Term 4 Wrap

Week 8 of Term 4 sees the conclusion of sport for not only this term but 2025. Term 4 saw 35 students participate Mountain Bike Riding, Junior Girls Cricket, Junior Boys Volleyball and Junior Tennis (boys and girls). I would like to thank the staff that coached Term 4 Sport – Matt Taylor, Wayne Forster, Nikki Hexter and Alan Archbold for their time and expertise, the students certainly appreciated it.

2025 Summary

I would like to congratulate all students who took to the field, court, track, pool and pitch in 2025, be it in weekly after school BAS sport, annual BAS events or external competitions. The willingness and commitment of the hundreds of students who represented the college should all be proud of their efforts and no doubt some great memories were created. To the staff who coached, managed, scored or travelled on a bus, I thank you, without your time and expertise the college’s sport program would not run as effectively as it does, our students are lucky to have you and they do appreciate all that you do.

Damascus Swimming Carnival

Year Level Champions

Damascus Athletics Carnival

Year Level Champions

Damascus Lap of The Lake

Year Level Champions

BAS Athletics

125 students represented the college at the annual BAS Athletics. I would like to thank and acknowledge Mr. Rodney Mathews for all the work he did prior to the event in organising the squad, this is a huge undertaking, thanks Rod. A special mention to Lucy Jones, Year 11, who broke three records (16 and under), which is an outstanding effort.

400m - 1:00.98

800m - 2:18.08

1500m - 4:56.00

BAS Cross Country

60 students represented the college over the course of the Term 3 Cross Country Season. Events included the Road Relay at Victoria Park, Cross Country at Victoria Park and the Lap of The Lake. I would like to thank Mr. Rodney Mathews for all his organisation and support prior to and on the day of each event, his passion and expertise is evident, and our students are very lucky to have him invested in our Athletics events.

Victorian School Associations Competition – Swimming Championships

Luke Gallagher (Year 11), Mason Firth (Year 9), Jonty Ward (Year 8) and Estelle Karslake (Year 8) represented BAS & Damascus at the VSAC Swimming Championships at the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre (MSAC). This is as a result of their strong results from the BAS Swimming Carnival. This is an outstanding achievement, well done.

BAS Tennis Singles Championships

Preliminary rounds

Seniors – Hamish McNaughton, Jack Sproull and Charley Ward.

Juniors – Quinn Grenfell, Flynn Sullivan, Elsie Angove and Pearl Nicholson.

Finals

Junior Girls – Elsie Angove was defeated in the final.

Senior Girls – Charley Ward (championship winner)

Olympic Change-Maker Award (Word count could be reduced)

Joachim Henderson

About the award: This award recognises a student who demonstrates consistent participation and commendable sporting behaviour in line with the Olympic ideals of participation, friendship and striving for excellence. The recipient must models behaviours that are consistent with the ethos and values of the College.

Joachim’s achievements: Joachim has demonstrated great leadership and strived for excellence both on and off the sporting field whilst at Damascus. His involvement in a range of sporting pursuits include representing Damascus at BAS Athletics, Cross-Country events and school cricket. Joah’s contribution to the college’s rowing program is where he has excelled, having rowed for five years, being named Rowing Captain and representing the college at the State and National Rowing Championships.

Sports Person of the Year

Charley Ward

Throughout her time at the college Charley has consistently participated in college wide sporting pursuits with vigor and passion. Charley has excelled in the pool by winning the Year Level Champion award six years in a row, as well as representing the college at BAS level. In 2023 and 2024 Charley represented BAS at the Victorian Schools Association Competition (VSAC) at MSAC. Charley has also participated in the BAS Tennis Singles Championships and claimed the victory in the Senior Girls Division (Henderson Shield) in 2025.

Signing off

As 2025 draws to a close I would like to thank all students and staff who have contributed to the college’s sport program. I particularly would like to thank Pat Dillon and Ellie Meade for all your time, effort and professionalism in ensuring all sporting teams were well prepared, facilities safe, risk assessment complete, uniforms clean and equipment were all in order so our students could have the best experience possible in their chosen sporting field.

My time in the role now comes to a close, it has been an extremely busy but fulfilling two years. I am indebted to everyone who has assisted me as the Sports Co-ordinator and I look forward to still being a part of the Health and Physical Education department and coaching some after school BAS Sport.