High sporting achievers of Brisbane North and Moreton
How’s this for a list of 200 high achieving secondary school students from Brisbane North and Moreton? Full story here.
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Here’s 200 athletes from north of the Brisbane River who have distinguished themselves this year.
They feature in our four-part series highlighting many of the best secondary school aged sporting achievers across the region.
TOP BRISBANE WEST SCHOOL SPORT ACHIEVERS
TOP BRISBANE EAST AND BAYSIDE SCHOOL SPORT ACHIEVERS
TOP BRISBANE SOUTH WEST, LOGAN AND IPSWICH ACHIEVERS
The list highlights many, although not all, of the elite youth schoolboys and schoolgirls in our region.
On Monday we launched our series with a focus on the western suburbs, and then yesterday week took a deep dive into the talent from Brisbane’s east and eastern bayside.
Tomorrow it will be the turn to put rookies from the south and south west corridor in the spotlight.
But for now, enjoy today’s insight into many of the high achieving sporting youth from Brisbane North.
TOP BRISBANE NORTH SCHOOL SPORT ACHIEVERS
Jump to your school:St Margaret’s Anglican Girls School I Wavell SHS I Narangba Valley SHS I Burpengary SSC I Genesis Christian College I St John Fisher College I St Patrick’s College, Shorncliffe I Bracken Ridge SHS I Australian Christian College I Nudgee College I Albany Creek SHS I St Columban’s College I Grace Lutheran College, Rothwell I Kelvin Grove SC I Padua College I St Rita’s College I Mt Alvernia College I Northpine Christian College I Redcliffe SHS I St Paul’s School I Mueller College I Brisbane Girls Grammar I Gregory Terrace I Brisbane Grammar School I All Hallows’ I Kedron Park SHS I Craigslea SHS I
ST MARGARET’S ANGLICAN GIRLS’ SCHOOL
Ella Welsh (rowing)
In a school steeped in rowing tradition, Ella Welsh is an elite talent in her age group.
Recently she broke a Brisbane Schoolgirl Rowing Association indoor record in a time of 7:12.10.
Lucy Stuart (Water Polo)
St Margaret’s latest international, Stuart earned selection in the bronze medal winning Australian under-16 water polo team which competed at the girls’ World Championships in Turkey.
Bless Daly (Water Polo)
Like Stuart, see above, Year 10 student Daly also played her way into the Australian under-16 water polo team.
She is a scholarship holder at the Queensland Academy of Sport.
Millicent Watson (Touch Football)
With quick feet and great hands, the super fit Watson played her way into the 15 Years & Under Australian Touch Football Team of Merit.
Eadie McWilliams (equestrian)
Yet another international to grace the halls of St Margaret’s, Year 11 student McWilliams represented Australia at the FEI World Endurance Championships earlier in the year.
Daisy Brown (Soccer)
Queensland has exciting football juniors and one of the best is Daisy Brown, a scholarship holder at the Queensland Academy of Sport and a player who was in the Future Matilda’s Squad member.
ST BENEDICT’S COLLEGE
St Benedict’s College sprint ace Ned Amorsen is a stunning sprint prospect who has a list a mile long of outstanding achievements.
Last year he was first in the Queensland Athletics State Championships 100m (11.40secs) and 200m (23.06secs), then progressed to win both the 100m and 200m at the Little Athletics State Championships.
Then, at the Australian Athletics Nationals Track and Field Championships, Amorsen flew to victory in the 100m and then, despite the fastest 200m heat time, was disqualified after a contentious false start.
However, he was invited to run in the under-16 4x100m where he helped his team to third.
Back at the Little Athletics Nationals, his 100m time of 11.37s in final equalled the Little A record for this event.
In the 200m he ran 23.27s, finishing second and just missing out on the Little A Queensland record by 0.01s.
THE LAKES COLLEGE
Hamish, Alex and Lara Corser (inline hockey)
These Siblings make a terrific trio who have been selected to represent Queensland at the 2024 Inline (ice hockey) Hockey National Championships.
The event will see more than 30 teams come from all over Australia to compete from late September.
Hamish, Alex and Lara Corser were sure to light up the stadium with their performances.
WAVELL STATE HIGH SCHOOL
A noted bed of outstanding sporting talent, Wavell SHS was a particular pathway into rugby league representative football for many of its students.
