In Round 2, the Surf City women rebounded well to beat second-seeded Te Awamutu, of Waikato, 4-1.
Needing to win their final game in pool play to advance, the team showed no signs of nerves as they beat seventh-seeded Red Star, of Wellington, 4-1.
The work done in training over the past three months showed in the team's performances as the tournament progressed, Newman said.
Semifinal wins to Catherine Harbott, Casey Miller and Kate Muir propelled Surf City to a 3-2 victory and a place in the final.
Their opponents in the decider were top seeds Mount Maunganui. Wins to Aana Donnelly and Miller set the scene for the decisive fifth match.
In five close sets, Muir played excellent squash to clinch the national C Grade women's championship for Surf City.
“It was an amazing achievement,” Newman said.
“Avon Moleta has done an outstanding job coaching the team since June and deserves a massive amount of credit for getting the girls home.”
The Surf City F Grade men were seeded fifth for their tournament in Morrinsville.
In going through their round robin unbeaten, they won Surf City's first men's F Grade title. The team — Jereme Taylor, Jarrod Carter, Simon Bunyan, Connor Fahey and Ky Bartlett — won all five of their matches.
They were well led by their No.1 and No.2 players Taylor and Carter, who won all their games. But the team needed everyone's input, and every member contributed to the tally of wins.
Fourteen-year-old Ky Bartlett gave perhaps the performance of the tournament in pulling out a 3-0 win in the fifth match to secure a 3-2 victory over Ohakune in Round 2.
“It is a great achievement for the club as all of the team have just started playing squash in the past 18 months,” Newman said.
“Connor Fahey did a great job managing the team as well as playing.”
The Surf City C Grade men were seeded third and had good results throughout pool play.
They beat Matamata (Waikato) 4-1, Kawaroa Park (Central) 4-1 and Khandallah (Wellington) 3-2 to finish top of their group.
Matt Tietjen provided an unexpected clutch win at No.1 to topple the No.2 seeds Khandallah.
In the semifinals, Surf City beat Auckland club Royal Oak 3-2, earning the right to face a young Whangarei team in the final. They were unable to achieve a C Grade Surf City double, losing 4-1 to Whangarei, but Newman said it was a great effort to have a Surf City team in both the men's and women's finals.
The F Grade women's team competing in Morrinsville improved on their seeding by one in finishing fourth.
The team, coached and managed by Willie Donnelly, comprised four juniors who improved rapidly throughout the week and gained a great deal of experience, club president Newman said.
“Again, all of these players have only just started playing squash in the past 18 months and it is great to see them as part of a team representing Squash Eastern and Surf City,” he said.
The Surf City B Grade men's team had a challenging week in Palmerston North.
Seeded seventh, the team had close 3-2 losses to Kawaroa Park (Central) and Christchurch, and finished 10th.
The lack of any reserve players made things hard for the team, and they were unable to manage a win through the week.
Newman thanked playing-shirt sponsor Property Brokers and all those who supported the club during the week.
“Gaining exposure for the club at a national level is important,” Newman said. “I believe Surf City Squash did themselves proud.”
