Mid-Term Winter Sport Update
Following the June long weekend break from Co-curricular Sport, it is a timely opportunity to reflect on the strong start many of our winter sporting teams have made across the School.
Soccer
Soccer has also begun strongly with three Senior School girls teams and three boys teams representing Westminster this season. The Girls First XI have made an impressive start in the Premier League competition while the boys teams have also performed strongly and may be regraded into more challenging competitions as the season progresses.
Our Prep Soccer program continues to grow, particularly within girls participation, with four Year 2–6 girls teams competing this year compared to just one team two years ago. The continued improvement across the program has been pleasing to watch, highlighted recently when all four girls teams recorded victories on the same evening. Participation and retention in Soccer remain exceptionally strong across the Prep School.
Girls Badminton
Our Girls Badminton team has approached the season with outstanding positivity and determination. While results have at times been challenging, the players have consistently demonstrated courage and a willingness to keep improving each week. It has been great to see some of our Senor Boys Badminton players out at training to lend a hand.
Netball
Our Senior School Netball program continues to thrive with 26 teams representing Westminster each week. Many teams have enjoyed early season success and it has also been exciting to launch our new Premier League Pathway team, which produced a remarkable upset victory over the Premier League team in Round 2. Congratulations also to Senior netballers Anna Goad and Elouise Nordhausen who have missed some School netball commitments while representing the Adelaide Thunderbirds in the Super League Reserves competition.
Our Prep School Netball program has also made a positive start to the season with strong participation and enthusiasm across all year levels. With eight teams involved, including our youngest students competing in the Year 2 Coastal West Sports competition, it has been wonderful to see the rapid improvement and enjoyment across the program. One of the highlights continues to be the support provided by our Senior School students through coaching, umpiring and mentoring at trainings and game days.
Football
Football continues to grow strongly in popularity for both boys and girls at Westminster. With nine Senior School boys teams and three girls teams, participation numbers are at record levels. Our girls teams have competed with tremendous spirit throughout the season, with the Mid Girls team enjoying an excellent start and continuing to develop strongly as a group. It has also been pleasing to see the growth of girls football at Westminster, with increasing participation and enthusiasm across all year levels.
The boys teams are competing in Division 1 this season, providing many challenging opportunities against strong opposition. While results have at times tested players, coaches and families, the resilience and determination shown across the program has been impressive. A season highlight was the First XVIII trip to Melbourne, where the team recorded a comprehensive win against a strong Geelong College team before experiencing some memorable football at the MCG.
Prep Football has also enjoyed a positive start to the season with six teams competing in the SANFL Juniors competition, the highest number Westminster has entered. The strong attendance at trainings throughout Terms 1 and 2 has been evident in the development of our younger players and it has been pleasing to see families so actively involved in supporting teams and building a strong sense of community around Saturday morning sport.
Boys Basketball
Boys Basketball has also experienced significant growth this year following the return of Old Scholar Jarryd Hoppo as Basketball Coordinator. Like Football, all basketball teams are competing in Division 1 competitions and have made a strong start to the season. The positive culture and energy within the program has been reflected both in player engagement and on-court performances, particularly from our Mid A and Senior A teams.
Sailing
Finally, we wish our State Championship-winning Sailing team all the very best as they prepare to compete at the National Championships in Hobart during the upcoming School holidays. Westminster has a proud and longstanding tradition of success in Sailing, with teams regularly competing on the national stage. Our current squad has continued that tradition with an outstanding season and we look forward to following their progress as they represent both the School and South Australia against the best sailors in the country.
One message we continue to reinforce with students and families is that sport is about far more than the scoreboard. The value of School Sport is often found in the friendships built, the commitment shown to teammates and the lessons learned through both success and disappointment.
A quote from author of best-selling book Atomic Habits, James Clear captures this idea particularly well:
“The loser has more in common with the winner than with the person sitting on the sidelines. The winner and the loser each had the courage to try. Both were willing to face uncertainty. Both were stubborn enough to continue.
Success is endurance in disguise. It belongs to the person who can absorb the losses without absorbing the identity of loser. It is the courage to start — and to stick with it — that is the real separator. Results tend to find the person who stays in the game.
The sidelines are safe, but sterile. Nothing grows there.”