The 10 pupils had the opportunity to meet former tennis star Todd Woodbridge after qualifying for the finals of the unique teams tennis event by winning the Illawarra regional qualifiers.

The team finished fourth in their pool, failing to qualify for the elimination rounds, but teacher Michael Chin said the day was about more than the result. 

“All the kids were awesome,” Chin said. “They all played with good sportsmanship and had a great time on the court. It was good for them to have the opportunity to play against kids from other areas of the state. That meant our students got to test their skills against highly skilled players.

“On top of that, they were responsible for keeping scores and umpiring, so it helps develop their relationships and sportsmanship.”

Chin was proud of the efforts the year three and four students put in throughout the day and was a fan of the event’s team-based nature.

“They played boys and girls doubles and mixed doubles. They also got to choose who to play with based on who they thought they played well with, which added another aspect to the competition. 

“We all travelled up together in a bus and I tried to make it a team bonding experience for them. We were all there together as one team.”

The competition is named in honour of former Australian tennis star Todd Woodbridge, winner of 16 Grand Slam doubles titles.

“The tournament is a great way for kids to be able to use the skills they have learned and compete against some of NSW’s top Tennis Hot Shots players.” Woodbridge said. “It’s fantastic to see kids picking up a racquet and getting involved. Grassroots tennis is a vital step in the performance pathway so it’s great to see them getting the opportunity to be involved in this event.”

The cup was won by St Raphael’s Catholic School in Cowra, with Parkes Primary School and South Wagga Primary School finishing in second and third.