We feature those Queensland representatives below, but first doff our hats to these students who are excellent in judo, boxing, netball hockey and baseball.
Peyton Cybulski (Judo) rose on the biggest of stages - the Australian Judo Championships, to claim a bronze medal in the U32kg class. She also won a bronze medal in the same category at the state championship.
Ruby Price (hockey) was a perennial representative player whose latest exploits this season was making the 15- years Queensland schoolgirls side. She is an Arana Ascot Hockey Club junior.
Jaspaa Stowers (boxing) is light on his feet and quick with his hands. So much so he claimed the under-19 state championship 60kg weight division. Go get them Jaspaa.
Bella Nolan (baseball)
With a sharp eye and quick reflexes, the athletic Bella Nolan played her way into the under-16 Queensland girls team.
And then there were these Queensland schoolgirl netball representatives who were absolutely outstanding talents in their sport - Ariella Oloapu (15 years), Zaib Premani, Harlow Brady and Xander Asi (all 12 years Queensland players).
Wavell SHS also had a small army of Queensland schoolboy and schoolgirl representatives who attended the ASSRL championships on the mid north coast of New South Wales last week or this week.
They were:
Keira Rangi
Talk about being a trailblazer for the women’s game.
The Aspley junior Rangi created history earlier in her career when she was named in the Queensland schoolboys under-12 side.
At the time there was no representative avenue for young female players, but her performance could not be ignored which led to an historic selection. Fast forward to 2024 and she is an elite running lock or second rower, but creates tries with her ball-playing.
LillianaNati
Queensland Under 17 City selection Shalene Lilliana Nati was an outside back with untapped potential.
The energetic Redcliffe Dolphins fullback was a cool and composed customer, with a sprinkle of x-factor where she mixes her speed and power to make half breaks and get her team onto the front foot.
Maddox Goodwin
The Wavell SHS Langer Trophy captain who won a hotly contested second row position in the Queensland side. He is an outstanding defensive player on the edge and robust runner who the Cowboys have signed.
Charlie Webb
Webb is back at the championships, winning the 2024 player of the championships, after tasting the same event last year as a 14-year-old bench player.
Hayden Madders
Madders is a well known name in the Wavell SHS community, and young Hayden is another from the same family. With his strong touch football background, it is no surprise to learn Hayden is fast on his feet with a great passing game. He can double as a hooker where he plays for Wavell, but five-eight is his preferred position. Madders has a ready made combination with his halfback Charlie Webb from Wavell SHS.
“He has grown in confidence and stature (since last year) and understands his game and what is expected inside and outside of him,’’ explained Queensland coach Chris Little.
Boston Nau
A fullback, centre or five-eight, the multiskilled Nau played wing.
Nau was one of the players of the day when Wavell hosted Marsden SHS for its annual Homecoming Day.
He is originally a New Zealand boy.
Billo Wotton
Originally from tropical Palm Island off Townsville, the Broncos’ contracted centre is electric and fast on his feet. He played for Northern last year as a baby, aged just 14, but relocated to Wavell SHS this year where he is billeted by a family from the Wavell SHS community.
Cruz Molo
Another well known name at Wavell SHS - his relatives Francis and Michael play NRL for St George Illawarra - he is a tall, rangy, hard working kid on and off the field - a real pleasure to have around a touring squad such as this. He plays second row or No.13 and tackles strongly.
Israel Faialaga
A rousing prop forward who is a traditional big body in the middle who dents the defensive line and gives his team momentum with his play the ball at the ruck.
Isaac Salei
His brother Lauloto Salei was a Queensland schoolboys 16-18 years representative two years ago and now Isaac is continuing the tradition. While Lauloto was more of an edge or No.13, Isaac is more of a traditional prop but has similar high standards on and off the field. He will be a great squad member on tour.
Charlie Dickson
A No.13, he is never killed off close to the line and has that second and third effort wriggle in him. He also varies the angle of his runs toward either side of the ruck.
The Dolphins have him signed, under lock and key in a long term contact
Zac Herdegen
Wavell SHS would not swap this No.7 for any other in the competition. He has a great kicking game, works both sides of the field with his creative play and is a threat when he does himself. The Knights have him signed up.
Jared Horne
Brisbane Broncos-signed, second rower Horne is still only 17 and is getting better with more matches against mature opponents.
