MSA Paralympic focus

Off the back of a successful Paralympic campaign by form student Nathan Pellissier, where he won silver at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympic games in July, Maribyrnong Sports Academy has decided to increase its focus on the development of Paralympic athlete’s leading into the 2024 Paris Games and beyond….

MSA is looking forward to welcoming its newest  Paralympic student/athlete next year after the successful enrolment of Wheelchair Basketball and Tennis athlete Jin Woodman.  Jin joins the Academy from Over Newton Primary School next year in year 7.

With the increase in focus towards enrolments of Paralympic Athletes MSA Sports Director Mark Mcallion says the academy looks forward to welcoming more Paralympic Athletes over the years to come.  “ It’ great to see Paralympic sport getting the recognition it deserves and it’s exciting for MSA to focus on it. In conjunction with Paralympics Australia and Achper’s Active schools programs, our staff recently participated in a professional development session to provide Paralympic athlete’s the best environment for them to thrive”

MSA looks forward to welcoming Jin and all other year 7 students to the college next year for the start of term 1.

On The Field - Week Ending 5/12/2021

Maribyrnong Sports Academy was well represented in Professional sport being played here in Australia and around the world over the weekend.

 A-League Women

Polly Doran and MelindaJ Barbieri were joined by former MSA football coach Amy Jackson to help the Melbourne Victory open their account for the 21/22 season with a first up win against Adelaide United 5-1.  Naomi Thomas Chinnama played 81 mins of the game for Melbourne City, substituted after City took a 1-0 winning lead over Canberra United on Friday night. 

Annabel Martin came into the game for Wellington at the 71st minute for her run with the Phoenix, that game ending in a nil all draw.

A-League Men 

Socceroo and Melbourne City midfielder Connor Metcalfe saw plenty of action in the local derby against Western United but couldn’t stop United grabbing a 1-0 win at AAMI Park.  Matthew Bozinovski was a part of the Wellington Phoenix squad, but didn’t get a run in their 2-0 loss to Western Sydney Wanderers.   

Former MSA Head football coach Arthur Pappas saw his Newcastle Jets team come from behind to grab a 2 all draw against Sydney FC.  While former MSA Goal Keeping coach Peter Zois might have a bit of work this week after The Melbourne Victory conceded 3 goals to Perth Glory for their first loss of the season.

Badminton

Olympian and former MSA student Gronya Somerville competed in the Welch International this weekend finishing in 3rd place in the Women’s doubles with her Partner Wendy Chen.  The pair lost to France 21-17, 21-16 in the Semi Finals

Congratulations to MSA Alumni Jacob Schueler who won the Yonex Victorian Open on the weekend.

Basketball

MSA Alumni Zac Triplett ran his first minutes on court for Melbourne United in their NBL clash against Sydney.  Zac received just over 10 mins court time and scored 5 points with 1 rebound in the 79-74 loss to the Kings.

Cricket

Playing for Footscray Edgewater in the Victorian Premier Cricket competition, Dylan Brasher scored a century in the teams 10 wicket win over Casey – South Melbourne.  Dylan made 101no from 106 balls. 

College Football

Former Aussie Rules player turned Punter Adam Korsak has been named in the First Team for The All Big Ten in his final year at Rutgers College in the US.

Golf

Congratulations to MSA Alumni Adam Tsiamis on winning the Medway Golf Club, Club Championships on the weekend. A mighty effort.

Mitch Croft heads to the AIS

For year 10 Maribyrnong Sports Academy student Mitch Croft, 2022 is shaping up to be a big year.  After a 4 year volleyball journey at MSA, Mitch has been selected to join the AIS in Canberra and finish his last 2 years of schooling at UCSSC Lake Ginninderra.

The volleyball experience has been short and swift for Mitch who came into the Maribyrnong Sports Academy having never played a game of Volleyball in his life.  MSA Head Volleyball coach Michael Dolan explains.  “ Mitch applied for a scholarship here at MSA playing AFL or Basketball.  He was unsuccessful in those sports but at nearly 180cm tall I saw there may have been some potential in recruiting him in Volleyball.   He was tall, a big unit and he was keen.  Once Mitch started training for Volleyball I was so impressed in his level of concentration during our sessions, he was like a sponge lapping up all the information he could get.”

Since entering the Volleyball program here at MSA, Mitch has made every post a winner, making State and Australian teams, and winning a national Gold medal in Beach Volleyball at the 2021 Australian Youth Beach Volleyball Championships..      “ Mitch’s pathway could take him a number of ways, he could be bound for College in the States or Canada or he could go straight to Europe and play professionally there.”  But regardless of which pathway he takes, Coach Dolan believes the sky is the limit for the 16yo.  “ Mitch has taken every opportunity presented to him and has run with it.  In the past 12 months he has played for Australia against Japan, He has won gold in the U17 National Beach Championships and he has won numerous Victorian championships.  He is just hitting the right heights at this stage of his career and he is definitely a very good candidate to go further.  He has a great all over game, he is not just a big kid that can play front court.  He can pass, he has great hands for a setter and can spike, and we are proud that he has been able to develop that here at MSA.”

Everyone at Maribyrnong Sports Academy wishes Mitch all the best for the future and look forward to following his rise through the sport over the next few years.

Meanwhile The Victorian Schools championships were held at MSAC, from Sunday 28 November to 1 December. Maribyrnong College entered 4 teams. All teams won gold.

The Open Girls Honours team finished top of their pool and defeated Billanook College in 4 sets.

They continued Maribyrnong’s dominance in this division by winning its 7th straight Open Girls title, 

Mitchell’s team was undefeated throughout the tournament. They blasted Rowville College with aggressive powerplay to claim the Yr 10 Honours title in 4 sets.

The Yr 10 Girls Honours team was also undefeated and finished on top of their division. They convincingly defeated McKinnon College in a high powered game.

The Yr 8 Boys team also claimed gold in division 1. They out played a tall and hard hitting Waverley Christian College with smart serving and attacking through the middle. This team was comprised of Year 7 and 8 boys and girls.