Bright future in sports and studies for high achiever

HIGH ACHIEVER: Tauranga Boys' College student James Thwaite has had a stellar 2015 and is both the school's dux and Titans Sportsman of the Year, which is believed to be a first for the school. PHOTO/ANDREW WARNER

"Get involved with everything at school because you are more likely to regret the things you didn't do, rather than the ones you did."

Tauranga Boys' College 2015 dux and the Titans Sportsman of the Year, James Thwaite, says he followed that advice from senior students and although it sounded "a bit corny" at the time it has paid big dividends for the 18-year-old.

Principal Robert Mangan said it was the first time one student had received both awards at the college to his knowledge, "I am not aware of it happening before, it is very unusual".

"He is very focused on achieving excellence in whatever field he puts his hand to ..."

According to records from the college the teenager was awarded the Norman Clarke trophy for the top academic student, the HOBEC Bursary for 1st place in Level 3 English, the University of Auckland Scholarship, the Cooney Lees Morgan Prize for 1st in Level 3 History, the Ricoh Prize for top Arts Scholar, the Westpac Prize 1st in University Calculus, and a Donald & Minola Grant Scholarship. He also received perfect A+ grades in calculus, economics, chemistry and philosophy in 100-level papers through the University of Waikato.

He credits his teachers, kayaking coaches, staff at the school and family for their solid support and said, "I hope that is everyone, I would hate to miss anyone out".

A major highlight for 2015, he said, was being part of the New Zealand Canoe Slalom senior men's team that attended the World Championships in London and competed on the technically demanding Olympic course at the Lee Valley White Water Centre.

In the lead up to that Thwaite represented New Zealand at the ICF Junior & U23 Canoe Slalom World Championships in Brazil.

Thwaite switched to the sport at the end Year of 9, he said after "I had done football mainly but I was never any great shakes".

However academy teacher, Rob Sperling's talk on kayaking and videos of people going off waterfalls and doing slalom at a college open night tweaked his interest.

"He is a real enthusiast and the teacher in charge of kayaking and after doing it for a few months it rapidly became my main sport."

There were three main classes in white water rafting, he explained and said he changed from K1 were the paddler sits and uses a double-bladed paddle to a C1, which requires the paddler to kneel in the boat with a single-bladed paddle - following more successes in the sport.

Thwaite said he was a bit disappointed with his performance at the junior world champs were he placed 32nd but he was happier coming in 56th at the men's world champs.

"That was an awesome experience as you are literally up against the best in the world. But you grow and learn with every experience."

His ultimate dream would be making the New Zealand Olympic team in the future but he was eagerly waiting to see if he had won a spot at Auckland University to study medicine.

Thwaite was undecided on what field to enter although it looked likely he would follow in his parents' footsteps who were both surgeons.