The Messenger names top 20 young South Australian athletes to watch in 2022
The next generation of SA sporting talent is already making its mark locally and around the world. We’ve picked 20 emerging stars to keep an eye on this year.
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Rising stars making waves at the top level or on the cusp of reaching it are among the 2022 list of The Messenger’s annual top emerging SA athletes.
From a variety of sports, we’ve picked 20 emerging talents to keep an eye on this year.
Last year’s group included Paralympian swimmer Izzy Vincent, Olympic shooter Katarina Kowplos and AFL draftee Jase Burgoyne.
Now it is the 2022 crop’s turn.
Here are the names to keep an eye out for this year:
EDWARD WINTER (TENNIS)
Edward Winter is well on his way to becoming one of SA’s next tennis stars and the Immanuel College student has already got his 2022 off to a stellar start.
The 17-year-old from Glenlea Tennis Club was the youngest male in the Australian Open qualifying draw earlier this month and defied a rankings gap of 1646 places to defeat former world No. 6 Gilles Simon in three sets.
Winter played beyond his years to stun the veteran Frenchman and two-time Grand Slam quarterfinalist.
Though he went on to lose in the second round, the future is undoubtedly bright for the world No. 1768, who will balance professional tennis with his Year 12 studies this year.
ISAAC KEELER (FOOTBALL)
A smooth-moving, high-leaping, athletic, 197cm Indigenous prospect in the mould of St Kilda’s Paddy Ryder, North Adelaide young gun Isaac Keeler looms as one of SA’s top picks in this year’s AFL Draft.
The Port Augusta and Henley High School product is a member of the 2022 SANFL Under-18 Talent Hub and is in the Crows’ Next Generation Academy.
Keeler kicked 25 goals and averaged 14.3 disposals from 15 under-18 games as a bottom-ager in 2021 and should feature heavily in SA’s national championships side.
KATE ARGENT-BOWDEN (LAWN BOWLS)
It was a sensational year on the green in 2021 for rising lawn bowls star Kate Argent-Bowden.
In February, the Angaston 16-year-old became the youngest to claim the state women’s singles title before winning the Australian Open under-18 girls’ singles crown.
She went on to be named Bowls Australia’s under-18 female bowler of the year in December.
Argent-Bowden, who is also a promising footballer, appears to be going from strength to strength in SA lawn bowls.
JACK MATCHETT (CRICKET/FOOTBALL)
Kensington and Adelaide High School cricketer Jack Matchett is in the midst of a very memorable summer.
The right-arm quick and strong left-handed batsman was best on ground as Adelaide High claimed the SAAS Twenty20 Cup in November.
Then this month he led Kensington to Premier Cricket’s under-18 shield and was the hero with the bat, scoring an unbeaten 133 off 137 balls as the Browns posted 4/264.
Matchett is a dual-sport talent who played in Glenunga’s A grade side in the Adelaide Footy League, which made it to the division two grand final last year.
MAIA TAITE (SURFING)
At only 12 years old, Taite has performed well above her years in surfing.
Last year she shocked many by winning the open women’s division of the Hurley Winter Classic, and performed in multiple other women’s events.
She has also been selected for the Olympic program at the Surfing Australia High Performance Centre in NSW.
She capped the year off by claiming the individual primary category at the 2021 The Advertiser, Messenger and Department for Education School Sports Awards in November.
SOPHIE CASEY (NETBALL)
A state under-17 netballer, Sophie Casey is a talented all-round athlete but has chosen to narrow her focus into one sport.
The Scotch College student has a bright future in netball with her athleticism and ability to read the play are outstanding for her age group as a mid-court player.
Casey, 17, has also played Premier League reserves with Matrics and has been selected in the 2022 SA under-19 squad.
PATRICK McGREGOR (SOCCER)
A regular feature in SA underage state sides, Patrick McGregor is rising up the soccer ladder.
After being part of the Football SA NTC program with the under-13s and under-15s, the midfielder is now with Adelaide United’s youth team and will play in the National Premier Leagues SA in 2022.
RILEY YEATMAN (BASEBALL)
A childhood dream came true for Riley Yeatman when the East Torrens rising star signed with US Major League Baseball club the San Diego Padres in 2021.
It came after the 17-year-old burst onto the scene with a huge season in SA, winning pitcher of the year in the Adelaide Super League.
Yeatman is currently back home playing ABL for the Giants before he returns to San Diego for spring training and continues his journey to one day fulfilling his goal of pitching in an MLB match.
BETH WORTHLEY (CRICKET)
Sturt young gun Beth Worthley has been playing first grade Premier Cricket since 2018 and now, at age 16, the batter is looking to take her talents even further.
A Walford student, Worthley has featured at second X1 level for SA and was selected in SA’s under-19 state side for exhibition matches last year.
EMILIA MURRAY (SOCCER)
Fresh off her A-League Women debut in December, Emilia Murray looks set for a big season in the Women’s National Premier League SA.
