Winter sports begin this term at Tauranga Girls’ College, with many of our players already competing in both national and international competitions. Some at New Zealand representative level. Below I profile just a few of our “rising stars”!!.

If you are interested in returning to play  Squash or starting to play Squash, come see us at the Devoy Squash Club every Wednesday, 6.30 am until 8 am.

Brooke Valois

Brooke Valois, our TGC junior sports girl of the year, 2024 made the New Zealand junior SQUASH squad 2025, to compete in Egypt in July.

With the squad increasing from 4 to 6, Brooke makes the cut. We are so excited to share this news.

Brooke is a year 11 student who has been playing squash for many years.  Over her squash career, she has represented New Zealand, the Bay of Plenty, and, of course, Tauranga Girls’ College, always being a pivotal player in the team's successes.

Brooke's highest grade to date has been A2.

She is coached by Dave Clarke an ex NZ national coach and the current NZ National coach Johnathan Kemp who fortunately for the Bay of Plenty lives in Mount Maunganui.

Over the Term 1 holiday, Brooke has competed in the following tournaments:

• NZ Representative in the Trans Tasman series in the  U17 age group

• Oceanias, winning a Bronze medal in the U17 age group

Brooke was last year's Tauranga Girls’ College Junior Sports girl of the year.  We look forward to her continued successes this year.

Amalia Ricketts

Amalias is also a year 11 student who has been playing squash for many years.  She recently moved to board in the Bay of Plenty from Northland to further her squash career and gain a fantastic education at Tauranga Girls’ College. Amalia’s mum reached number 6 in the world, and her dad made it to number 3 in the world. Amalia is currently a B1 with hopes to make an A grade this year.

Her coach is Johnathan Kemp (NZ national coach) and, of course, her mum, Shelley Kitchen.

Over the term break, Amalia has traveled internationally to play in the Australian Junior Open.

She was seeded 15th in the U17 category and finished 5th overall, narrowly losing by 2 points to the number 2 seed in an exciting match that went to 5 games.

She also played in Oceania, finishing 4th in the U17 age group.

Last year, she was New Zealand's U15 girls' squash champion.

Maebh Manning

Maebh is a year 10 student who has represented Tauranga Girls’ College over the past two years.  In April, she was recognised in the “Boast” (a well-known NZ squash magazine ) as the most improved female player of the month.  Maebh is currently a C1 graded player to reach a B grade this year.  Maebh won her division of the Te Puke Easter Open and this year represented the BOP in the Quadrangular series against Northland, Auckland, and  Waikato, winning all her games.

Maebh is coached by Beckly Clarke and Graham Randolf. 

Nadya Broadbent Orellana

Nadya has a great passion and skill for squash.  Her great height makes it seem easy for her to get both the highball and tight wall shots.

Over the Term Break, Nadya played in the Tokoroa 900 series, a series of tournaments for young and beginning squash players, where points are collected for wins during the series duration. HEAD sponsors the series with great prizes such as a high-end squash racket and bag for the final tournament.  

A great start for Nadya in the Term 1 break, coming runner-up to Otumoetai College student Ruby Thompson in Division 1 girls.  

Nadya is coached by Devoy Squash Club resident coach John Cornforth.

Please make contact if you are keen on taking up squash.

Mrs Boubee-Hill  lboubee-hill@tgc.school.nz