Hockey success for several Old Collegians
Thursday, 27 October 2016
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Old Collegian Kim Kingstone (Greenbank, 2008-2012) has been named in the Black Sticks New Zealand Hockey team that will take on Australia in a three-match series in Auckland this November. 

Kingstone was given the news by coach Colin Batch and says he was ecstatic and immediately called his family to share the news.
"Playing for the Black Sticks has been a dream of mine ever since I started playing hockey as a child. I set myself the goal to become a Black Stick in 2012 having just been selected for a New Zealand under 21 team."

Kingstone was part of the King's College team who won the Rankin Cup (NZ's top secondary school competition for hockey) two years in a row and says he was surrounded by great players and coaches which he credits with helping him achieve a spot in the Black Sticks.

"My time at King's College is undoubtedly a major reason why I am able to be a Black Stick today. I was fortunate to have very good coaches that believed in me right from Year 9. I was also fortunate to play alongside a number of great players and play in quality teams throughout my time at King’s.”

The Black Sticks will take on their Australian rivals on 17, 19 and 20 November. 
Being selected for New Zealand’s national hockey team is not Kingstone’s only achievement - he recently completed a Bachelor of Commerce and has begun working at Craigs Investment Partners. He is hoping to continue balancing his work and playing hockey for the Black Sticks.

Kingstone’s selection for the Black Sticks continues a string of hockey successes for Old Collegians - in the past two years four other Old Collegians have played for the national side and another two for the Future BlackSticks. Mark Johnston, who was manager for the 1st XI team when Kingstone was in the side, says it is quite a feat to have five players in the national side in two years.

The other Old Collegians selected for the Black Sticks are also all from Greenbank House - team captain Simon Child (2003-05), Marcus Child (2004-08), Devon Manchester (2003-07) and Jared Panchia (2010-11).

There are currently two Old Collegians in the New Zealand Future Black Sticks team: Ben Radovonich (Selwyn, 2011) and Tayla White (Taylor, 2014). Players selected for the Future Black Sticks squad are identified as having the potential to be a Black Stick within 1-3 years.

This month has also seen one current student and four Old Collegians selected for the Junior Black Sticks squad: Year 13 student Xavier Guy (Selwyn), Daniel Easton (School, 2011–15), Maxwell Rasmussen (Peart, 2011–15), Max Ruffell (Greenbank, 2011–15) and Kalyan Jeram (Parnell, 2013).

Players named in the Junior Black Sticks squad are identified as having the potential to be a Black Stick within 3-5 years.
Old Collegian Tyler Lench (Taylor, 2014-15) has also just been named in the New Zealand Under 21 Women’s team selected to compete at the Junior World Cup in Chile from 24 November - 5 December.