An Outstanding Year of ŌTC Sport Celebrated!
From national titles and international podiums to exceptional leadership and years of service, there was plenty to celebrate at the 2026 Ōtūmoetai College Sports Awards on Wednesday 28 October.
The evening recognised the talent, determination and sportsmanship of our student-athletes, alongside the people who help them succeed. Across our sporting codes, cups, trophies, Honours and Blues celebrated both outstanding performances and meaningful contributions to sport at our kura.
Sports Leaders Pauline Beetz and Chelsea Olesen helped set the tone for the evening, with Delamare Langton leading the opening and closing karakia and Mr Wilson guiding proceedings as MC.
It was also a privilege to welcome former student and Olympian Moss Burmester back to Ōtūmoetai College as our guest speaker. A Commonwealth Games gold medalist and world short-course swimming champion, Moss’s journey from our school to the world stage provided an inspiring connection for our current athletes. His presentation of the swimming and surf lifesaving awards made the occasion particularly special.
Our 2026 Premier Award Winners
- Senior Sports Girl of the Year — Ella Wilce
Ella added a second Premier Award to her evening, recognising her achievements across canoe slalom and taekwondo. Alongside her international paddling campaign, she won her elite sparring division at the Big Boss International Taekwondo Tournament in Taiwan and received a Best Kyorugi Player award.
- Senior Sports Boy of the Year — Willie Rossouw
Willie’s contribution stretched across indoor volleyball, beach volleyball, basketball and athletics. He helped the Senior A Boys Volleyball team finish fourth in Division One nationally, contributed to Senior A basketball, earned the beach volleyball Most Valuable Senior Boy award and became our Senior Boys Athletics Champion.
- Joint Junior Sports Girls of the Year — Georgia Duske and Daisy Ruthe
Georgia and Daisy repeated their shared success from 2025! Georgia excelled across swimming, surf lifesaving, hockey and cross country, collecting national medals and earning development squad selections. Daisy’s exceptional season included national secondary school 1500m and national under-20 3000m titles, alongside individual silver and team success at the national schools cross-country championships.
- Junior Sports Boy of the Year — Kieran Hutchison
Kieran claimed this award for the second consecutive year, demonstrating outstanding versatility across water polo, rugby, cricket and adventure racing. His highlights included national tournament recognition in water polo, Bay of Plenty under-16 rugby selection and captaining the Barbarians under-16 team.
- Bob Addison Cup: Excellence in an Individual Sport — Ella Wilce
Ella’s canoe slalom achievements took her from national success to the Junior World Championships in Poland, where she reached the K1 semifinal and finished 22nd out of 64 competitors.
- Crowther Cup: Excellence in an Individual Sport — Arthur Crimmins
Arthur retained the Crowther Cup following an outstanding beach sprint rowing season. After winning three gold medals at the New Zealand Beach Sprint Championships, he represented New Zealand in China and finished fourth in the world in the under-19 men’s solo.
- Glen Jackson Supreme Service to Sport Cup — Liam Oakes
Five years in the Boys’ 1st XI Hockey team, more than 100 appearances, and a legacy of leadership, encouragement and commitment made Liam a deserving recipient. Helping his team win the Founders Cup and secure promotion to the 2027 Rankin Cup fulfilled an ambition he had held since his junior years. Liam also received the first ŌTC ceremonial cap, recognising his remarkable service.
Success Across Our Sporting Community
The evening also celebrated memorable team achievements: our junior girls’ cross-country national titles, the Girls’ 1st XI Cricket team’s historic third-place national finish, the Boys’ 1st XI Hockey team’s Founders Cup victory, and the Senior A Boys Volleyball team’s fourth-place national result.
Blues recognised excellence across a wide range of sports, while 12 Principal’s Award recipients were acknowledged for national representation or equivalent outstanding international achievement: Arthur Crimmins, Vincent Fabert, Vans Gasapo, Cadence Grant, Jasmine Griffiths, Adelle King, Hannah Lines, Beau Marsters, Nika Pankratova, Ayla Radley, Ella Wilce and Nathaniel Young.
