Sports Student Testimonials

Sporting Achievements

Our students share how our teachers and coaches have enhanced their skills and enabled them to be successful in achieving their sporting goals.

Joe Leith

Rangitoto College has been instrumental to my success as a sailor. In 2024 my sailing partner Josh Ferrissey, who is a fellow Rangitoto Year 13 student, and I won a bronze medal at the 420 class Open World Championships held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Additionally we placed 5th at the 2023 Youth Worlds regatta also held in Brazil. We had further success in 2024 winning the National Championship, North Island Championship, Auckland Championship and Sir Peter Blake regatta. Currently I sail the 29er skiff having just changed class and achieved 2nd place at the New Zealand Nationals. I am competing in Kiel week in Germany and the 2025 European Championships in Italy in the next few weeks.

In 2024 I collected the Yachting NZ Young Sailor of the year award, North Harbour Junior Sports team of the year award and the College Sport Auckland Young Sportsman of the Year trophy. In 2025 I received a North Harbour Club AIMES Scholarship award.

International competition requires me to take time off school, and I am very grateful that the school is as aspirational for me as I am. My teachers are always willing to support me to achieve my academic goals and work around my sailing commitments when they arise. They are open to arrange assessments at different times, give me workbooks to do on any subjects I am missing, help arrange my course to suit, and follow up with any questions I have when I get back. I am truly fortunate to be at a school where the staff are so willing to support my all-round success.
Rangitoto College also offers a great competitive sailing experience with a well-resourced and supported team that has been national champions three times in the last five years. In 2024 I was proud to captain the team to a silver medal at the secondary school national championships. I also play both 1st XI hockey and 1st XI cricket and have had great experiences in both teams.

Devyn Golaboski

A significant aspect of my experience at Rangitoto College over the past few years has been my involvement in indoor and beach volleyball. Through the staff and the opportunities, the college has provided, I have had the chance to experience a range of high-level competitions up to the international level.

Originally new to the school in Year 10, the volleyball community cultivated at Rangitoto College gave me amazing students to meet and create friendships with, which have become some of my closest relationships. Not only did the enthusiasm and dedication of the teachers and coaches involved in the volleyball program create a sense of family, but they also allowed me to strive to be the best athlete and individual I could be on and off the court.

With this commitment comes many volleyball seasons, adding up and lasting all year round, with lots of hours spent training and playing tournaments. While dedicated to this competitive level of volleyball, I also have goals to achieve the International Baccalaureate Diploma, a rigorous and academically challenging program, in hopes of attending university in the States. These endeavours are only possible due to the continuous support from Rangitoto College’s teachers and staff. Despite many competitions interfering with my school attendance, I am appreciative that they have only shown assistance and encouragement while always helping me achieve my academic and sporting goals; their actions allow me to be an effective student-athlete.

Thankfully, this has translated into great results over the past few years. For indoor volleyball during recent years I have been on the senior premier team, we have competed in three New Zealand Secondary School (NZSS) national finals, winning two of them. One of which was a big moment as it was a double gold with the boys’ senior premier team. These were historic results for the college. We also had an amazing opportunity to travel to Gold Coast, Australia, to play in the Australian Schools Cup. The boys and girls winning first place in the highest division. The success in Rangitoto College’s volleyball opened the door to many other teams, such as the U17 and U19 indoor inter-provincial teams representing Harbour, as well as a successful club season with open women, winning the national title during the New Zealand club championships.

As for beach volleyball, I was recently successful with my partners from Rangitoto in winning gold in the Senior Grade NZSS beach volleyball nationals two years in a row, and winning the Year 11 Grade previously, as well as the U17 beach volleyball inter-provincial tournament. The school’s consistent support throughout these tournaments set me up for the international stage as I was selected to represent New Zealand in the U19 Asian Championships held in Thailand last year, presenting amazing learning opportunities and further developing my game.

Following this, previous support from the school helped me to achieve my aspirations of representing New Zealand in the U20 Junior Women’s team, travelling to Japan later this year. This experience will give me the opportunity to develop my skills against competitive teams in Japan and play international volleyball, which will help towards future scholarship opportunities.

Overall, Rangitoto College has given me amazing opportunities to be the best athlete I can be while pushing me for excellence in my academic studies, and I am so grateful.