7 September 2023

Congratulations to St Patrick’s School, Geelong West, and Holy Family School, Mount Waverley, which won the primary school state championships in girls and boys soccer respectively, and Our Lady Star of the Sea School, Ocean Grove, which took out the title in boys football.

In an amazing performance from our Catholic primary schools, the teams swept all before them at local, regional and state levels.

Our Lady Star of the Sea School’s team of Year 5 and 6 students won 17 matches in a row to clinch the Australian Rules football championship.

The team took out the district premiership in late May, before winning a further five fixtures in a division competition against Geelong region schools, another four in the regional championships at Werribee, before the state competition in Port Melbourne on 16 August.

Nearly 500 teams competed from government, independent and Catholic schools throughout the stages of the competition.

Coach Sam Scott, who is also an assistant at Leopold Lions FNC under former Geelong champion Garry Hocking and was helped by parent Stephen Cruickshank, said: ‘The kids were amazing. They played as a team, shared the footy around. Every game, there was a different best player.’

Principal Kerryn Sells said she was ‘extremely proud of the sportsmanship, respect and humility the boys showed to all their opposition throughout each and every round’.

Our Lady Star of the Sea School, Ocean Grove won the boys football state championship.

In boys soccer, the Holy Family School team has been lauded as a wonderful group of students who have supported and challenged each other, and bonded tightly along the way.

Amazingly, the boys coached themselves, training every day and receiving strong support from parents, teachers and the whole school community.

Team member Jake said: ‘It was awesome representing our school and opposing tough teams. Before everything happened, we never dreamed this could happen. We were all so excited to be the first Holy Family School soccer team to win the title.’

Anthony said: ‘It was a great experience and I’m so glad I got the chance to go to state. I think the team did an amazing job. We never gave up. Congratulations to all the players that played for the 2023 Holy Family soccer team. You all did great.’

Principal Julie David said she couldn’t be prouder of the boys.

‘While winning the title is an amazing achievement for a small school like ours, we are just as proud of the sportsmanship and leadership the boys showed throughout the tournament’, she said.

The team scored over 30 goals and conceded just seven throughout the tournament.

Holy Family School, Mount Waverley won the boys soccer state championship.

Following on from the recent success of the Matildas, the St Patrick’s School team of Year 6 girls achieved the near impossible by winning the soccer state championship for the second year in a row.

Many of the members of the 2022 team had returned and were determined to go back-to-back.

Team member Serafina said: ‘We were really excited that we made the finals for the second time, and couldn’t be prouder of each other and our school.’

Congratulations to coaches and proud dads, Ante and Joe, who successfully guided the team across both titles.

Principal Luke Sheehan, who was on hand to watch the finals, said he was thrilled not just with the students’ achievements, but also the spirit in which they played the game and the respect they showed for the opposition.

St Patrick’s School, Geelong West won the girls soccer state championship.

Congratulations to all involved in these marvellous sporting achievements. They are a wonderful example of the education and development opportunities available to students across Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools (MACS) schools.