They make a two-hour drive every day just to get to the AIMS Games, travelling through the dawn from the far-flung reaches of the Eastern Bay of Plenty.
By the time the 10-strong team of indoor bowlers from Te Kura o Waioweka near Opotiki arrive in Tauranga every morning, their vocal chords are exhausted from chatting. They're already tired and stiff - but the sight of the ASB Arena venue for the code soon inspires them.
"We're up every morning at 5am and on the road by 6am just to get here in time," team manager Rapua Timoti explains.
"We usually grab breakfast at a cafe on the way, then do some stretches when we get here - but the team is just loving it and it's such an amazing experience for them."
While many of the other 326 schools at the tournament are staying in Tauranga, waking late and strolling to their venues, the Waioweka crew are doing it slightly tougher.
But their phenomenal efforts just to bowl at the AIMS Games would not go unrewarded. On Friday morning, tournament director Vicki Semple presented the team with a $500 cheque for the school to spend on sports equipment.
Of the 73 students at the school, only 17 are Year 7 or Year 8, with the 10 indoor bowlers fundraising to pay for uniforms and travelling expenses by having a 'bowl'a'thon'.
Even with their four-hour commute each day, the performances haven't diminished; singles bowler Tahi Tait-Ropitini proved the star turn in his division, making the round of 64 in the 350-strong field, while several of their pairs combinations picked up some handy wins.
The team has been inspired and coached by members of the Opotiki bowls fraternity, who've travelled to support their young prodigies and those of several other schools in the Opotiki region.
Gabrielle Jenner, 73, has been travelling with the team each day and the recently-formed Opotiki Indoor Club has embraced their young charges.
"They've been coming to the club since May and have been really dedicated, training every Monday after school, then coming to our club night," she said.
"It's been so special seeing them embrace the sport and do so well this week - some of them can be scallywags but they're great kids at heart."
Tait-Ropitini said he's loved the whole tournament.
"It's been great playing bowls for the whole week and I've managed to make heaps of new mates."
