TENNIS Popularity of tennis continues to grow
Josh Murison, Jack Murison, Connor Heap, Dylan Heap and Will Schneideman.
Connor Heap in action.
Tennis has always been a popular summer sport at College, but the arrival of two sets of brothers has made College one of the top tennis-playing secondary schools across the country.
The Senior A team of Connor Heap and Dylan Heap, Josh Murison and Jack Murison, and Will Schneideman smashed their way to win the Canterbury School team title, the Canterbury Secondary Schools’ Wednesday School Competition, the South Island Secondary Schools’ Competition, and they came third at New Zealand Secondary School’s tournament. Coach Mr Ben Vink says Connor (Year 13) is one of the top tennis players in the country in his age group. He went through the season unbeaten without dropping a set and at Nationals, won 60 games (10 sets) and dropped only four
games, earning him the title of Player of the Tournament. Brother Dylan (Year 10) is also a good player, says Mr Vink, so the combination with Josh and Jack Murison as well as Will Schneideman means the team can play a strong tactical game. “We have had good players in the past, but where we have fallen over is we have never had a great three or four as we now have. We have won a lot of our games through tactics. “Playing tactically leads to greater team spirit and we can have the great mix of senior and junior boys. In tennis, you can
punch well above your weight for your age. For example, Will (Year 9) rarely loses, because he can always return the ball.’’ College has two A Grade sides, eight B Grade sides, six Year 10 sides, six Year 9 sides and some senior boys play social tennis on Wednesdays. Although there is a massive range in ability, every team has a coach and training through Hagley Tennis Club. “We are definitely one of the biggest tennis playing schools in Canterbury,’’ says Mr Vink. “Boys like tennis because it is a relatively quick game in which you are always participating and it can be quite social.’’
Christ’s College Canterbury
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