Hillcrest High offers all students the opportunity to become actively involved in a wide range of sports and embrace the SPARC directive to encourage students to compete in a variety of sports. With over 100 teams entered in local competition spread across over 40 sporting codes, whether they seek competition, attainment of excellence, fitness, the chance to learn new skills or simply good fun, we offer something for everyone. We are proud of the success of our students as individuals or teams as they stamp their mark on the sporting landscape. Each year numerous Hillcrest High sportsmen, sportswomen and teams go on to achieve regional and national championships, rankings and representation. We are also fortunate to have a number of staff, qualified coaches and members of our community involved in our extensive sports programme.  

SPORT AT HILLCREST HIGH

PROGRAMMES, ACTIVITIES, OPPORTUNITIES AND RECENT ACHIEVEMENTS IN SPORT:
Virtually all students who wish to be part of a team are placed unless there is a restriction by local associations on the number of teams entered. In many instances trials are held for team selection. No team is entered into a competition unless there is an adult/coach/manager allocated to a team. Hillcrest High School adheres to the principles of fair play – ‘play hard but play fair’.
There is a cost associated with each sport.

The following sports are offered at Hillcrest High School:

WAIKATO SECONDARY SCHOOL SPORTS AWARDS:
Hillcrest High School embraces the SPARC directive by encouraging students to participate in a variety of sports. We are typically well represented as individuals or teams at these significant regional sports awards. Hillcrest High School students have been winners of the All Rounder of the Year for the following years: 2004 - Evelyn Horomia (netball, touch, basketball, volleyball, athletics), 2005 - Kate Trebilcock (volleyball, soccer, hockey, cricket, athletics, swimming), 2007 - Oliver Leydon-Davis (badminton, cricket and athletics), 2008 -Michael Fowke (athletics, badminton, duathlon, road race, x-country, tennis, orienteering) and 2010 - Felicity Leydon-Davis (cricket and tennis). In 2003 current Silver Fern, Laura Langman, won the coveted Sportsperson of the Year for her netball exploits. Lee Bronkhorst won Junior Sportsman of the Year (judo) in 2006 and Krista Whitewood (volleyball) in 2008.

TOURNAMENTS AND SPORTS EXCHANGES:
A major winter sports exchange against Howick College has been taking place for over 30 years. It involves all our first teams on an annual basis. In November our top junior teams participate in a summer exchange against Pakuranga College. We began a new exchange with Rosehill College in 2009.

MAJOR SPORTS PROFILES:

BADMINTON
45+ students participate in competitive or social badminton - mostly in our school gymnasiums. Senior students and staff are involved in running these events. Our students regularly achieve highly at Waikato Secondary School Championships, and we have a huge representation of Waikato players and several nationally ranked players. Our outstanding senior boy’s team won NZSS in 2007, our girls won in 2009. Several students have represented NZ at age group and Oliver Leydon-Davis at senior NZ level.

BASKETBALL
Our premier boys, qualified for Nationals in 2004, 2006 and 2010. We have 5 teams competing in 2011 including one representing the ILC.

CRICKET
Through a very effective club structure, the Hillcrest High Cricket Club is able to offer the following to cricketers: three practice nets, use of Westpac Trust indoor facilities, winter small group coaching and an annual prize giving. Hillcrest Girls 1st XI was runner-up in NZSS in 2011after winning the WSS competition. Heidi Arndt and Felicity Leydon-Davis were selected in The Spirit.

CYCLING
Three girls have been selected in NZ Age group teams after placing in National Competitions. Julia Main is in NZ U19. There is an active group of keen cyclists who train together on a regular basis.

HOCKEY
Hillcrest has six teams in 2010 - four girls and two boys. Having an astro turf surface at the school for practice has made the game more affordable and available for potential players. Ex-pupil, Clarissa Eshuis began representing NZ Women in 2004. Kayla Wilson represented NZ U17 at the Youth Olympics in Singapore. Hillcrest Girls 1st X1 won the Chica Gilmer trophy in 2009, Marie Fry in 2010 and in 2011 will compete in the Federation Cup for the top16 teams in NZ.

LACROSSE
A very successful girl’s team competed in the Auckland Champs in 2011.

MARTIAL ARTS
Several students each year compete successfully in International competitions in judo, karate and tae kwon do.

NETBALL
Hillcrest has 14 teams competing at Minogue Park each week. An effective development programme to ensure future success of netball at Hillcrest is in place. Four players have represented NZSS in the last seven years. Laura Langman was selected in the Silver Ferns squad while still at school in 2003. Hillcrest won the NZSS Championships in 2003. Many girls gain representative status. Hillcrest set up a club in 2008 to increase opportunities for the netball fraternity. Five girls have gained selection in selection in Aotearoa SS in recent years.

ROWING
Rowing is growing in popularity in NZ schools and Hillcrest is no exception as more boys and girls become involved. The Hillcrest High Rowing Club provides excellent training from the coaches, former School Rowers, which have helped the Rowing club achieve success in recent years. Winning medals at the North Island Secondary School Championships (NISSC), KRI Competition and multiple ‘A’ finals at Maadi cup since 2009, their best season is 2011. Hillcrest High School Rowing have provided several rowers to the regional performance centre, a precursor to national level rowing, an honour to be selected.

RUGBY
Since the Rugby Club was set up in 2007; there has been an increase in the number of players and an improvement in the equipment and culture. In 2011 we have teams in the 1st XV, U15 and U14 grades.

FOOTBALL
Football also has a strong club to assist in management and organization. The club is instrumental in increasing funding, organising the annual 5-aside tournament and prize giving. Our girls have consistently finished in the top 10 at the nationals and gained third and fifth place in 2005 and 2006 respectively. Our boys’ 1st X1 is currently lying in the top 4 in the WSS premier division. Hillcrest currently fields 11 boys and 5 girls’ teams.

TABLE TENNIS
A young table tennis team represented Hillcrest for the first time at NZSS in 2009. We look forward to great results in the next few years. We currently have 5 teams in the WSS Competition.

TENNIS
Twelve students have so far been involved in competitive tennis in 2011, with interschool matches played on Wednesday afternoons. The tennis highlight was the Hillcrest team gaining 4th place at the nationals in 2006 after winning the local mixed competition.

VOLLEYBALL
Hillcrest had 10 teams competing at various levels in 2009. Regularly one of the top volleyball schools in the Waikato, our boys and girls teams have enjoyed success at national level. In the last six years our girls have regularly finished in the top 12, gaining 5th, 3rd, 5th and 2nd place respectively in 2003, 2004, 2008 and 2009 and were runners-up in 2010. The boys were 5th and 3rd at NZSS in 2004 and 2005. Several students have gained North Island and national representation including Krista Whitewood who was named in the NZ Women’s Team in 2009.

WAKA AMA
Hillcrest High School sends a crew to NZSS each year. Several girls have been selected to represent Aotearoa in the World Indigenous Champs.

YACHTING
Hillcrest is consistently placed in the top 3 in the Burgess Trophy. They were the champions in 2009.

Enquiries regarding sport should be directed to Mrs Keren Priscott, Director of Sport.