BACK IN BUSINESS: Andrew Kinchella got back into competitive judo this year and picked up silver at the national secondary school championships. Photo/Supplied
BACK IN BUSINESS: Andrew Kinchella got back into competitive judo this year and picked up silver at the national secondary school championships. Photo/Supplied
Cullinane College student Andrew Kinchella's return to competitive judo this year has continued to reap rewards as he won silver in the Under 60kg division at the NZ Secondary Schools championships.
Competing at the Aquinas Action Centre in Tauranga, Kinchella narrowly missed the gold to Gisborne Boys' High School's ReeftanBrown-Tereka, with Kerikeri's Callum Riddle and Orewa's Lewis Peart the joint recipients of the bronze.
It was the first time a Cullinane student had entered the school nationals since Matt Gibson won gold in 2008.
After a three-year break from the sport, Kinchella came back in May to win a gold in the Cadet Under 60kg division at the North Wellington Regional Judo tournament, held in Wanganui.
He then won bronze at the Waikato/Bay of Plenty championships.
In Tauranga, Wanganui High School's Finn Brown and Kasey Watson won gold in their weight classes, and then silver and bronze respectively in the Open weight, while Seth Scrimshaw won silver in his division.
