It was a weekend dominated by basketball action as Maritzburg College hosted 28 schools for the 3rd Jenny Orchard Invitational (JOI) Tournament. Congratulations to the U15A team who travelled to Johannesburg to compete in the St John’s College Tournament and were crowned the champions beating a strong Hilton College side. College’s 1st team progressed to the final of the JOI before losing to Westville in a very closely fought game, With thirteen boys and coach Bridgitte Hartley competing in this year’s Dusi Canoe Marathon, College’s canoeists produced excellent results and won the school’s trophy! Keegan Vogt took 1st in the U18 category and finished 24th overall while Bridgitte secured a bronze in the ladies race. Congratulations to OC Andy Birkett on an exceptional 15th victory! College athletes again produced excellent results at the 4th aQuelle meet and the ASA league meeting.

Basketball: Twenty-eight U19 teams took part in the 3rd JOI tournament hosted at College. Playing outstanding games, the Maritzburg College 1st team progressed through to the final where they had a very closely fought game against Westville eventually losing narrowly 63-65.

1st team report (Mr Jacques Wilcock, MIC: Basketball) Another year rolled around which meant the third edition of the Jenny Orchard Invitational Basketball Tournament. The team went into the tournament with a lot of pressure as the school were the defending champs. A tough first game against Michaelhouse saw College win 45-39 on day 1. The group games ended with victories against Wynberg and Westerford, placing them at the top of their pool and heading into the knockout rounds. The faced a strong Pinelands team in quarterfinals who gave the team a bit of a scare with their surge in the 2nd quarter, in the end the strength and determination from college saw them come out on top, 89-48. Saturday night saw the semifinals take place, this time a rematch of the first game of the tournament and a repeat of the 2023 semifinal which saw Michaelhouse progress to the final, however, College proved to be the better side once again as they came back from a 12 point deficit to win 52-44 and progress once again to a second Jenny Orchard Invitational Basketball Tournament Final. The nerves were high and the atmosphere in the APMH really pushed the level of basketball on display from both College and Westville. College started off well and really took it to Westville in the early stages of the game. A back and forth encounter saw the lead change hands multiple times during the game with scores being separated by a mere basket at all times. The game was eventually won by Westville following two made free throws with two seconds left to play, this would prove to be the difference as College went down 63-65, placing 2nd in the tournament.

Summary of results:
JOI Tournament results:
Vs MHS won 45-39
Vs Wynberg won 84-34
Vs Westerford won 104-21
Vs Pinelands won 89-48
Vs MHS won 52-44
Vs Westville lost 63-65
Placed 2nd A division

Congratulations to the U15A team who travelled to Johannesburg to compete in the St John’s College Tournament and were crowned the champions beating a strong Hilton College side.

St John’s Tournament: U15

Vs St Stithians won 38-33
Vs Kings Linbro lost 29-34
Vs Saheti won 42-34
Vs St Benedict’s won 46-42
Vs St John’s won 35-28
Vs Kes won 34-28
Vs Hilton won 57-42

Hosts for the 3rd Jenny Orchard Invitational, the College’s 1st team produced outstanding performances progressing to the final, where they lost to Westville in the closing seconds of a very closely fought game. Well done boys!

U15 Champions Water polo Competing in the Dallas Hutton Tournament, College’s U15A water polo team produced a gutsy and determined performance eventually finishing in 6th position beating several of their rivals. Coach Mr Steve La Marque praised the boys for their commitment throughout the tournament.

Summary of results
Vs Curro won 8-4
Vs Affies lost 5-7
Vs Kearsney lost 3-9
Vs Westville lost 5-7
Vs Clifton lost 1-14
Vs Glenwood won 7-2
Vs Northwood lost 2-5
Vs DHS won 4-2

Playoff vs Westville lost 1-4 College finished in 6th place overall.

Canoeing College’s canoeists delivered courageous performances in challenging conditions in this year’s Dusi Canoe Marathon. With Old Collegian Andy Birkett winning for an incredible 15th time, talented
Keegan Vogt securing 1st in the U18 race and coach Bridgitte Hartley being home a bronze in the ladies’ race there was plenty to celebrate. Maritzburg College also secured the Top School’s trophy.
Summary of results K1 U18

Keegan Vogt 1st 8:15 and 24th overall
Luke O’Connor 6th 9:14
Jayden JvRensburg 7th 9:31
Ryley Smith 8th 9:36
Scott Venniker 10th 9:46
Nathan Curry 12th 10:14
Joshua Craig 17th 11:56

K2 U16

Josh Worthmann and Matthew Rawson 3rd 9:56
K2
Brad Cook and dad Craig Cook 10:02
Darren Lewis and dad Brian Lewis 12:47
Ladies
Coach Bridgitte Hartley 3rd 9:09

With thirteen boys and coach Bridgitte Hartley competing in this year’s Dusi Canoe Marathon, College’s canoeists produced excellent results and won the school’s trophy! Keegan Vogt took 1st in the U18 category and finished 24th overall while coach Bridgitte Hartley secured a bronze in the ladies race.

Athletics
Competing in the 4th aQuelle series, against 25 schools, College’s athletes finished 3rd overall with One 1st places, TWO 2nd places and TWO 3rd places.
Results:
1st: S Ismail 800m u18 (2:03.28)
2nd: L Bottcher Hammer u16 (28.23m);B Mhlongo 200m u18 (23.76s)
3rd:L Shangase 800m u20 (2:12.96);C Gould 3000m u20 (9:54.79

Four athletes competed in the ASA league meeting and achieved ONE 1st place, FIVE 2nd place and Two 3rd place results.

1st T Ekerold Hammer u19 (37.78m)
2nd L Baptista Hammer, Shotput and Discus,L Mhlongo 100m and 200m
3rd T Ekerold Shotput and Discus

Congratulations to the Maritzburg College U15A basketball team who won the St John’s College Tournament, beating a strong Hilton College side.