WIS will be among 228 schools nationwide, a sharp jump from last year's 10th anniversary of the Games which boasted 193 schools and 6500 athletes.
WIS deputy principal Lisa Clark said the school had been toying with the idea of sending teams for some time.
The unbeaten boys basketball team with its loyal band of supporters was the ideal choice for the school's debut at the games.
"Their coach Terry Tanoa and his wife Tess have done a magnificent job with this team and without their help and help from parents and the community this trip simply wouldn't have happened," Clark said yesterday.
"The boys needed a new strip, Terry and Tess and others rallied around contacting businesses and individuals in the community to sponsor one strip each, then there was a lot of fundraising, including hangi, to help raise travelling funds. Hoopnation sponsored our warm-up gear.
"The management team for the trip include myself, Tess and parent Mere Tua - hopefully we can keep all the boys intact, they're pretty excited," Clark said.
Coach Tanoa said he had a great bunch of boys to work with.
"This is a team made up of Year 7 and 8 under-13 guys and they are really committed and keen to continue their unbeaten run, although they do know that it's going to be a lot tougher at this competition."
The Aims Games has grown to a massive size and rivals many of the larger international adult events on the sporting calendar.
Tournament director Vicki Semple said: "We're already bigger than the Commonwealth Games and we're on track to haul in the Olympics at this rate.
"Our organising committee has been blown away by the enthusiasm of schools once again and we're looking forward to giving all our athletes quality competition and some life-long memories."
Together with supporters and team management, it means that more than 10,000 people will be arriving in Tauranga for the first day's cross-country championship and the opening ceremony on Sunday.
Netball star Irene Van Dyk and Commonwealth Games gold medallists Sam Webster (track cycling) and Lauren Boyle (swimming) will help open the championship, while an impressive role call of former sporting stars will be on the sidelines during the week helping to coach and manage teams.
They include former All Blacks Rico Gear and Rhys Duggan, former Silver Fern Tania Dalton, Tall Black Dillon Boucher, acclaimed rugby league coach Kevin Tamati and middle-distance legend Dick Quax, a silver medallist at the 1976 Montreal Olympics.
Among the 17 sporting codes represented will be 90 netball teams, 62 hockey teams, 79 football teams and more than 500 cross-country runners.
Table tennis also makes a debut this year, attracting 59 entries from 15 schools.
Several sports have been over-subscribed, with organisers having to limit entries in sports like hockey and tennis, where turf and court access is at a premium.
While big schools like Tauranga Intermediate, Auckland's Northcross and Murrays Bay Intermediates have hefty team numbers, it's the showing from smaller schools which continues to amaze Semple.
"We have nearly 70 new schools taking part this year, many of them from passionate little sporting outposts like Wanganui Intermediate - they're heartland schools with keen kids who are desperate to show they can foot it with anyone else their age in the country."
Parents and supporters can follow the 2014 NZCT AIMS Games at www.nzaimsgames.co.nz.
