Trinity Catholic College in Lismore defends state hockey title for second year after copping it in northern NSW floods

As North Coast sports teams battle to march on after the 2022 floods, an inspiring group of teens has secured a spectacular win, despite facing a lack of gear and training.

Front (left to right): Milla Zorzo, Coco Zorzo, Maya McGrath, Piper Coote-Parker, Lauren McFadden, Hayley Marshall and Hollie Matthews. Back: Coach Peter Everingham, Emily Hart, Sienna Ambler, Laura Parsons, Shailyn Gooley, Gigi Zorzo, Lainie Glover, Jessica Williams, Erin Williams, Maria Mitchell and Jenna Lidbetter (coach).

Students from Trinity Catholic College have successfully defended their state hockey title in Bathurst, despite facing massive challenges after last year’s record northern NSW flooding.

The school fielded both a mens and women‘s team of students from years 7-12 last week.

The women’s team won against Mount St Patrick College Murwillumbah – which has no doubt faced its own flood-induced problems – to retain their title for the second year.

Year 12 Trinity Catholic College state hockey team champions Piper Parker, Lauren McFadden, and Maya Mcgrath.

Year 12 student and centre-defender Lauren McFadden said she did not realise how big of a deal the championship was until the team was victorious.

“We knew or at least hoped that defending this year’s championship was in the running as we had the same team roughly from last year,” she said.

The students were unable to train after the record February-March flooding, and it was their first crack at the sport for some of the team.

Lauren said it was “tough having some girls join that had no hockey experience but they quickly picked it up and got goals between them”.

“We didn’t have any training last year or this year due to the floods, but the majority of us played with or against each other on the weekends so we already knew how we wanted to play,” she said.

Lauren McFadden and Zoe Sear. Lauren, part of Trinity high school’s 2023 team, is playing in the under-9s in this archive photo. Picture: Mireille Merlet-Shaw/Northern Star

Coach and schoolteacher Peter Everingham said the “best of the best” fought it out in the statewide Combined Catholic Colleges competition, which is always held in either Sydney, Newcastle or Bathurst.

Mr Everingham said the students’ win was “very impressive”, particularly in the circumstances.

“(Last year) we had no spare hocky sticks, no uniforms, nothing … but we still got on the bus and I drove that myself to Bathurst,” he said.

Mr Everingham said this year “we had four girls in the team that were not hockey players to make up enough so we could get a team down”.

Front (left to right): Milla Zorzo, Coco Zorzo, Maya McGrath, Piper Coote-Parker, Lauren McFadden, Hayley Marshall and Hollie Matthews. Back: Coach Peter Everingham, Emily Hart, Sienna Ambler, Laura Parsons, Shailyn Gooley, Gigi Zorzo, Lainie Glover, Jessica Williams, Erin Williams, Maria Mitchell and Jenna Lidbetter (coach).

“We didn’t have a goal-keeper so we had to manufacture a goal-keeper,” he said.

“Three of the girls took it in turns, and they’ve defended their state title two years in a row now.”

Lauren, who has been playing since she could hold a hockey stick, spoke of hurried preparations before crucial matches.

“I remember last year we arrived at our accommodation really late at night and we quickly got to the whiteboard and started to work out positions,” she said.

“Before our first game last year we quickly got those who had never picked up a hockey stick and did a quick 10 minute training session. Then they went straight onto the field.”

Lauren said she and her teammates initially did not think they had much of a chance.

“This year we certainly had hopes and we wanted to continue that legacy,: she said.

“I know myself that I didn’t realise how big of a deal this championship was until we won it.”