High performing sports students recognised

Some of the Bay of Plenty’s elite young sportspeople were recognised on Thursday night as family, friends and members of the sporting community gathered to celebrate the successes of five athletes who received High Performance Sports Scholarships from Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology.

Among the athletes are national champions representing a range of Sport New Zealand recognised sports, including running, golf, endurance mountain biking and athletics.

The High Performance Scholarships are open to all students studying any full-time programme at Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology who are competing at a national or international level in their sporting code.

Mike Dudson, High Performance Sports Manager, said it was fantastic to see so many different sporting codes represented amongst the scholarship recipients.

“The students who were awarded scholarships should be really proud – they must be congratulated on their hard work and dedication. It’s a privilege to be part of the students’ journey to success.”

Guest speaker, NZ Beach Volleyball Olympian and former High Performance Sports scholar, Sam O’Dea, reminded the students it’s important to have balance and to have a life outside of sport.

“Don’t let your sport define you because if something happens, an injury or perhaps when you’ve finished playing, you’ve got to have something to fall back on where you feel like you’re progressing in life and living other passions.”

“If I could give advice to my younger self when I was a scholarship recipient in 2009, it would be to turn up every day. Sometimes you’re going to get out of bed and you’re not going to feel good and you turn up for training and things don’t go well. There are many things that can affect that. But turn up – whether that’s to training or to class – and give your best every time.”

Winners of the 2017 scholarships include former Tauranga Girls’ College student Lauren Clarke (Squash), Tauranga Boys’ College Old Boys’ Keegan Wiltshier (Golf), Tristen Haycock (Endurance Mountain Biking), and Ethan Holman (Athletics), and former Bethlehem College student Morgan Ball (Duathlon/Running).

Past High Performance Scholarship recipients also include New Zealand’s fastest man, Joseph Millar, who has just broken both the 100m and 200m sprint records, and Amy Robinson, who made her debut for the Black Sticks hockey team in 2016.

For more news about Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology, New Zealand’s third largest ITP, visit www.toiohomai.ac.nz