Through hard work and plenty of lunchtime practice, the kinder to year 6 tumbling team has been crowned overall champion school and 2026 Championship School.
Tumbling ― a discipline within gymnastics ― challenges athletes to perform a sequence of acrobatic skills, including flips, twists and handsprings along a specialised spring-loaded track.
Coach Mel Coburn said the result was a proud moment for the 57 students who represented the school at the competition against 138 students from 30 schools across Victoria and NSW.
“To be crowned overall champion school is a real testament to how hard the students had worked in the lead-up to the competition,” she said.
“Many students gave up their lunchtimes to practise their routines and remained dedicated throughout the term, with many not missing a single session.”
The competition was the culmination of two full terms of preparation, during which Coach Mel witnessed a remarkable transformation in both the students' skills and their self-belief.
Notably, many of the competitors were kinder and Year 1 students taking to the track for the very first time, performing their routines before a crowd of almost 200 spectators.
“Seeing them go from being nervous and unsure to confidently performing their routines was something I was incredibly proud of,” coach Mel said.
“By the end of the program they had developed numerous foundation skills, greater confidence and, for many, a whole new passion for the sport,”
Coach Mel said tumbling gave students an opportunity to challenge themselves individually, while still working as part of a team.
“It teaches them that it’s okay to fall, try again and keep working until they achieve something they once thought they couldn’t do,” she said.
While the championship titles were a tremendous achievement, coach Mel was equally proud of the life lessons students carried home from the experience.
“For me, the results are wonderful, but seeing students overcome nerves, learn new skills, support each other and feel proud of themselves is the real win,” she said.
“The cheering and encouragement from the sidelines was an absolute joy to watch.”
Looking ahead, the program aims to build on this success in 2026, with Coach Mel keen to grow participation numbers and establish a stronger pathway for senior students.
She also hopes more senior students will join Leni Coburn and Summer Scambler, who helped lead the team to its successful result.
“We’re excited to keep building, and hopefully introduce even more students to the sport of tumbling,” she said.
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