Sacred Heart College boast the most successful boys’ water polo program in New Zealand. The Senior A team has won the National title three times in the last seven years and are the defending Auckland Champions.
The winning attitude is contagious according to Matthew Dell who pays tribute to the water polo academy at the college.
“We have sports institutes for select codes and water polo is one of them. I trialled in year six and was lucky enough to get in. We train three times a week and really stress the competitive and preparation side of sport. The boys have been together for a long time now and that has helped us build a strong, winning culture,” he acclaims.
Dell concedes he isn’t “the best swimmer,” so was an obvious choice for goal keeper. Specific training has helped Dell became an elite in his position at age-group level.
“I am a pretty slow swimmer so while the other boys do laps I stay in goal and do reflex exercises and leg strengthening to improve my flexibility and shot stopping,” Dell explains.
Dell was a member of the Marist club team who won the Under-14 Nationals and has toured Australia and Hawaii at school earning a national call up – following in the footsteps of two former Sacred Heart goal keepers.
“We have a reputation for producing good goal keepers so that has forced me to work hard. I became a starter in Year 12 and my highlight so far has been winning the Auckland title last year. We beat King’s in the final at Diocesan School. They have a grandstand by the pool and it was packed by nearly the whole school. To win in front of so many people was pretty surreal.” Dell says.
Sacred Heart leads the Auckland competition in 2017. They have won all seven games and have scored the most goals (74) and conceded the least (25). The next month will define their season. The North Island Championships are followed by the Auckland finals and the Nationals in Wellington in April. Sacred Heart have some unfinished business from 2016.
“We lost to St. Kent’s in the semi-finals at Nationals last year. That was the most disappointing sporting moment of my life. It was a low scoring game and we panicked a bit. It was sad for the Year 13’s too leave on such a low note.” Dell laments.
Dell expects St. Kent’s to be fierce rivals again along with defending National Champions Rangitoto College and a small school in Tauranga.
“Aquinas College have a real strong side. We don’t know a lot about them, but their results have been exceptional. There is always a school in Wellington who contents, but apart from Aquinas I don’t think there are many schools who will compete with the Auckland sides.” Dell believes.
Waterpolo Key Dates
March 29 to April 2: North Island Championships, Auckland
April 9: Auckland Senior A Final
April 18-21: National Championships, Wellington