Olympians Natalie Burton, Katie-Rae Ebzery, Simon Orchard, Kate Jenner and Zoe Newman cheered on nearly 700 of the state’s best young athletes for the NSW Primary Schools Sports Association (NSWPSSA) boys and girls state hockey and basketball championships in Newcastle last week.

The championships kicked-off with an opening ceremony at Newcastle Basketball Stadium on Tuesday 28 May and ran throughout the week, concluding with the state finals on Friday 31 May 2024.

The boys and girls hockey championships featured the best 364 primary-aged players in the state, representing each of the different regions.

Muswellbrook-born Olympian and Kookaburras player, Simon Orchard, joined Hockeyroos Kate Jenner and Zoe Newman in cheering the players on at the Newcastle International Hockey Centre in Broadmeadow.

The final of the boys competition finished with a 2-1 victory to Polding over MacKillop, while in the girls competition Polding and Combined Independent Schools shared the title after a 2-all draw in the decider.

At Newcastle Basketball Stadium, 280 players vied for the state championship in both boys and girls competitions with Opals stars Natalie Burton and Katie-Rae Ebzery courtside in support.

Polding took home top spot in the boys competition ahead of Sydney North, while in the girls competition the state title was won by Sydney East over Polding.

The Executive Director of the NSW Department of Education’s Sport Unit, Dr Sylvia Corish, said having the Olympians in town to support the championships was a massive thrill for the players.

“It was a fantastic opportunity for some of our best up-and-coming young athletes to meet an Olympian and talk about the pathways they took on their journey to be among the very best in their chosen sports,” she said.

In addition to the nearly 700 athletes, more than 2000 supporters attended the championships.

Following the championships, the NSW teams to contest the national basketball and hockey titles were announced.

Boys hockey – NSW team:

• Francis Alexander, Lindfield PS, Sydney North

• Jarrah Baker, Gloucester PS, Hunter

• Max Banning, Scots All Saints College, CIS
  

• Taj Broadbent, Southern Cross PS, North Coast

• Hudson Caban, St Patrick’s Cessnock, Polding

• Ollie Croker, St Mary’s Crookwell, Mackillop

• Henry Galland, St Mary’s Crookwell, Mackillop
  

• Euan Hale, Brookvale PS, Sydney North

• Harrison McDonald, St Paul’s Albion Park, Mackillop

• Marcus Reitz, Scots College Bellevue Hill, CIS

• Charlie Rix, Parkes East PS, Western
  

• Xavier Schweinberger, St Joseph’s East Maitland, Polding

• Darcy Wood, St Joseph’s Tamworth, North West

• Sam Yelland, Parkes PS, Western

Girls hockey – NSW team:

• Isla Allcorn, Nashdale PS, Western

• Chelsea Cartwright, St Joseph’s Goulburn, Mackillop

• Evie Ekert, Holy Family Bathurst, Polding

• Lucy Hanman, Milthorpe PS, Western
  

• Georgia Kemp-Robertson, Crookwell PS, South Coast

• Sofia Mitchell, St Nicholas’ Tamworth, Polding

• Lilly Patridge, Shell Cove PS, South Coast

• Isla Ramage, Ravenswood School for Girls, CIS
  

• Heidi Rogers, Oxford Falls Grammar, CIS

• Ilaria Ruberto, Roseville College, CIS

• Grace Scammell, Wenona School, CIS

• Molly Schmude, St Mary’s Armidale, Polding
  

• Sophia Turner, Queenwood, CIS

• Ella van der Velde, Molong PS, Western

Boys basketball – NSW team:

• Darcy Bendeich, St Aloysius, Polding
  

• Alex Brady, St Patrick’s Griffith, MacKillop

• Edward Burke, St Thomas’ Willoughby, Polding

• Gus Cartwright, New Lambton South PS, Hunter

• Floyd Henderson, Our Lady of Dolours Chatswood, Polding
  

• Hudson McLaren, Manly Vale PS, Sydney North

• Felix Solomon, St Patrick’s Albury, MacKillop

• Edward Timmins, Mosman Preparatory School, CIS

• Myles Wagner-Jordan, Bourke Street PS, Sydney East
  

• Tom Wawszkowicz, Ashtonfield PS, Hunter

Girls basketball – NSW team:

• Luella Carneiro, Holy Family Catholic Menai, MacKillop

• Grace Davis, St Augustine’s Coffs Harbour, Polding
  

• Lily Kee, North Curl Curl PS, Sydney North

• Jocelyn Liu, William Clarke College, CIS

• Sofia Lopez Fisher, Habberfield PS, Sydney East

• Bethany Loyman, Calton PS, Sydney East
  

• Maddison Mazzitelli, Holy Family Catholic Menai, MacKillop

• Evie McDougall, St James’ Kotara South, Polding

• Jaeda Petterson, Samuel Terry PS, Sydney West

• Yuyang Wang, Wenona School, CIS