Kingscliff High has taken on the best in NSW at Table Tennis and finished just one match from State supremacy.
The team of Year 12 students Dean Kerrison and Kane Townsend, Year 10 student Matthew Keyte and Max Williamson from Year 9, went down four matches to one to James Ruse High in the State Final at the Homebush Olympic Sports Hall in Sydney late last term.
Coached by deputy principal Ken Allison, the team went through the early rounds of the Combined High School knock-out competition to become North Coast Champions and make it through to the final 10 schools in the State.
The school has a strong tradition in Table Tennis – winning the State title in 2006.
“We had a lot of potential there,” Mr Allison said, talking about the depth of table tennis talent at the school.
“We had quite a bit of trouble getting down to four players.”
As well as the four players, Dean Kerrison said a large contingent of family, friends and even past school representatives went down to cheer the team on.
Mr Allison said their enthusiasm of the supporters really helped the boys through.
The boys’ finals campaign got off to a slow start, with the team only just winning the first round in Sydney against South Western Sydney team, Cecil Hill. However, they recovered to win all three of their opening games and fight their way to the final, with Kane winning all of his games except the doubles in the Grand Final against James Ruse. The other players also lost very few games to steer the team into second in the State.
Mr Allison said before the team left for Sydney, he thought they would be happy to finish in the top five and really happy to be in the top three.
He said the school team had received a lot of support from the Cabarita Table Tennis Club of which both Kane and Max are members.
