Congratulations to our six-strong team for their outstanding performance in the pool at the 2025 NZ Secondary School Swimming Championships in Hamilton. This was by far and away the best result that Christ’s College has ever recorded at the meet, bringing home nine medals and a further eight top 10 placings.

Rylind Wheeler showed his class as a breaststroke swimmer with two golds and a silver. Luke Manderson and Harry Reekie produced great swims to pick up medals in the highly contested freestyle events. The rest of the team swam strongly and lifted for the relays.

The 4 x 50m Medley Relay team (Justin Yang, Rylind Wheeler, Mun Ch Jager and Luke Manderson) set the pace on Thursday evening, winning gold to pip powerhouses Hamilton Boys’ High School and Westlake Boys’ High School. This was the first gold medal in a relay for College at this event. Thomas Cave swam a PB to finish 7th in the 15 years 400m freestyle.

On Friday morning, Rylind Wheeler showed why he was recently selected in the NZ Youth Squad as he won gold in the 17-19 years 200m breaststroke by more than three seconds. Later in the same session, Rylind was joined by Luke Manderson (who was selected for the NZ Youth Development squad) in the open 2 x 50m freestyle relay, where the duo claimed another gold. Mun Chi Jager and Harry Reekie were 10th in the same race. It was a busy morning for the lads, with Rylind placed 4th in the 100m individual medley and Luke 10th.

Friday evening’s session saw Rylind back in action with a silver in the 50m breaststroke followed by Luke Manderson who also won silver in the 16 years 100m freestyle. Harry finished a close 4th in the 15 years 100m freestyle.

In the pool again on Saturday morning, Rylind cleaned up the 100m breaststroke, winning gold with a big PB. Thomas Cave had another top 10 finish with 9th in the 200 backstroke.

Saturday evening saw Harry swim a good PB for 5th in the 200m freestyle with Thomas in 10th. Justin was 10th in the 50m backstroke, trailling Luke in 9th. Mun Chi was 10th in the 17-19 years 100m butterfly.

The final session on Sunday morning saw the 4 x 50m freestyle relay of Luke, Harry, Mun Chi and Rylind scoop silver. This was followed by the 50m freestyle where Luke claimed silver in the 16 years and Harry bronze in the 15 years. Rylind capped off an outstanding meet with a 6th in the 50m freestyle.

Thank you to team managers Neil Porter and Sarah Manderson.

Top 10 Placings were:

Thomas Cave, 15 year old Boys
400m Free - 7th
200 Back - 9th
200 Free - 10th

Harry Reekie, 15 year old Boys
100 Free - 4th
200 Free - 5th
50 Free - 3rd

Luke Manderson, 16 year old Boys
100IM - 10th
100 Free - 2nd
50 Fly - 5th
50 Back - 9th
50 Free - 2nd

Justin Wang, 16 year old Boys
50 Back - 7th

Mun Chi Jager, 17-18 year old Boys
100 Fly - 10th

Rylind Wheeler, 17-18 year old Boys
100 IM - 4th
200 Breast - 1st
100 Breast - 1st
50 Breast - 2nd
50 Free - 6th

Relays
4 x 50m Medley, Justin Wang , Rylind Wheeler, Mun Chi Jager, Luke Manderson- 1st
2 x 50m Free, Luke Manderson, Rylind Wheeler - 1st
2 x 50m Free, Mun Chi Jager, Harry Reekie - 10th
4 x 50m Free, Luke Manderson, Mun Chi Jager, Harry Reekie, Rylind Wheeler - 2^nd