AS Rosewood State High prepares for its popular athletics carnival, a promising student is impressing in another sport.
Year 7 student Tahnae Campbell has made the Met West hockey team for the second year in a row, displaying fine leadership skills.
Tahnae is hoping to continue his progress representing the Met West 12 years team at the state titles starting on June 17.
He has enjoyed hockey since first picking up a stick at the age of two.
“I like hockey because it’s entertaining and you keep fit,” Tahnae, 12, said.
Playing as a defender or striker, he appreciates the encouragement he receives at Rosewood State High and at the Easts Hockey Club where he plays in the Ipswich competition.
Easts club president and experienced coach Paul Malcolm said Tahnae was “developing nicely” as a player, where he is also making Ipswich teams.
“He is now taking more of a leadership role in the J1 [under-14] competition,” Malcolm said.
“He has also made his debut for seniors in the R2 competition where the coach has been really impressed with his performance for such a young man playing against men.
“He’s really been exceptional so I’m very happy as a rep coach and a club president on the young fella’s development.
“As for his commitment, he’s at every training session … a very capable young lad.”
In his first year at Rosewood State High, Tahnae said his favourite subject was PE.
He said his favourite hockey moment was playing for Ipswich against Toowoomba when he made the winning shot in eight-second shoot-outs.
Elly Burling, from the Rosewood State High HPE department, said it was terrific seeing students have an interest in a variety of sports that they can pursue at school and club level.
“We try to give information out about different sporting opportunities that they can be a part of,” Ms Burling said.
That includes a year 7 girls’ netball team that plays against other regional schools each Wednesday.
Hundreds of Rosewood State High students are also getting ready for their annual athletics carnival on the school oval later this month.
“It’s over two days, the kids get to experience all the track and field events,” Ms Burling said. “Then if they make the qualifying times and distances, we check that with the Western Rangers qualifying times and distances and then they can move on [to higher level competition].”
The students compete for their houses “which is pretty exciting for them”.
“It’s probably the carnival they enjoy the most because they have a large variety of activities that they can do,” Ms Burling said.
