportunity to represent our College alongside a team of Year 9/10 girls from all four Padua Campuses in the Herald Sun Shield Grand Finals. We took a bus up to Ikon Park, for first bounce at 4:30pm vs Our Lady of Sion College. Sion led the first two quarters, however our efficient clearances in the midfield and a star full forward called Asha, who put through four goals, helped us to come back for a 34-14 win. Scarlett was awarded a well-deserved Best on Ground after having a huge impact on the midfield and scoring Padua’s first goal. It was such a fun night, and I am so proud of all the girls in the team!

By Georgia Goss, Year 10 Francis

Michael Wilson/AFL Photos

Schoolaerobics Championships

Congratulations to the four Padua teams that competed in the Schoolaerobics Australian National Championships in Adelaide in August. Year 8 Mornington team, the ‘Padua Waves’, coached by Year 12 student Mackenzie Dornam and Year 11 student Paige McIvor were outstanding in their category and recorded their highest ever points tally, placing fifth amongst 13 teams. Padua’s ‘Tyabb Tigers’, a trio coached by coached by Sarah bailey, secured Bronze. The Year 9 Mornington ‘Beach Barbies’, coached by Kellie Jolley took home Silver, which was a fantastic achievement. A special mention to the Padua seniors ‘Team Tsunami’, coached by Casie Collier, which had to compete in a more advanced category due to several team withdrawals from the level in which they had entered. The Tsumanis competed against 17 other teams, 13 of which had an advantage of two years, but their performance was phenomenal and they placed third.

Padua Equestrian Team

Wow! What a fabulous year it has been for the Padua Equestrian Team. The Petstock Interschool Show Jumping series is done and dusted and, thanks to some incredible performances by our team members, Padua finished in sixth place out of a total of 57 schools and over 100 horses and riders! We have punched well above our weight, which is in no small part due to the talents of Hannah Lionnet (Year 12 Mercy) and Grace Hamilton (Year 7 Kolbe).

Hannah won the championship series and champion of the most recent round (1 September 2023) in the "Improvers" division on her amazing 22-year-old stock horse mare, Maple, beating other more expensive, “better bred” horses. She also rode her other horse Peanut (Elephant Rock was his racing name) in the “Progressive” division.

As this is Hannah’s last year at Padua, it was also her last time competing for the College Equestrian Team, and therefore I wish to thank her wholeheartedly for representing the College over the past six years, for her dedication to the sport and contributing to raising the profile of the discipline of horse riding in the school. We all wish her well in her equestrian pursuits in the future.

Grace Hamilton has also done exceptionally well this year, coming fourth in the Encourage Division at the same competition on 1 September, which confirmed her final series placing as fifth place overall. A super effort! Grace has also been a consistent and dedicated member of the College Equestrian Team this year and should be congratulated for all her efforts. Horse riding requires much more work than being an athlete in other sports, as you have to train your horse as well as yourself.

Other team members that have contributed to Padua’s overall series placing this year are Piper Peers (Year 11 Francis), Isabel Dixon (Year 11 John XXIII), Alliana Nicholson (Year 9 Cardijn), Seth Staley (Year 10 Francis), Jasmine Lazaar (Year 10 John XXIII) and Issac Staley (Year 7 Geoghegan).

I hope you all continue to compete for the school in 2024.

Ms Gina Thompson
Equestrian Team Manager

2024 National All Schools XC Challenge

Following commendable performances at the recent 2023 Victorian All Schools Cross Country Championships, Padua College athletes (not just those who competed at Bundoora in July 2023) are invited to compete on a national stage at the 2024 National All Schools Cross Country Challenge.

The Challenge, hosted by Schools in Action, will be held in Bendigo, Victoria on Friday 17 May 2024, providing a great start to the cross-country season. Entry is open to any secondary school across Australia. Individuals or teams from four to six students in both boys and girls events may enter. Races will also be held for para athletes in the Under 16 and Under 20 age groups.

For further information please contact the Schools in Action team via email: events@schoolsinaction.com.au or visit https://www.schoolsinaction.co...