2006 School Magazine

PhysicalPursuits

PhysicalPursuits Softball Opening and closing the sporting season Each year the sporting season starts and ends with Softball which has a split season where the Juniors played in the fourth term of the previous year and the Seniors in the first term of the following year. Brisbane Girls Grammar School fielded eight teams with six in the Junior Competition and two in the Senior Competition as the largest contingent. The Juniors had a successful season with an enthusiastic group of determined, committed and hard working girls. The 10A Team finished in first position, the first time ever, the 10Bs in ninth, the 9A Team in fourth place and the 9B Team in second place. In the Year 8 competition, both teams finished second. Outstanding Softball talent continues at Girls Grammar as Year 8 girls, Sophie Blackshaw (8O) and Georgie Williams (8R), have recently been selected in the Under 14 Brisbane Team. The Senior As were attempting to achieve their fourth consecutive premiership title this year with new coach and past captain, Ms Kate Martin (2004) at the helm. After starting the season extremely well, defeating their opponents convincingly, the team was in shared first position. Unfortunately, they were narrowly defeated by St Peter’s Lutheran College. The Open Team started this season feeling confident with their new coach, past captain, Ms Michelle Beutel (1996). With three rookie players, Jana Drakoupolis (12H), Alice Nicklin (11W) and Brett Conley (10G), the team played beyond everyone’s expectations and was one of the competitive teams in the QGSSSA competition. Losing by just one run to front-runners St Margaret’s and Moreton

Bay College, the team was definitely not deterred.

beensecondwithoutanunfortunate disqualification. Congratulations must go to the girls who placed first in their events: Emily Young (12G) 17 years and over 50m Freestyle Division C; Hannah Mullen (8M) 13 years and under 50m Breaststroke; Jade Yarbrough (9O) 14 years 50m Breaststroke; Sophie Bailey (10H) 15 years 50m Breaststroke; Megan Mackay (9O) 14 years 50m Butterfly and Beth O’Gorman (9H) 15 years 50mButterfly. Congratulationsmust also go to the Relays Teams who placed first: 14 years Freestyle Division B; 15 years Freestyle Division B and Division A; 17 years and over Freestyle Division B; and the under 15 and 17 years age groups who successfully won their premierships. The success of the Brisbane Girls Grammar School Swim Team for 2006 was a result of hard work, dedication and knowing that the School andour peerswerebehindus.

Congratulations to Clare Martin (11W) who was selected in the 2006 Queensland Under 16 Team, competed at the National Titles in Canberra in January, and was selected in the Open Metropolitan North Softball Team.

Alexander (Sacha) Shannon (12E) Captain

Swimming Girls Grammar swimmers rock the blocks The annual Interhouse Swimming Carnival held at Chandler Aquatic Centre showed the rest of the School the depth and talent of Brisbane Girls Grammarswimmerswithmanygirlsrecordingpersonalbestsandproducing exceptional times.WoolcockHousewontheLilley InterhouseSwimmingCup. With only four weeks to go, the countdown had begun to QGSSSA. The support by the School in the lead up to the first event was amazing. The School was transformed into a sea of blue, with balloons and streamers lining the tables and balconies for ‘Blue Day.’The senior swimmers dressed in flippers, togs, caps and goggles, and waltzed around the School encouraging support for the team. This proved very successful with over 200 permission slips returned. With all the hype and enthusiasm in the air, when Monday 27 March arrived the girls were psyched and ready to face the task ahead. The team performedexceptionallywell placing a very close fourth, whichwouldhave

Melissa Sharpless (12L) and Natalie Davies (12E) Captains

Soccer A kick-start to a great new sport The inaugural Soccer season has kicked off to a great start. Much interest has developed since the first whispered rumours that Soccer

DVD

What started out as three groups of virtual strangers soon developed intounifiedteams.Thedevelopment of firm friendships and team bondingprovidedasolidfoundation that helped bolster our lack of experience in the competition. The first match of the season demonstrated our cohesion with all three teams winning convincingly. For the Juniors, this win was the first of many which led eventually to Girls Grammar’s first Soccer premiership. The Open and Senior teams also performed consistently well, both placing fifth in their respective competitions. The sense of friendship and community formed within the sport has been inspirational. With this fantastic beginning, Soccer at Girls Grammar looks forward to a bright future and hopefully, many more premierships.

was to be introduced as a Brisbane GirlsGrammar School sport.Thiswas especially evident at the trials for the teams where over 200 girls attended. It proved a tough job for our Co-ordinator, Ms Partanen, and the coaches to reduce this number to approximately 45 girls to fill the Open, Senior A, and Junior teams. Although many girls had not played Soccer before, skills were acquired quickly as the coaches shaped the teams, explained the rules, and motivated us to give 100 percent. Some girls adjusted their skills acquired from other sports to suit Soccer, others discovered that you really do need to be fit to run around a field for 60 minutes, others learnt that there is a right and wrong way for a ball to hit your head and others realised that there is a whole new range of shoes that need to be investigated.

Water Polo A successful sport

The Water Polo Club fielded a record fifteen teams in the Brisbane Junior Water Polo Competition. Of the fifteen teams, nine progressed to the semi-finals, with three teams qualifying for the Grand Finals - the Under 13As, the Under 14As and the Under 15As. These teams are to be commended on their fantastic effort. A significant highlight of the season was the Under 14s winning the State Premiership under the guidance and support of Head Coach, Ms Anna Moore (2000). The younger age groups have proven to be very strong, showing great promise for the future. Once again this season, the sports of Water Polo and Swimming combined to form an Aquatics Unit which hosted a camp held in January at the Runaway Bay Sports Super Centre. This was a week full of hard work, fun and team bonding which was thoroughly enjoyed by all. The Water Polo season concluded with the annual Aquatics dinner. This was a wonderful evening in which the prestigious Debby Handley Award went to Alice Smith (9W) of the Under 14 age group. The night was an indication of the hard work, enthusiasm, commitment and teamwork that Girls Grammar Water Polo players have shown throughout the season.

Sally Farquhar (12W) and Emily Young (12G) Captains

Erin Miskin (12L) Captain

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Anna Nicklin (8W) 13Bs

Br isbane Gir ls Grammar School

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