The Catholic Weekly 2 October 2022

SPORT WHENOSCARTıkaya received a surprise delivery in the mail, he had no idea how far the sto- ry of his talent had reached. After showing incredible promise in athletics and being deemed ‘the best athlete in the school’ by his peers, there had been discussion about his abil- ity at ASICS. The sportswear brand wanted to contribute to Oscar’s future as an athlete, gifting him a pair of brand new running shoes. The 11-year-old from St John’s Catholic Primary School Auburn began his career in athletics at the age of 6. “I wasn’t that quick, I used to come 3rd a lot but nowadays I just get straight firsts” said Os- car, who is mainly a sprinter but also dabbles in long jump ¾ Tasmyn Haynes Brand goes for Oscar SCHOOL SPORTS and high jump. After pressing pause on his sport due to Cov- id-19, Oscar was back in action this year and began his 2022 journey at his school athletics carnival, where he was victori- ous in all events, saying “all the teachers and everyone were shocked when all my ribbons were first place.” He then progressed through Sydney Catholic Schools (SCS) Conference Carnivals, and the Sydney Championships, go- ing on to compete at the 2022 MacKillop Athletics Champi- onships in the 200m sprint. But Oscar has bigger plans for himself and his new shoes. He wants to “make it the fur- thest I can go” and “learn how to be an athlete because I want to be one when I grow up.” “My dad says ‘no pain no gain’ so it means I have to push myself and if I don’t, I’ll never make it that far” he said. “Sometimes I can be competi- tive against people I know are faster than me or people that can catch up to me, and some- times I just like having fun.” Whenaskedabout the secret to his success, Oscar replied “I have quite a lot of stamina and some people say my legs give me a boost because I’m quite tall.” Now, after ditching his old sneakers for the new black and white ASICS, friends and fam- ily are excited to see his future success and accomplishments in the sport. “They are really good shoes. I use them in school sport too and I usually run all around the playground during break” said Oscar. Heading into his final year at St John’s Catholic Primary School, Oscar’s athletics career is just getting started. With the support of his peers, school, and ASICS, he has the goal of attending the Olympics but also says “I want to be good at sports, and a nice person.” ATHLETICS St John’s Catholic Primary School, Auburn PROMISINGATHLETE OSCARTIKAYA Oscar at his school athletics carnival. PHOTO: SUPPLIED Kevin Chau from De La Salle Revesby shows his form. PHOTO: SUPPLIED Teams were hungry for victory as they entered the final stage of the Sydney Catholic Schools (SCS) Baseball and Softball Competition. The day sported semi and grand finals galore for the Intermediate boys and girls, and following an upset in the women’s division, it was anyone’s game. After the results of the pool games were in, St Clare’s College Waverley weremarked as the favourites of the Softball Competition and would face Mount Saint Joseph’s (MSJ) Milperra in the Semi Final. Both teams had come to play, unexpectedly turning thematch into the battle of the season. MSJ were not backing down and when the final score read 7-3Waverley were no longer in contention for the gold. Although they had just come off the back of an impressive win, MSJ were nomatch for Marist Catholic College Penshurst who defeated them 5-0 in the grand final. The Intermediate Boys saw De La Salle College Ashfield and Marist Catholic College Kogarah go head to head in a competition of ‘who wants it more.’ As both teams were standouts during the round games, this final was thought to be a goodmatch up. Ashfield came out on top in a 4-1 win and claimed their glory. All teams did well in their rain- affected games and that hunger for victory will carry through to next year where athletes can prove their talent once again. ¾ Tasmyn Haynes Mighty hitters dominate Sportswear manufacturer gets in early to be part of a promising athlete’s future SYDNEY CATHOLIC Schools (SCS) brings good news for athletes wanting to represent Australia in Table Tennis. The first SCS Sydney Table Tennis Championship was held, thus beginning to pave the way for the future of the sport. Teaming up with Table Tennis NSW, the tournament brought together 300 competi- tors from 29 schools under one roof to compete in a never-be- fore-seen 50 table event. With the sound of Ping Pong balls echoing in the Sydney Olympic Park Sports Halls, stu- dents faced off in teams of two, playing in singles and doubles Shots fly across the tabletops ¾ Tasmyn Haynes TABLE TENNIS Sydney Catholic Schools (SCS) Table Tennis Championships Senior Girls - WINNER Bethlehem College, Ashfield Senior Boys - WINNER Clancy Catholic College, West Hoxton categories. The traction gained by this event is said to be just what the sport needs to cre- ate Australian Representative pathways. “We need a feeder for the Commonwealth Games and Olympic Games” said Pres- ident of Table Tennis NSW, Tony Aduckiewicz. “If you see some of these kids playing, they’re fantastic. Australia can do a lot better in International tournaments if we have more people at this level that get better and better. We can take them higher and higher.” Along with the goals of im- provingthesportandincreased participation, Tony envisions the future pathways to include an All Schools Championship, NSW Team, and participation at School Sport Australia. Although the sport is not currently offered at School Sport Australia, Schools Coor- dinator for Table Tennis NSW isn’t worried, saying “it is the very top when everyone comes together, but we’ll get there, it won’t be a problem.” After a long day of games SCS sees the need for Table Tennis pathways and looks to deliver. and balls flying in every direc- tion, winners of the Sydney Championship were crowned. The Junior Girls divisionwas taken out by Chloe Cheng and Charmaine Lau from Domre- my Catholic College Five Dock. Sarah Pavlesic and Sofia Katic from Freeman Catholic Col- lege Bonnyrigg Heights won the Intermediate Girls, and star sister-duo Aleksana and Nina Radevic from Bethlehem Col- lege Ashfield dominated the Senior division without drop- ping a set. Walking away with gold in the Junior Boys was St Mary’s Cathedral College Sydney’s Al- exander Guazzata and Ronald Gunawan. Patrick Forester and Kevin Chau from De La Salle Revesby were the Intermediate champions, and the trophywas hoisted high by Mitchell Glas- son and Vincent Ngyen from Clancy Catholic College West BASEBALL Sydney Catholic Schools (SCS) Baseball and Softball Competition Marist Catholic College, Penshurst - WINNER Intermediate Boys De La Salle College, Ashfield - WINNER 5-0 4-1 Hoxton who claimed victory in the Senior Boys. The turn out and spirit shown on the day is promising for the proposed future of Ta- ble Tennis, with SCS planning to turn the event into a 3 day competition next year. Stu- dents should grab their pad- dles andpractise their serves as the sport prepares to be taken to new levels. I have quite a lot of stami- na and some people say my legs give me a boost because I’m quite tall” Ca l l Kat i e on (02) 9390 5402 | www. catho l i c j obson l i ne . com.au Find the career you deserve