TOMAREE High School has enhanced its reputation as a touch football powerhouse.
Renowned for its sporting prowess in the Port Stephens region, the Salamander Bay-based school’s Year 9/10 Girls touch football team was crowned State champions last week at the Kingsway Playing Fields in Werrington.
Competing at the NSW Touch Football All Schools State Championships, the Tomaree whiz kids pitted their skills against the strongest teams in the state and finished on top.
Under the astute coaching of Deputy Principal Glenn Sproule, the girls defeated teams from Domremy College Five Dock, Pymble Ladies College, James Sheahan Catholic College Orange and Trinity College before slamming St Peter’s College Tuggerah 6-1 in the final to clinch the championship trophy.
The experienced Sproule, who is captain-coach of the Nelson Bay Neptunes’ Mens 40s senior representative touch football side, told News Of The Area that the Tomaree girls’ natural skills, endurance and team spirit shone through in a gruelling schedule.
“They showed incredible skill, teamwork and resilience, backing each other every step of the way,” said Sproule, whose leadership and encouragement throughout the tournament were instrumental in supporting the team to perform at its very best.
The Tomaree High squad was captained by NSW Combined High Schools link Bowey Manning and featured State representative players in talented middles Maebel Colley, Mia McDonald and links Harlow Colley and Cruiz Manning.
Other team members included promising middles Gabby McCallum, Piper Mullins, Maddie Baxter and Bonnie Sproule; links Delainey Borg, Kiola Cheviot, Abby Olatunde, and wings Fern Cullimore and Alyssa Schein.
All the girls are products of Nelson Bay Touch Football Association’s thriving junior nursery and have bright futures in the sport.
By Chris KARAS