The 17-year-old midfielder is contracted to the Reds but will be continuing in the Football SA NTC program in 2022.
With the ability to also play as a winger, last year she scored nine goals in just 11 WNPL games.
KEELEY KUSTERMANN (FOOTBALL)
A product of West Adelaide and Goodwood Saints, 17-year-old Keeley Kustermann is on the path to an AFLW career.
The Bloods defender was one of four SA girls named in the 2022 AFLW Academy and has also been part of Port Adelaide’s Next Generation Academy.
Regarded as a top prospect ahead of this year’s draft, Kustermann has already made her mark at SANFLW level and has been included in West’s leadership group for the upcoming season.
JAKE NESBITT (ROWING)
Rising rower Jake Nesbitt is eyeing a place on the Australian Junior Rowing Team in 2022.
The 17-year-old rows for St Peter’s College while also training with the South Australian Sports Institute and is coming off a highly successful year.
Nesbitt was part of the Saints crew which claimed first place in the schoolboy’s coxed eight at the state championships before going on to claim gold in the same event at the national championships.
It was the first time since 1968 a crew from SA triumphed in the event – and was Saints’ inaugural win.
PJ CARLIN (ATHLETICS)
It’s no wonder Northern Districts Athletics Club product PJ Carlin is making waves in SA throwing – it runs in his blood.
The state record holder in the under-14 and under-16 shot put is the son of international hammer thrower Paul Carlin and the nephew of back-to-back Commonwealth gold medallist Sean Carlin.
Last year PJ placed first in six separate shot-put events at under-16 and under-17 level, including at the Athletics SA State Championships in February.
At 16, the Trinity College student will be looking to continue his climb up the ranks this year.
BOHDI SMITH (SKATEBOARDING)
Largs Bay skater Bohdi Smith has a bright future ahead on the board.
The 12-year-old is the top-ranked street skater in Australia in his age category, according to the Australian Skateboarding Federation and 13th in the world.
With skateboarding making its debut at last year’s Tokyo Olympics, Bohdi will certainly be one to watch for future Games.
OLIVIA BRADLEY (BASKETBALL)
After being selected in the Adelaide Lightning Academy last month, basketballer Olivia Bradley is eyeing a big year in 2022.
The Eastern Mavericks small forward, 16, hopes to gain selection for the national championships in April as she works towards a dream of playing US college basketball.
Earlier this month, Bradley averaged 15 points per game across six matches to lead all comers in scoring for the under-18 girls tournament at the Adelaide Invitational Challenge.
MAGUIRE REID (KAYAK)
Maguire Reid is only a newcomer to the world of kayaking but he is quickly making a name for himself in the sport.
An accomplished surf life saving athlete, the 17-year-old earnt a SASI scholarship in December and is fastest junior male over 1000m in the state.
With his times shaping up to be highly competitive nationally, Maguire will be one to watch in the coming 12 months as he juggles multiple sports.
KATIE SHARKEY (HOCKEY)
An athletic and skilled hockey player, Katie Sharkey has a big 2022 ahead of her as she attempts to gain Under-18 National Futures selection all while completing Year 12 studies at Marryatville High School.
The SASI athlete is an exciting and driven midfielder who is adept at creating opportunities on the pitch for herself and her teammates.
The 17-year-old hails from the Seacliff Hockey Club.
AIDAN MURPHY (ATHLETICS)
It takes a massive effort to break a state record, especially one which has stood for 35 years.
St Peter’s College teenage sprinter Aidan Murphy did just that in December with his 200m time of 20.64 seconds at the Copyworld Toshiba State Interclub competition.
The 18-year-old’s time beat Steve McBain’s under-20 men’s state record of 21.21 set in Athens in 1986.
And Murphy did it all after he woke up sick the morning of the event and considered pulling out, only to be coaxed out by coach Peter Fitzpatrick.
He now holds three state 200m records in under-16, under-18 and under-20 age groups.
JAXON BOWSHIRE (DIVING)
Jaxon Bowshire first stepped on a diving board when he was just four years old.
Now, he is the top ranked 18 and under male diver in Australia at the age of 15.
The St Michael’s College student is preparing himself for this year’s Open Nationals and trials for the World Championships and Commonwealth Games.
He is a member of the the Diving Australia Dream 24/28 squad, which involves athletes identified to have the potential to achieve excellence at the 2024 and/or 2028 Olympic Games.
MACIE WHEELER (DIVING)
One of South Australia’s and Australia’s promising young divers, Macie Wheeler has starred while moving up the ranks in local, national and international competitions.
The 16-year-old – also a member of the the Diving Australia Dream 24/28 squad – is focusing on the springboard ahead of World Championship and Commonwealth Game trials in April.
Wheeler will be out to impress after limited opportunities to compete in 2020 and 2021 due to Covid.
*Athletes selected in previous editions are not eligible to be chosen again.
Check out the lists from previous years: 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017
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