2 November, 2025

High schools’ top sports performers recognised

Jack Buckley has been named Westlake Boys’ Sportsman of the Year after spearheading the high school’s stellar senior rowing performances and representing New Zealand in the under-19 eight at the Junior World Rowing Champs in Lithuania. He won the Under-18 Pair (with George Langley), the Springbok Shield with the Under-18 Four and Maadi Cup with the Under-18 Eight.
• The rowing senior eight was Team of the Year and its coach, Andy Hay, Coach of the Year. Best all-rounder was Ollie Davies for cricket and rugby.

Imani Rasmussen, a Year 11 dual basketball and netball premier team defender, was Westlake Girls’ Sportswoman of the Year. She was in the basketball team that won the secondary schools nationals for a fourth year in a row, then helped the netballers to a bronze medal a week later. Imani was named in the New Zealand Secondary Schools netball team last weekend.
• Junior Sportswoman of the Year was Charlotte Handley, part of the premier sailing team, which was Team of the Year. Coach of the Year was basketball’s Bronwen Davidson. Best Sports All-Rounder went to Charlotte Mawston (basketball, netball, rowing).

Maisey Lendrum is Carmel College’s Senior Sports Woman, chosen as its most outstanding volleyball and beach volleyball player and the school’s senior athletics champion. She was selected for the New Zealand under-20 volleyball development team and was in the bronze-medal-winning North Harbour U19 team at nationals. On the sand, she came second at U19 nationals. Maisey’s school coaching, incuded the Junior B volleyball side and Year 8/2 netball team.
• The Junior Sports Girl was Elyse Llewellin (volleyball and netball). Team of the Year went to Junior Volleyball.

Matthew Dalton is Rosmini College’s Sportsman of the Year, recognised for his place in the premier basketball team for three years and as the 2025 school sports captain. He is a North Harbour representative, now at under-20 level, and this year debuted for the Auckland Tuatara in the National Basketball League. 
• Junior Sportsman was Sebastian Unga, a Year 9 all-rounder who plays basketball, volleyball, tag and rugby and was part of a North Harbour Sevens Championship win. 
The premier basketball team, which placed sixth at nationals, was named top team.

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