ACG Parnell College

Senior Sportsman of the year - Hamish Young

Hamish’s dedication and commitment to sport has seen him excel in a wide range of sports both in and out of school. He has been a key member and co-captain of the 15th grade football team, often playing a variety of positions in matches from attack to defence, showcasing his leadership and talent on the field. In addition, Hamish’s dedication and skills were instrumental in the success of our Senior A Boys Volleyball team, which placed third in the Central Zone. He also contributed significantly to the school’s top table tennis team, which won the A3 Grade in the Term 3 inter-school season. Hamish obtained a 92% individual win record, the second best in the competition. Hamish was also a member of the school’s very first Senior Ultimate Team that competed in the Auckland Secondary School’s Ultimate Outdoor Championships. Beyond the school gate, Hamish plays Futsal in the Auckland U17 Grade where his team secured a third-place finish in term 1, 2 and 3.

Senior Sportswoman of the Year - Isabella Xia

Isabella has shown exceptional versatility, commitment and dedication to sport in 2023 that has led to outstanding results in many of her sports.
As a dedicated member of the U17 Girls Basketball team, the Senior A Girls Volleyball team that placed third in the Central Zone, the senior Ultimate team that competed in the Auckland Secondary School Indoor Championships, where she was one of only two girls in the team, and the combined Girls Ultimate Team with Hobsonville Point Secondary School, Isabella has consistently demonstrated her talent and commitment to sport at ACG Parnell.

Not only did she excel in these team sports, but she also shone individually at the Auckland Secondary School Snowboarding Championships, where she placed 4th in Dual, 5th in race and 6th in slopestyle, placing her fifth overall in a highly competitive Senior Girls category.

Isabella’s sporting achievements extend beyond school as well. She holds a black belt in Karate and is the Auckland Champion for Kumite. Her achievements at the Auckland Karate Classic where she secured two golds and 1 bronze in age group and senior open events, again highlight her talent in the sport of martial arts.

And, if that wasn’t enough, Isabella’s athleticism extends to running, where she won the Auckland 10km Run Series for 14–16-year-old Females.

Junior Sportsman of the year - Cameron Karpik

Cameron’s outstanding achievements in Swimming and invaluable contribution to ACG Parnell’s swimming success has seen him awarded Junior Sportsman of the Year for 2023. Cameron played a key role in ACG Parnell’s remarkable achievement of finishing as runner up in the top co-ed school category at the New Zealand Secondary School Swimming Championships, with four national titles. Cameron secured first place in the 50, 100 and 200m Breaststroke events for 14-year-old boys. His times in all three races now see him as the fastest 14-year-old male swimmer to compete in these events at the National Secondary School Championships. Cameron was also a member of the Medley Relay team which won the U16 National title. Representing the United Swimming Club at the Swimming New Zealand Short Course Championships, Cameron’s success continued with wins in the 50, 100 and 200m Breaststroke events as well as breaking the New Zealand age-group records for the 100 and 200m Breaststroke. Competing at the Swimming New Zealand National Age Group Championships, Cameron once again won all three Breaststroke events while he also broke the 50m New Zealand age-group record at this competition, a race time that is also the second fastest ever in Australasia for his age group. Cameron’s success at the National age-group Championships, saw him selected as one of 32 Olympic and Paralympic pathway athletes onto the Swimming New Zealand National Age Program for 2023-2024. This recognition is a testament to his dedication and the bright future that lies ahead in his swimming career.

Junior Sportswoman of the Year - To be announced

Fangfei’s remarkable achievements in Air Pistol Shooting have truly set her apart. As a member of the New Zealand Women’s Team, she not only competed at the Oceania Championships but played a pivotal role in securing the team’s bronze medal and individually, claimed a very respectable fourth place which is an impressive feat considering she was the youngest competitor at the event. Fangfei’s dedication and skill have also earned her a spot at the 2024 Junior World Cup. Closer to home, as a key member of the ACG Parnell Air Pistol team, she contributed to securing the prestigious McMillan Cup as National Secondary School Team Champions for the second consecutive year, breaking the national record they set in 2022. Individually, Fangfei emerged as the runner up overall shooter and top U15 shooter. Her dominance in the sport extends to the national stage, where she holds the titles of National Air Pistol Champion for both women and juniors, making history as the first junior to win the women’s title. Additionally, she has claimed regional titles including Waikato Junior Champion, Northland Junior and Womens Champion, and Hamilton Junior Champion.

Excellence in Sport - Sacha Earnest

This year, Sacha earned selection into the Cycling New Zealand Mountain Bike team to compete at the Downhill World Championships in Scotland where she placed an impressive third in the Junior Women’s category. Her remarkable performance was part of a historic moment for New Zealand with kiwi riders claiming all three podium places. Sacha’s international success continued in the Mountain Bike World Cup Circuit, covering eight events across seven nations. Sacha had a heart-breaking start to the series with a crash in the last practice session in Switzerland so was unable to compete in both Switzerland and Austria. Returning to the circuit in Italy, sacha took out first place for Junior Women in her first World Cup race, winning by a huge 12 second margin. Sacha also placed first in France, and second in Canada. Her results across all World Cup races, placed her fourth overall in the series for Junior Women.

In addition to her international success, Sacha has also excelled on the national stage. She holds the titles of New Zealand U19 Downhill Champion and U19 Downhill National Series Champion.

Service to Sport - Philip Pentchev

Philips dedication to coaching in 2023 has left a positive mark in the sport of Football, particularly as the 13th Grade Coach. Under his guidance, the team achieved success, securing the best results for the school in a number of years. Not only did they qualify for the Championship division of their grade, but they also remained unbeaten in that round. Alongside achieving results, he also fostered an environment of support and motivation. He instilled in his players to have belief in their abilities and encouraged them to grow and learn from their experiences, both as athletes and individuals. This environment was crucial in a team made up of various year levels, most of whom were playing opponents older than themselves. Philip also led the Year 7/8 Boys Football team, which placed runner-up at the Eastern Zone Tournament. His dedication and commitment to coaching also extended to the primary school where he co-led the primary Futsal Club which has been a welcome addition to the school sports program this year.

In recognition of his contributions and results obtained, Philip was also rightfully awarded the ACG Parnell Sports Coach of the Year award.

Philip’s dedication to ACG Parnell sport is further exemplified by his involvement as a member of the Senior Sports Committee and his active participation in the highly successful lunchtime sports program that was started this year.

Senior Team of the Year - NZSS Golf Team

This year, a historic milestone was set for our school with our golfers qualifying for the New Zealand Secondary School National Championships for the first time. The journey to the Championships began with an impressive team win at the Auckland Regional National qualifiers which included defeating Kings College, who won the Auckland Premier Division earlier in the year, and Macleans College who were the 2022 National Champions. At the National Championships, held in Timaru, the team placed 13th, a very respectable effort against the top secondary school golfing talent in the country.

Junior Team of the Year - Swimming Medley Relay

The Medley Relay Team’s journey to success in 2023 was marked by impressive victories and fierce competition. At the Auckland Secondary School’s Central Zone event, they secured first place with an impressive 9 second margin ahead of second place. The win qualified them for the Auckland Championships, where they placed second with Westlake Boys High School narrowly beating them by one second. In Wellington for the New Zealand Secondary School Swimming Championships, the team displayed incredible resilience and determination, ultimately defeating their Auckland rivals Westlake Boys, and clinching the U16 National title. This victory was the first victory for the school at the 2023 National Championships and set the tone for a very successful competition which saw our school place runner up in the top co-ed school category.