The summer sport season is greatly anticipated at King’s, with our boys taking to the field and water in Athletic Association of the Great Public Schools (AAGPS) competitions across Cricket, Rowing, Water Polo, Tennis and Basketball.
Boys learn to lead, persist through challenges and grow in confidence fostering values that extend beyond the sports arena and into their broader school and personal lives.
Captains are selected by the Masters in Charge (MIC) in consultation with the Head Coach and Director of Sport, to lead their teams and sports into the season. These students are chosen for their commitment, communication, and ability to unite their peers. Several also serve as Cadet leaders, School Monitors or House Captains, further developing their leadership skills across multiple areas of school life.
We took the opportunity to interview a few of the captains to hear what they look forward to most this summer sport season, their goals as leaders and how they define effective leadership.
The Captain of Cricket is Vivaan in Year 12, chosen by Director of Cricket and 1st XI Head Coach, Mr Rod Hokin.
When asked how he would describe an effective captain, Vivaan shares, “A good captain is defined by the positive impact they have on the people around them. A strong leader helps others grow, improve their skills and feel supported, both on and off the field. It’s not about being the best player, it’s about bringing out the best in everyone else.”
When asked about what he would like to achieve as the Captain of Cricket, Vivaan shares, “I hope to achieve a Premiership for the School and lead our teams to strong, consistent performances. I want to continue developing the cricket program by building a positive culture where players are motivated, disciplined and committed to improving their skills.”
To lead the Rowing program this season, Year 11 student Lachlan was chosen by Director of Rowing, Mr Julian Huxley.
Lachlan shares, “What I enjoy most about being a Sport Captain is motivating the boys to push themselves further every session. Seeing them find their limits, grow stronger as individuals and work together as a crew to achieve something greater than themselves is incredibly rewarding and inspiring.”
He wants to bring out the best in all rowers. “This season, I’m most looking forward to watching every rower develop both mentally and physically through hard work and discipline. I’m also keen to see how our commitment pays off when we come together as a team to perform our absolute best at the Head of the River.”
Matthew in Year 11 was selected as Captain of Water Polo by MIC Mrs Sandy Mathies.
He recognises the important role of everyone who contributes to the sport, “I hope to grow the sport and build on past results, as an acknowledgement of the hard work people around me put in.
Matthew believes a strong leader shows humility. “I define a good leader as someone that walks with those who look up to him, to not abuse power and authority, but gain respect and be the voice of those under them.”
For Tennis, Sethin and Eric in Year 11 were selected as Captains by MIC Mr Jeremy Wicht.
Sethin has ambitions for the Tennis program to continue growing, “My biggest goal is to build a tennis culture at King’s that lasts well beyond this season. We have a lot of talented juniors coming through, and I want them to love representing the School.”
His view of leadership is one of service. “To me, a good captain leads by example. It’s not always about winning, it’s about showing up, putting in the effort and setting a standard for others to follow. Leadership at its core is about actions that inspire others to do the same. There is a John Maxwell quote that sums it up for me: “A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way and shows the way.”
For Eric, his greatest anticipation is to strengthen the bonds between the boys. “For the season ahead, I am looking forward to the bonds, successes and failures we will experience together. These shared moments will ultimately strengthen our team identity and relationships. Navigating challenges collectively will develop the resilience and unity that ultimately define our success.”
“A good captain must be able to lead from the front and back of a team. True leadership means setting the standard through personal example while simultaneously elevating teammates, recognising that leadership in a team environment requires adaptability and shared responsibility.”
For Basketball, Patrick in Year 11 was selected as Captain by MIC Mr Jhunlee Pamintuan.
Patrick is motivated by the opportunities for continual growth, “I look forward to each week’s game and training session as there’s always a new challenge with the teams we are playing against. It is always a great chance for us to keep getting better individually and as a team.”
Inspiring the younger boys is one of his key priorities. “I am hoping to help the younger boys learn and develop the culture, so we can maximise our success and build on that momentum for the future.”
As the summer sport season unfolds, we wish all teams continued success, spirited competition, and memorable experiences both on and off the field. While our captains lead with distinction, we also acknowledge the vital contribution of every student in shaping the culture of sportsmanship and leadership at The King’s School.
May the boys continue to pursue not only athletic excellence but also the development of character, teamwork and integrity in every player who proudly wears the Sky Blue and White.