BACKIn a season of determination and resilience, the Rangitoto College Premier Boys capped off their year in spectacular fashion, claiming the 2025 New Zealand Secondary Schools Division 1 Championship title. Despite a 4th place finish in both the Auckland league and North Island Championships, the team led by 8 Year 13s and coached by alumni Jake Lockwood and Matthew Morris peaked at the perfect time. They toppled defending champions Tauranga Boys’ and edged out Hamilton Boys’ in a nail-biting 13–12 semifinal. In a dramatic final against Westlake Boys, Rangitoto forced a penalty shootout with a last-minute goal, then coolly slotted all five penalties to claim the national title.
The Premier Girls also had an outstanding tournament, securing 3rd place at Nationals after a strong silver-medal finish at the North Island Championships. Their semifinal was a fiercely contested match against eventual champions St Cuthbert’s, pushing them to the very end. With four Year 13s playing their final tournament, the team rallied to finish on a high and claim the bronze, showcasing both talent and resilience. These results were made possible under the guidance and knowledge of the coaches Chelsea Geary and Ava Cooper.
Meanwhile, our Senior A teams competed at the Division 2 National Championships in Hamilton/Cambridge. The Senior A Boys finished 4th in the country, continuing their strong form after taking 3rd in Division 2 at North Islands. The Senior A Girls recorded several strong victories at Nationals, earning a respectable 9th place finish, capping off a season full of progress and promise. Big thank you to Brandon Matthews, Tom Armes and Caiden Brown who coached these teams this season.
Across all teams, Rangitoto College water polo proved its strength, depth, and rising momentum on the national stage. This couldn’t be done without our team of coaches, many of whom are Rangitoto alumni and the team managers Shannon, Angela, Fiona and Nic. We look forward to seeing our junior teams play throughout the year as they have their sights set on the North Island Cup in Term 4.
