Toowoomba was represented by 5 teams at the recent Australian championships in Melbourne. Harristown entered 2 girls teams (U17s (Honours Div) & U15s (Div 1)) , 2 boys teams (U17s (Div 1) & U15s (Honours)) and Toowoomba Grammar entered 1 boys team in Open Boys Div 1. The oustanding performance for the week’s competition was by the Hawks U17 Boys that went through their 8 pool matches undefeated. The finals looked to be lost with Heathfield starting with unusual vigour, and was poised to be a great anticlimax as the team slipped to having three match points against them (at 22-24) at the end of the second set. But the team held their position and pressed with belief to come back to win the second with an amazing closing spike by Damian McIvor from the centre.

With the refreshed confidence the team ran away in the first half of the deciding 3rd set with some aggressive serving, good defence and effective attack to 8-3 at the crossover. Heathfield rallied and put a lot of pressure on Hawks’ receipt and defence to close the gap but with the help of “El Impacto” Joe Webb at serve, the scrambling of Libero extraordinare, Dougie Linnett and the big hitting of Todd Gardner Hawks held out for the 15-11 win of the 3rd , taking the Gold 2-1. [ HAWKS GOLD !!]

The Division MVP was won by Hawks’ captain who was everywhere and unstoppable at the net …. Matthew Norman and it’s worth mentioning that the other main net player for Hawks, Doug (DJ) Jesshope scored 5th in the MVP tally.

So listing the Gold Medal team members …
Matthew Norman (El Capitano)
Todd Gardner (El Spiko)
Doug Jesshope (El Hang-time)
Dougie Linnett (El Libero)
Damien McIvor (El Centerino)
Daniel Mysliwy (El Blockerino) (Winning point in Gold Deciding set!)
Joe Webb (El Impacto)
Nick Woolff (El Speedy)

Coach – Mark Norman (El Stormin’ Norman)
See ya back on the court fellas… HAWKS’ GOLD !