Assistant principal and team manager Leyton Watson inquired about the state of Tauranga Boys' College's squash team when he arrived at the school in 2002. The answer amazed him - there was not one - though he began to understand why after a visit to the old, dark Tauranga Squash Club.
What has happened since is the perfect case study on how to construct a champion.
The programme started in 2002 and the team went to nationals for the first time the following year, seeded 32nd out of 32 schools.
The rankings proved justified, but by 2010 the team had improved to third. A second place finish in 2011 followed, before the first of two national titles in 2012 proved the palatial Susan Devoy Squash Centre had been well worth the work poured in by the club, college and Sport BOP.
"I guess we started from scratch," Watson said.