ONE hundred and thirty students from 17 New South Wales high schools will
converge on South Bar beach in Newcastle this Thursday 23 March and Friday 24
March for The Mutual Bank High Schools Team Challenge as part of the 2023
Surfest.
The contest is open to senior NSW high school students and has drawn promising
young surfers from high schools in Port Macquarie, Coffs Harbour, Port Macquarie,
the Hunter, Central Coast and Sydney Schools.
Surfest coordinator Warren Smith said the high schools challenge was always a
terrific event for both the participants and spectators.
This contest is open only to NSW High Schools, there is no entry fee and prizes will
be awarded to schools that reach the Final.
Teams will consist of a maximum of five surfers.
“It’s a team event with three to five surfers working together to get bonus points, so
it’s not necessarily the best surfers that win, but the best teamwork,” he said.
“There’s no elimination until round three which makes for an exciting competition and
it’s great to see the students and their teachers working together.”
The students are vying for the honour of a perpetual trophy with former participants
including the world-ranked surfers Matt Wilkinson and Owen Wright.
Defending champions NBSC Freshwater Senior Campus Boys Team and the
Tuggerah Lakes Secondary College Tumbi Umbi Campus Girls Team will be back in
the water this year to contest their titles.
The Mutual Bank’s Chief Member Officer, Matthew Dunnill, said the Hunter-based
bank was proud to be the key sponsor of the challenge.
“The Mutual Bank is all about helping people thrive, and this event with the teamwork
involved, is not only exciting to watch but also supports these prospective
professional surfers by allowing them to play an active role in Surfest,” he said.
Photo attached: Newcastle Grammar School students enjoy the surf ahead of the
teams challenge – Ocean Lancaster (red shirt), Lachlan Smith (white shirt),
Jasmine Old (green shirt) and Charlotte Old (blue shirt).
Participating Schools
Boys Teams
Newcastle Grammar (3 teams)
Gorokan High School
Great Lakes College (3 teams)
Kotara High
Belmont High
Whitebridge High (4 teams)
St Philips Christian College Newcastle
St Pius X High School
Whitebridge High School
Tuggerah Lakes Secondary College (5 teams) Swansea High School (3 teams)
Lambton High School
Cronulla High School (2 teams)
Mackillop College Port Macquarie (3 teams)
Matraville Sports High
Girls Teams
Newcastle Grammar
Belmont High
St Pius X
Swansea High School
Cronulla High School
St Marys Catholic College
Hunter Sports High School
