Picked up racquet at 2, NZ champ at 10

GISBORNE HSOB young gun William “Willz” Donnelly has ended the season on a high — adding the New Zealand under-11 boys’ title to the North Island age group crown he won in July.
The Manutuke School student was a convincing three-set winner against Bay of Plenty’s Ronan Thornton in the u11s final at the New Zealand Squash Age Group Junior Nationals in Henderson, Auckland.
It was a repeat of the North Island age groups final.
“I was confident but a bit nervous going into the final,” said 10-year-old Willz, who has grown up around the squash court since he was a toddler.
“He started hitting the ball at two and even then he looked a natural,” said his father, William Donnelly senior.
“At four he was playing in tournaments for up to six-year-olds. He won the Cook Island under-8 years title when he was only five.
“It was a good way to finish the under-11 age group, as next year he moves up to under-13s. ”
Top-seeded Willz, an E1-graded player, did not drop a set on his way to the national title.
Donnelly senior said HSOB had a tremendous group of junior players from under-11 to under-19 level. “The top-end group are good role models for the younger players and I think that’s one of the reasons he enjoys his squash.”
Willz’s older brother Torin was runner-up in the u17 division 1 final, going down 3-1 to Josh Tomlinson (Auckland).
Parearau Kutia improved on her No. 3 seeding after beating second seed Ruby Turnbull (Canterbury) 3-2 to book a place in the u13 final. She turned in a gutsy effort but lost 3-0 to defending champion Anna Hughes (Auckland).
Ariata Kutia finished fourth in the u11 girls’ division. Kahn Grayson was seventh in the 11 boys’ and Chapman Kutia was 10th in the u17 boys’ division.
Xavier Nepe achieved a personal best by qualifying for the u17 boys’ main draw.
“We had 14 HSOB players in the three-day event, which is the pinnacle event on the national junior squash calendar,” said club spokeswoman Audine Grace-Kutia.
“Kahn Grayson, Maia Nikora and Te Ahi Lardelli were at their first nationals and gained extensive experience.”
Dylan Pahina, Chapman Kutia and Bruce Taiapa remained in Auckland to compete for Hawke’s Bay/Gisborne in the inter-district teams event.