We are proud to highlight the achievements of Sarah Molisa, our PE and Te Reo teacher who also serves as the Māori and Pasifika lead and Year 11 Dean. In addition to these roles, she is in her third year as the assistant coach of the New Zealand Women’s U17 Basketball team, which has recently qualified for the U17 World Cup in Leon, Mexico, taking place from July 13-21.
Sarah's dedication to the team and her hard work have been instrumental in their success. They achieved 2nd place in the U15 Oceania Cup in Guam in 2022 and 3rd place in the U16 Asia Cup in 2023, securing their qualification for the U17 Basketball World Cup. This is a significant achievement, as New Zealand does not often qualify for this prestigious event.
As an assistant coach, Sarah's responsibilities include video analysis and scouting, athlete wellbeing, and supporting the head coach with tactical play. These roles are crucial for the team's preparation and performance. Sarah will depart on Saturday to acclimatise to the altitude and heat in Mexico and to conduct training sessions before the event begins.
Sarah shared her thoughts on this remarkable journey: "It has been a long and hard road, and we are very proud to be going as New Zealand doesn’t often qualify for the World Cup. The dedication and commitment of the team have been outstanding, and we are looking forward to representing our country on the world stage."
We are incredibly proud of Sarah's dedication and commitment to both our school community and the New Zealand Women’s U17 team. Her passion for teaching and coaching, coupled with her international experience, makes her an invaluable asset to Marsden School.
Please join us in wishing Sarah and the New Zealand Women’s U17 team the best of luck in Mexico. We look forward to hearing about their experiences and successes upon their return.
