The Middle and Senior School Swimming Carnival was held last Friday 19 February at the South Australian Aquatic and Leisure Centre.

This year’s Swimming Carnival was vastly different. With no heats and an increase of novelty games, participation was significantly increased. Through this, house spirit was amplified as the girls filled the aquatic centre with extremely loud cheering.

Cedar should be commended for their efforts this year, winning the House Shield for the fifth year in a row. Although there was an increase in novelty games and participation, this by no means had an impact on the amazing talent that the girls exhibited on the day. In fact, the Cedar Open Medley Team broke the record by 7 seconds! This was just one example of the talent that was on show.

If girls didn’t want to swim, they were still able to assist by signing up to be student helpers, allowing them to still be included in the events of the day.

This carnival wouldn’t have been possible without the help of all the sport staff, PE staff and Middle and Senior School teachers. A very special thank you must go to Ms Deb Jarrett and Ms Judy Thurgood whose organisation and management of the event was noticeable in the lead up and throughout the day.

All the girls should be extremely proud of themselves. A huge congratulations should be given to all the year level championship swimmers.

Teagan Powell
Sports Captain

Summer Intercol

Over the next two weeks, our Wilderness teams are competing in the highly anticipated Summer Intercol against Seymour. In 2020 we were successful in winning the Summer Intercol Trophy breaking the three-year drought. Last year we won the Summer Intercol by 1 point over Seymour and it was the first time Wilderness have won two years in a row! Good luck to all and hopefully we can hold on for our first ever three-peat!

Intercol is not just the result of a single match or a single team, every girl in every match earns valuable points towards the trophy. Each win earns 3 points, a draw earns 2 and a loss earns 1. The combined effort of every girl and every team makes a difference with the last few years decided by less than 5 points!

In these tight matches, the support of staff, parents and friends is often the element of difference that helps the girls give their best. We would love to see you there to support our teams in as many events as possible. Your support will be even more valued this year as Seymour host all Summer Intercol events.

As in previous years, our Sport Captain, Teagan, and the Sports Committee will be working to encourage supporters. The Sports Committee will be offering a pizza lunch to the Form who earns the most attendance points and one lucky individual will be the winner of a $100 gift card. We will offer buses to all events and encourage girls to show their Wildy spirit!

Please see the Parent Portal for a list of our championship events for trophy matches awarded to the winner of the Senior A, Premier League or 1st VIII events.

Junior Alliance Cup

Over the holiday period, the first ever Junior Alliance Cup was held in Adelaide from 23-25 January. The tournament saw the top Touch Teams from the Northern Territory, Victoria, Tasmania and South Australia compete across six divisions.

We are incredibly proud of our 14 Wilderness girls who played across four of the South Australian Teams in the competition. The future indeed looks promising for our touch program!

Congratulations to our representatives Eliza Corbin (Year 11), Eliza Fenton (2020 graduate), Anelise Roos (Year 10), Mia Cardone (Year 10), Charlie Bower (Year 10), Jessica Craig (Year 10), Portia Newton (Year 8), Isabel Jackson (Year 8), Jade McAskill (Year 8), Indie Heywood-Smith (Year 8), Nessie Leathart (Year 8), Bella Browning (8), Jasmin Thirlwell (Year 9) and Rose Newman (Year 9).

State Team Success

Each year there are rigorous trials held for the South Australian Rowing Team. The trials include ergo testing, scull time trials and an extensive seat racing process.

Georgina Birchall and Emma Jolly (Reserve) have been named in the Women’s Youth Eight to represent South Australia at the Australian National Championships Interstate Regatta in March. The Women’s Youth Crew is a representation of the top eight U21 rowers and cox.

Five Wilderness rowers have also been named in the Pathway Women’s Eight to compete in the Pathway Eights at the Australian Rowing Team Trials in April. This is a wonderful achievement for the girls with Wilderness being the most represented school in the state. Congratulations to Georgina Birchall, Emma Jolly, Portia Maerschel, Charlie Lawrence and Zara Hoadley on their selection.

Aimee Maling (Wilderness School 1st VIII Coach) and Eleanor Trovas (Director of Rowing) also named as State Team Coaches for the Men’s Eight and Pathway Women’s Eight respectively.