Congratulations to every award recipient. Your achievements, commitment and pride in representing Ōtūmoetai College have given our community so much to celebrate.
A heartfelt thank you to our coaches, managers, Teachers in Charge, volunteers, whānau and supporters, and everyone who helped bring the awards evening together. Behind every sporting achievement is a team of people giving their time, energy and encouragement.
Ka mau te wehi, ŌTC — what a year of sport!
Principal’s Awards recipients
Mark Aldcroft (TiC Boys Hockey) presenting Liam Oakes with the first ŌTC ceremonial cap.
Moss Burmester (Guest Speaker), presenting the swimming award to Georgia Duske
Junior Girls’ Cross-Country
Girls’ 1st XI Cricket team
Boys’ 1st XI Hockey team
Senior A Boys Volleyball team
Thank you to our two Sports Leaders – Chelsea Olesen & Pauline Beetz. Thank you Delamare Langton for the karakia.
NISS Te Ika a Māui Rugby 7s
🖤🤍 Well done, boys!
After two days of tough competition at the NISS Te Ika a Māui Rugby 7s over the weekend, our Barbarians finished runners-up in the Shield final! 🏉
A huge thank you to our coaches, managers and supporters for the time and energy you put into supporting these young men. We couldn’t do it without you.
Back to work now, with Condors only a few weeks away! 💪
🍕🏐 PIZZA FOR A PURPOSE! 🏐🍕
DOMINO’S BURETA IS BACK SUPPORTING ŌTC SPORT! 🙌
Our Senior A Boys and Girls Volleyball teams are heading to Australia in December to compete in the Australian Volleyball Schools Cup, and we need your support!
📅 WEDNESDAY 11th NOVEMBER
📍 DOMINO’S BURETA
🍕 ALL DAY – BREAKFAST, LUNCH & DINNER!
Every pizza purchased throughout the day will help raise funds for our student-athletes as they prepare to take on some of the best school volleyball teams from across Australia and beyond! 🇦🇺
So give yourself a break from cooking, grab a pizza (or two!) and help our teams on their way!
A massive thank you to Domino’s Bureta for once again getting behind our rangatahi and ŌTC Sport. ❤️💙
EVERY PIZZA MAKES A DIFFERENCE! 🍕🔥
Spread the word!
🏆 2026 ŌTC WINTER SPORTS – UNIFORM RETURN 🏆
What a winter season it’s been! From the courts and turfs to the fields and gyms, our ŌTC student-athletes have represented the school with pride throughout 2026. 🖤💚
Now that the winter season has wrapped up, it’s time to get those uniforms back home!
👕 Please return your ŌTC winter sports uniform to SHED ONE as soon as possible.
Have a quick look in the wardrobe, sports bag, car, laundry basket… or wherever else it may have ended up! 😄
A massive thank you to all our players, coaches, managers, whānau and supporters for another fantastic winter of ŌTC Sport.
REGISTER NOW
The 2026 NEW ZEALAND SECONDARY SCHOOLS TRACK & FIELD, & ROAD RACE CHAMPIONSHIPS are on 11th, 12th, & 13th December 2026 at Cooks Gardens – Whanganui.
If you’re interested in entering for Ōtūmoetai College, please fill in the below registration form.
https://forms.gle/aMwoWDCr1CfY5iVj6
Any questions, please email sport@otc.school.nz
⚽️ 2027 TERM 1 FUTSAL GIRLS – EXPRESSION OF INTEREST ⚽️
Keen
Calling all ŌTC girls who are keen to represent Ōtūmoetai College in Futsal in Term 1, 2027! 🙌
We’re getting an early start on preparations, with Lilly Muspratt running three Selection Squad sessions in the Action Centre during Term 4.
📅 Saturday 31 October | 3.00pm–5.00pm
📅 Saturday 7 November | 3.00pm–5.00pm
📅 Saturday 21 November | 3.00pm–5.00pm
Whether you’re an experienced futsal player or keen to put yourself forward for the 2027 squad, we’d love to hear from you.
