From the Co-Curricular Department

SAPSASA Carnival

On Friday 23 August, the College sent 24 athletes to represent us at the annual SAPSASA carnival at Bridgestone Stadium in Salisbury.

The bus was filled with excitement as students prepared for a full day of competition, with each athlete participating in up to three events across track and field. Our students showed great team spirit, cheering each other on alongside supportive parents.

Despite the changing weather of sun, wind, and rain, all events were completed successfully. Notable performances came from Violette Piscioneri and Sam Turner, who won 1st place in the 1500m and High Jump, respectively. Frankie Whiteman, Sam Turner, Nick Eddington, and Sukti Patel also performed well, securing 2nd and 3rd places in events such as Long Jump, Discus, and 100m.

This success positions our students for selection in the District team, where they will compete at the State Championships at Mile End Stadium on 16 and 17 September.

Congratulations to all our athletes for their dedication and hard work.

Sergio Gaoni
Sports ESO - Junior School

Knockout Netball

Saint Ignatius Crowned School Sport SA's Netball Knockout Champions Saint Ignatius College has made history by winning the School Sport SA's Netball Knockout Championship with a thrilling 3-point victory against Reynella on last Tuesday.

This year marked the second time Saint Ignatius has fielded an all-male netball team in the School Sport SA Knockout Carnival. In 2022, the team made a valiant first effort, using the experience to understand the competitive standard of netball within our school circuit.

Having had a taste of the competition previously, the boys entered the tournament with a winning mindset. The team, consisting of ten dedicated student-athletes, volunteered their lunchtimes for training and team-building sessions under the guidance of former students Will O'Callaghan (Class of 2022) and Alec Davis (Class of 2015), Program Leader Sonia Nolan and Program Manager Miriam Doyle . Their commitment to mastering the strategies and skills of the game was truly commendable, transforming them from a group of athletic young men into a cohesive netball team.

Meet Our Champions:

• Angus Crosby
• Marc Antony Iasiello
• Alexander Kalleske
• Hayden Kerley
• Riley MacDonald
• Reid O'Callaghan
• Caleb Playford
• Seb Rice
• Leo Thomson
• Jordan van den Heuvel

The competition spanned three rounds, beginning in July with a round-robin tournament. Our boys defeated Marryatville, Cedar College, and Gleeson College, advancing to the second round. This was their first time playing together on the court, and their preparation was evident. Their teamwork, positive culture, and netball prowess led to three well-deserved victories. The semi-final against St Francis De Sales was held at our home court, where the boys played with intensity and determination, securing a significant win in front of their peers.

The finals series took place on Tuesday, August 27, at Netball SA Stadium. Despite facing injuries, the team fought hard, securing three consecutive wins in the minor finals against Modbury, Reynella, and Scotch College, remaining undefeated as they entered the grand final against Reynella. The final match was a testament to how far our team had come, showcasing the exceptional skills of both schools. Our unstoppable defensive trio—Caleb, Leo, and Alex—consistently fed the ball to the midcourt, where Riley, Jordan, and Marc skilfully delivered it to star shooters Angus and Reid. After 40 minutes of intense play, the boys clinched a two-goal victory to win the championship! They celebrated their win with grace, showing respect for the umpires, their opponents, and the sport itself.

Reflecting on the tournament, coaches Will and Alec, both accomplished netballers, expressed immense pride in witnessing the boys wholeheartedly embrace the sport with an exceptional attitude. Men's netball continues to grow both locally and nationally, and we are incredibly proud to support our students in being part of its development.

As an extra reward for their hard work, each player from our team received a personal invitation to trial for the Southern Dragons (the South Australian Men's and Mixed Netball teams) for their upcoming 2025 national tournament.

If any students or family members are interested in participating in men's netball, coaches and old scholars Will and Alec invite the Saint Ignatius community to join them at the upcoming Matrics Netball Club Boys Netball Clinics and Training. Register your interest here or contact head coach Matthew Harrison at matt@harrisonkitchens.com.au

Alec Davis
Coach

SACSSGSA Athletics Carnival 2024

On Tuesday, 27 August, 50 students from Saint Ignatius' College proudly represented the school at the Catholic Girls Athletics Carnival. Facing strong competition from prestigious schools, our students were eager to excel and vie for the title.

The athletes delivered outstanding performances in both track and field events, demonstrating their ability to thrive under pressure against some of the best competitors.

Throughout the day, Saint Ignatius' College remained a strong contender for the Overall Shield. The suspense grew as announcements were delayed, keeping everyone on edge. When the results were finally revealed, Saint Ignatius was declared the winner, marking our first victory since 2015. The announcement was met with an eruption of cheers from both students and staff.

A special highlight was Eva Di Iulio's selection for the 100m Championship race, showcasing her exceptional talent.

Congratulations to the U/14 participants who won the Age Group Shield.

This triumph is a testament to the hard work and dedication invested in our athletics program. Congratulations to all involved for this fantastic achievement!

Matthew Panos
Senior School Sports Coordinator

Intercol 2024

Saint Ignatius’ College pursued their fourth consecutive Intercol title in 2024 but narrowly lost to Mercedes College, 11 shields to 10. Congratulations to the following teams on successfully winning their shields:

• Girls and Boys Cross Country
• Senior Chess
• Open A Hockey
• Open A Girls and First XI Boys Soccer
• Open A Table Tennis
• Open A Netball
• Open A and B Basketball.

