The young Rosmini lacrosse team showed incredible heart and resilience at the national championships, finishing 7th overall
The young Rosmini lacrosse team showed incredible heart and resilience at the national championships, finishing 7th overall despite being one of the youngest teams in the tournament. With a roster of mostly intermediate-aged boys, they faced off against high school teams full of older, more experienced players, including some national under-20 athletes.
The tournament began with some tough losses. They went down 2-10 to Westlake and 0-11 to Hamilton Boys, who proved to be a relentless opponent. But the boys never gave up, showing their fighting spirit in a close 3-4 loss to Mt Albert, where their strong defense and near-misses on offense surprised their opponent.
The highlight of the weekend was undoubtedly their match against the current titleholders, Te Awamutu. In a classic David-and-Goliath showdown, the Rosmini team managed to take the lead at halftime, showcasing their courage and skill against a much larger, more physical team. Although Te Awamutu ultimately powered through to win 1-7, the Rosmini boys left a lasting impression. One Year 8 player remarked, "That was brutal but I loved it!".
The tournament concluded on Sunday with three final games, including a tough 4-10 loss to the eventual champions, Cambridge, and two bruising matches against the second-place team, Morrinsville. Despite the bruises and the four losses, the boys held their heads high.
Their impressive performance earned them a respectable 7th place finish. Luke Bradenhorst, a Year 9 student, received special recognition for his outstanding play, top-scoring for the team and admirably leading them as captain throughout the tournament.
The team received a lot of support, with five former players helping out and a passionate cheering squad of parents. This tournament was a valuable learning experience, and the young Rosmini team showed a lot of courage and potential for a bright future.
Team List:
Luke Bradenhorst - Captain
James Walker
Boaz Franklin
Lemuel Joseph
John Paterson
Chayal Silver
Cooper Hauptfleisch
Quinn Harrison
