The 2024 Respect Cup had SHC and SJC travelling to MARS stadium in Ballarat to again showcase the amazing talent in girls’ football. SHC was set the task of bridging the 9-point loss of SJC to St Pats. Despite the very warm conditions making things uncomfortable, the SHC team battled hard all day and did not give up until the final siren. Not only did they manage to bridge the 9-point gap, they also broke away to a 27-point lead.

Final score:

SHC – 7.5.47

Loretto – 3.2.20

Goal kickers:

Eleanor Walsh 3, Mekah Morrissy 2, Evie Albones 1, Milla Wall 1

Best on ground:

Meg Lappin - Had some well taken and crucial intercept marks at Center Half Back. Meg’s rebound kicks out of defence set up some important moments for the team overall.

Best:

Mekah Morrissy – Lead from the front all day, battled hard despite being tagged (unsuccessfully) and even kicked 2 crucial (and impressive) goals herself.

Jasmine O’Donnell – Crucial in defence in the first half and stopped several goals on her own accord. The running intercept mark she took was a highlight of the day.

Kate O’Brien – Rucked well with an impressive vertical leap all day. Was the main reason our midfield had so much of the ball, and also took some strong overhead marks.

Evie Albones – Dangerous every time the ball came near her. Went in hard and got her own ball on many occasions, also finished with a well-earned goal to her name.

Jayde Morrissy – Ran hard on the wing all day. Had some very tough ball gets and most importantly got over to help out her teammates all day, a true team first player.

Tara Trethowan – Used her speed off the half back line, the sight of Tara collecting the ball and breaking through the pack was a regular occurrence throughout the day. Also jumped into the midfield at times and gave her all.

Lila Burns – Solid in defence, did not let anything past her. Held strong when the opposition was attacking hard and showed just how tough she is on the field.

Every SHC player on the field contributed in some way, shape or form to the win - it was a true team effort. They all made the coaching staff, as well as their school, very proud. A special mention to all of our Year 12 students who stepped up as leaders across the day assisting all of our players in rising to the occasion. 

The future of women’s football is in great hands with the current generation coming through, and we cannot wait to see them on the Local, Representative, State and National stage in the years to come.

2024 Respect Cup team:

Rio Smith and Laura Ahearn have had some amazing results lately in their rowing competitions. 

Laura reflects on their amazing success below:

Rio and I are very proud to now be the State Champions for the Year 10 Double Scull after our win on Saturday 2 March. We have had a few other wins this season but this one is the most exciting so far. 

Over the summer, Rio and I worked really hard, training on water, at the beach and at the gym and we competed most Saturdays leading into March. Winning in a sport like rowing can be extremely difficult as there are so many different clubs from schools in Melbourne as well as Ballarat. Our coach, Jeff Watt, has had a long association with the Sacred Heart Rowing Club and we are very lucky that he has helped us with technique, strength and fitness over the season. 

Rio and I also have the privilege of rowing a boat named the 'Leisa Wilson' which is dedicated to a much loved friend of many and past rowing coach of Sacred Heart, who passed away in 2017. 

The success of our season has come about through the support from Laura Schouten, who oversees the rowing club, Ms Negro and the school. 

We are very excited for the final regatta of the season, the Head of School Girls from 15-17 March. We look forward to cheering on all of our rowing crews and hope to see some of you at the Barwon River cheering us on too.

My favourite moment from the weekend was getting our medals on the podium with the girls from Genazzano and Corowa.

Congratulations Laura and Rio, we are so proud of you both!

This year our SHC swimmers representative team competed in the All Schools Swimming Relays, held on Monday 4 March at the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre.

Students and staff headed up on a bus together. All students came prepared to race and were very supportive of one another, cheering and clapping throughout the events.

Sacred Heart College were very competitive in all relay events against the best schools in Victoria. The students should be very proud of their efforts. Well done!

I would like to say thank you to all students who came along on the night and a special thanks to staff Casee Graham and Steph Ellis for organising the team before the competition.

Team:

Julia de Lima, Isabela de Lima, Emma Henderson, Elodie walker, Evie Lee, Juliette Mason, Ava Neill, Matilda Norman, Charli Hill, Sienna Lucas, Natalia Muises-Khoury, Imogen Hall, Macy Lee, Amelia Shell, Georgia Caracella, Olivia Carey, Maggie Clatworthy, Jamie Flanagan, Sian Hughes, Chloe Walsh.