Students from both colleges displayed exceptional spirit and performance across sports and Arts and Activities, contributing to a fantastic atmosphere and many close results. Their support for each other and high level of competition were commendable.

Intercol commenced on Monday, 19 August, with Open Girls and Boys Cross Country. Both squads demonstrated strong pace and running strategy, resulting in both teams backing up last year’s double triumph by retaining both shields this year.

There were four shields on Tuesday night, Chess, Hockey and Debating, with 2 shields going either way. The Open A Hockey team dominated possession, showed incredible poise and quality finishing to claim a convincing 12-0 victory. In Chess, we secured wins in all 5 of the Open A games and 4 out of 5 of the Open B games. Mercedes claimed the double in Open A and B Debating.

A spirited crowd at Marden Sports Complex saw our First XI Girls and Boys soccer teams entertain us with some amazing soccer. The girls played superbly well, showcasing some blistering fast soccer, winning 4-2 thanks to a brace from MVP Lara Karanicolou. The boys’ match was an entertaining affair, after some stodgy defending and great saves from goal keeper Tumbi, Ollie Budin found space outside the box, dribbling past two defenders and putting his left foot shot into the top corner. The crowd exploded with joy as Ollie found his way into the grandstand with his school mates. A tense second half saw Mercedes pressing but were unable to score passed Tumbi. A cool finish from the penalty spot but MVP Atem, finished off the 2-0 victory.

On Thursday night, our Table Tennis players were able to maintain their dominance from last Intercol and claimed and impressive 38-2 win for the Fr Terry Kelly Shield, making it three wins in a row against Mercedes. The Netball fixtures were kicked off by a strong Open C Netball match. The girls fought hard, but Mercedes broke away in the second half, winning the match 31-13. Next up were our Open B team who, despite strong efforts across the court, were unable to match the intensity of Mercedes and eventually fell 33-15. The Open As lined up against a formidable Mercedes outfit. The match was a see-sawing affair, with momentum swings throughout the game. The intensity in the final minutes was immense and the huge crowd was riding the ebbs and flows on the game. It came down to the wire and scores were level at the end of regulation. Both schools had chances to win, in such an evenly matched game, it went to double overtime where shooters Tahlia Jolly and Ella Pacor finished with cool heads and lead the team to victory 44-42.

The scene was set at Norwood Oval for a stellar Friday night of Football. Heading into the Football shields, the Second XVIII were underdogs in their fixture but came out playing a physical brand of football, kicking the opening two goals. Mercedes rallied and went into half time with a comfortable lead. A massive third quarter gave the boys hope, but unfortunately, Mercedes was too good in front of goals late in the piece to win. The Open A girl’s game was a tense affair and defensive battle early on. Mercedes jumped out of the blocks in the second half running away with the game. The First XVIII boys were in for a tough Intercol battle. Mercedes came out hard and despite some strong individual efforts and periods of positive transition play, it was a tough loss for the team after winning the previous five Troy Broadbridge Shields.

The final day of Intercol brought the fixtures that would decide the Intercol shield. Third XI Soccer boys played a game of two halves, after going down 4-0 in the first half, the team fought back to 4-3. A late push to equalise didn’t go the team’s way, falling short of a penalty shootout. Our Second XI girls played a great brand of soccer, creating lots of chases and, in the end, both goal keepers made fantastic saves to send the match to a decisive penalty shootout. Mercedes were clinical from the penalty spot and won the match. In the Second XI, a sluggish start cost the team in the end, falling 4-0 down in the opening half. With their backs against the wall, the boys pushed hard forward scoring three quick goals. The match finished a 4-3 loss.

To conclude Intercol, the Wolves needed to win all three shields to retain the Intercol trophy. An electric crowd witnessed three fantastic Basketball matches. The Open C Basketballers had a tough first half and were unable to claw their way back, losing 42-22. The Open B game was close and tense for all four quarters with neither team able to break away. The Ignatius boys dialled up their defensive intensity in the second half and were able to secure a fantastic win 34-21. After winning the Division 2 Grand Final the week before, our Open A team were confident in winning their Intercol tie for the fifth year in a row. Strong play from Angus Crosby and Hayden Kerley along with a balanced offense ensured the shield stayed at Manresa Court.

Congratulations to everyone involved in a successful Intercol for both schools. Thank you to the staff and coaches who worked with our teams in preparation for and at Intercol and to the many supporters who turned out across the week to support our teams with great energy and spirit.

Matthew Panos
Sports Coordinator – Senior School

Aaron Dohse
Arts & Activities Coordinator - Senior School

Congratulations to the MVP Medal winners:

Please click HERE to view the latest Junior School Sports Reports.

RoboCup

On Monday, 26 of August, the Junior School Innovative Technology students participated in the RoboCup Junior competition at Saint Peters College. This is an annual state competition, where student work in small teams to compete in the categories of Sumo, On Stage or Rescue.

The students involved have been working towards their chosen category since the beginning of the year, exhibiting excellent coding and problem-solving skills, with a high level of collaboration. All teams performed well, with several perfect rounds.

Congratulations to Zekai Xu, Terry Guo and Samuel Li for winning the Lightweight category of Sumo. Their Sumo robot battled valiantly in the arena against other robots and won the day with superior coding skills.

Xenia Iona, Lee McNamara & Caroline O’Halloran
Innovative Technologies Co-Curricular Team