Interested? Complete the Expression of Interest form.📧 Any questions, please contact dplayford@otc.school.nz
Get involved, get on the court and put your hand up to represent ŌTC Sport in 2027! 💪⚽️
🏏 CRICKET IS BACK AT ŌTC FOR 2026/27!
We’re excited to announce that ŌTC Cricket is back for the 2026/27 season, with Sam Owen taking the helm and leading cricket here at ŌTC.
Sam has been at the heart of ŌTC Cricket for a number of years and brings a genuine passion for growing the game at our kura. His focus is on creating more opportunities for our student-athletes to train, compete and represent ŌTC, while building a cricket programme that can continue to grow in the years ahead.
This season we are looking to field 1st XI Boys, 1st XI Girls, Junior Boys and Junior Girls teams, with a programme designed to provide considerably more cricket for our players.
What are we working towards?
🏏 Regular school-based cricket training
🤝 Four or more school exchanges, including opportunities against schools such as St Peter’s Cambridge, Rotorua Boys’ High School and Waikato Diocesan
💪 Cricket-specific Strength & Conditioning, beginning in Week 7
🏆 BOP Secondary Schools Cricket Championships
🏏 1st XI Cup competition
Whether you have represented ŌTC previously or are keen to get involved in cricket for the first time, we want to hear from you.
If you would like to play cricket for ŌTC this season, please complete the short registration form below. If you have already registered, thank you — you’re all sorted!
Cricket is back. Pull on the jersey and be part of what we’re building at ŌTC. 🏏
🏋️ Term 4 Strength & Conditioning
The Term 4 S&C timetable is ready. Sessions run from Weeks 1–9, with options for athletes competing now and those preparing for next season.
Summer sport athletes can attend their weekly sport-specific session to maintain strength and speed alongside training and games.
Winter sport athletes can use Sports Academy to build strength and movement skills ahead of next season. There are five session times to choose from; attending twice a week is recommended.
Game Ready offers coached speed and agility development on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, 4:15–5:00 pm.
View the Term 4 timetable and sign up for S&C or Sports Academy through the Strength & Conditioning page.
School Physio
Care for your body with our school physiotherapy service…
STRONGER TODAY. PERFORM BETTER TOMORROW. 💪🏽🟢
At Ōtūmoetai College Sport, we believe physical development is not an “extra” — it is an essential part of helping young athletes thrive.
New research reviewing 17 randomised controlled trials across team sports found that structured strength training can:
✅ Reduce injury risk by 30–70%
✅ Improve sprint speed, jump height and power
✅ Enhance movement quality and resilience
✅ Support long-term athletic development and wellbeing
Most importantly, the evidence shows these benefits are especially valuable for youth athletes involved in sports such as football, netball, volleyball, rugby and basketball.
Our ŌTC Strength & Conditioning Programme is designed to do exactly that:
🏋🏽 Build stronger, more resilient athletes
⚡ Improve movement efficiency and athletic performance
🧠 Develop confidence, discipline and physical literacy
🛡 Help reduce preventable injuries and time away from sport
High performance is built over time — not just during a season.
That is why we strongly encourage all ŌTC student-athletes to commit to year-round physical development alongside their sport-specific training. Consistency matters. Quality movement matters. Long-term development matters.
Whether students are aiming for representative honours, premier sport, or simply wanting to enjoy sport for longer and perform at their best, structured S&C training provides the foundation.
- Stronger athletes.
- Healthier athletes.
- Better prepared athletes.
For more information regarding our Strength & Conditioning programme please use the following link – Strength & Conditioning at ŌTC
To read the research paper in full please use the following link – Strength Training : Injury & Performance
SPORT Noticeboard and Digi Screen
All your current Sport information is on the Action Centre Sports Noticeboard and Digi Screen. Location is opposite the netball court.
Ōtūmoetai College Alumni
We are looking to start an alumni of any previous students of Ōtūmoetai College – if you would like to be included, please click on the link below.
