Wednesday 7 May 2025
The Premier Water Polo team wrapped up their most successful season ever with a 3rd place at the Schoolboy National Championships in Rotorua over the holidays. After winning the North Island Championship and placing 3rd in the Auckland League, the team was looking to better it’s previous best of 5th place nationally.
The team got off to a perfect start beating Rosmini College (11-5) and St Kentigern College (16-8) to progress into the top 8 crossovers. A narrow loss to Hamilton Boys High School (10-9) meant King’s had to beat both Sacred Heart College (SHC) and Auckland Grammar School (AGS) to progress to the top 4.
The team bounced back to play their best game of the season against a formidable Sacred Heart and not only recorded King’s first win against them since 2016 but also handed SHC their worst defeat in recent history (14-9).
With one must win game remaining for top 4 King’s played under intense pressure against an energetic AGS where there were four lead changes over the game before an eventual 12-10 victory was recorded and King’s progressed to the top 4 for the first time at the National Championships.
The semi-final vs Westlake Boys High School proved a hurdle too many as King’s went down 14-8 to the eventual runners up of the tournament. The bronze medal match was back against Hamilton Boys where both teams displayed outstanding defence for the lowest scoring game of the King’s season where the team ground out a 5-4 win to take the bronze medal.
The team was further recognised with captain Harry Irwin (pictured far right) (Year 13, Parnell) making the tournament team after a dazzling tournament.
The bronze medal meant King’s medalled at every event during the season and came away with: 24 games played, 1 draw, 4 losses and 19 wins - a fantastic season.
Ben Goodwin - Head of Water Polo