Results in Heats:

14 & Under Medley A – 20^th

14 & Under Medley B – 25^th

14 & Under Breaststroke A – 18^th

14 & Under Breaststroke B – 23^rd

14 & Under Backstroke A - 19^th

14 & Under Backstroke A - 24^th

14 & Under Freestyle A – 21^st

14 & Under Freestyle B – 27^th

15 & Over Medley A - 20^th

15 & Over Breaststroke A - 14^th

15 & Over Breaststroke B - 17^th

15 & Over Backstroke A - 24^th

15 & Over Backstroke B - 28^th

Girls Freestyle A - 19^th

Girls Freestyle B – 23^rd

Girls Freestyle C – 25^th

On Monday 6 March, eleven students took part in the CGSAV Division 1 Diving competition held at MSAC. Sacred Heart had a very successful day with the overall results showing great individual and team spirit. 

The SHC Divers finished 3^rd overall to OLSH and Avila.

Results: 

Juniors 2^nd, Intermediates 2^nd and Seniors 5^th.

Individual Results:

Babette Lloyd - Junior A, 3^rd 

Lyola Hill - Junior B, 3^rd 

Zoe Van Dremul - Junior C, 1^st 

Tessa Kanellos - Junior Emergency

Allegra Kuc - Inter A, 4^th 

Remi Butcher - Inter B, 1^st 

Winter Davies - Inter C, 3^rd

Sarah Starinskas - Senior A, 6^th 

Lucy Crooks - Senior B, 3^rd 

Scarlett Birrell - Senior C, 6^th 

A big congratulations to all students who participated.

A huge thank you to Miss Bianca Holt and George Niewman for organising and supporting the diving team and our trainee Mia Carroll.

Team: Babette Lloyd, Lyola Hill, Zoe Van Dreumel, Tessa Kanellos, Allegra Kuc, Remi Butcher, Winter Davies, Sarah Starinskas, Lucy Crooks, Scarlett Birrell.

Bianca Cheever, Sport Co-ordinator

Congratulations to the following students who recently attained exceptional achievements:

• Congratulations to Year 12 student Asher Bayles who has been selected to represent Australia at the prestigious Pacific Rim Championships in Cali, Colombia, from 26 - 29 April. This is an outstanding achievement by Asher and we wish her all the best at the competition.

• Congratulations to Year 12 student Chloe Leen who has been offered a place on the Australian team for the 2024 International Tetrathlon which is to be held in the United Kingdom from 23 July to 12 August. We wish Chloe all the best at the competition.

Congratulations to all our rowers who participated in the 2024 Head of the Schoolgirls Regatta over the weekend 15-17 March. It was perfect weather for the competition, and SHC was well represented by some outstanding rowers.

Particular congratulations go to the following students for their amazing results:

Beatrix Hearn - Bronze medal for the Open School Single Scull 

Laura Ahearn and Rio Smith  - Gold Medal for Year 10 Double Scull 

Chloe Meyers and Zoe McCardel - placed 4th in the A Final, just off a medal in the year 10 double scull 

Gemma Crook and Riley Dalley - placed 4th in the A final, also just off a medal in the year 9 double scull

Thank you to all who represented the College, showing great determination and exceptional rowing skills. Our rowers included:

Ella Robinson, Gemma Crook, Chloe Meyers, Matilda Host, Scarlett Mapleson, Emma Sexton, Emilia Ucho, Rikki McMaster, Ines Douglas, Evie Omer, Laura Ahearn, Tilly McNamara, Zoe Schoemaker, Zoe Van Dreumel, Meher Sandhu, Lola Thomas, Charlotte Schouten O’Bryan, Zoe McCardel, Poppy Haxby, Ava D'Orsa Kerr, Annika Baranski, Sasha Baranski, Eden Smith, Zoe Lister, Riley Dalley, Zara Taylor, Beatrix Hearn, Ayla Atasever, Eloise Boyle, Rio Smith, Ruby Davey.

Thank you also to all those who helped support the rowers on the day, including those who headed down to Barwon River to cheer them on.

Please see the official results for SHC from the Rowing Victoria website below:

Year 10 students Cedar Davie and Ivy Burns have both featured in recent surfing articles. In the March 29 edition of 'Swell' magazine, the talented surfers were celebrated for their commitment to, and skill in, the surfing world. Well done, Cedar and Ivy!

Swell Magazine, March 29 2024

Swell Magazine, March 29 2024