Queensland 16-18 years schoolboy coach Geoff Eggert likes the quality of his play. “You can tell he is an effort player, a competitor who has a good skill level. Potentially he could be very good and can handle himself.’’
Redcliffe SHS
Amelie Hoefel (water polo)
Amelie Hoefel is a member of youth Australian teams for the last two years and only last week helped Australia win a bronze medal at the World Championships in Turkey.
A Queensland, she was a member of the Sunshine Coast school regional team and won the state school championship.
Hoefel hails from the powerhouse Mermaids club, arguably the best junior club in Australia, and was a member of Mermaids’ under-16 team that won at the Australian Youth Championship.
She was also a part of the Opens Mermaids team that won at the Queensland State Championships.
Hoefel was also a noted swimmer who has medalled at the Brisbane championships.
A leading female player at the school, she represented Sunshine Coast at the Queensland School Sport Championship team where she progressed into the Queensland schoolgirls squad
James Peni (Rugby league)
Imposing middle or edge forward James Peni made the Maroons’ 14-15 years Queensland schoolboys side this year and we have a feeling it won’t be the last state side he makes.
A big body who carries the ball strongly from the back of his side, Peni is one of many youngsters from the Burpengary, Caboolture and Woodford regions benefiting from the rugby league development program at Redcliffe SHS.
He is 15 years of age but is as big as a fully grown young adult and plays like it.
Kyron Arthy (Rugby league)
Arthy makes running the ball look easy. Thickly set, he breaks tackles consistently and has plenty of speed. He arrived at Redcliffe SHS from Perth at the start of the year hoping to advance his league career - and it has worked. He was selected in the Queensland 14-15 years schoolboys side.
Lorenzo Peseta (Rugby league)
What an asset he will be to Redcliffe’s Langer Trophy side in years to come.
A big hearted, go-all day type of player, Trojan worker Peseta loves the physical battle.
He made the top tier Queensland Maroons 14-15 years schoolboys side.
Lennox Ngata-Faofau (Rugby league)
Lennox Ngata-Faofua was a likely looking talent, a big middle forward who launches himself off the back fence with some explosive front row charges. He was selected in the Queensland 14-15 years schoolboys side.
Jonathan Alo (Rugby league)
A sky scraping centre or winger, the high-flying Alo is a Queensland Schoolboys selection who plays for Redcliffe’s Year 10 Walters Cup team.
Athletic with great awareness, Alo plays rugby league but would have an instant advantage in rugby or playing basketball. He was selected in the Queensland 14-15 years schoolboys side.
Wil Berrigan (Rugby league)
An unfortunate withdrawal from the Queensland schoolboys 14-15 years team due to injury, he was, however, selected to represent the side. He plays hooker and is an outstanding prospect, following in the footsteps of his older brother Nate, a Dolphins’ contracted utility forward who also represented the Queensland 14-15 years schoolboys.
KELVIN GROVE STATE COLLEGE
Lucy Hubczenko (football)
Hubczenko plays club football for Virginia United FC and last Christmas holidays
trained at Celtic FC in Glasgow.
Hubczenko, who aims to play for Australia or Scotland, also made the under-15 girls Queensland Futsal team.
A ball girl at last year’s Women’s World Cup, she is in the football excellence program at Kelvin Grove State College.
Tully Heatley (Football)
A centre or winger, Heatley has been playing football since she was knee high to a grasshopper. She has been elite for Kelvin Grove school teams, making the under-15
Schoolgirls team and the under-19 Schoolgirls state side.
But she was also a member of the Future’s Matildas squad which underlines her amazing potential. Heatley said she had ambitions to become a professional footballer.
Zac Fowler (football)
A striker in the NPL Men’s and under 23 competition, this Australian under-16 schoolboys representative was also a member of the Brisbane Roar Men’s Academy.
“I want to become the next generational talent in Australian football and to proceed through the ranks of Professional football in Australia or overseas. I’d also love to represent Australia for the Socceroos and play in the World Cup.
Frederek Babbage (football)
A centre attacking midfielder, Babbage has been a prolific talent across the Kelvin Grove SC program.
Twice the school’s junior player of the year, the two-time Schools Premier League grand final winner has also represented the Queensland Schoolboys.
In club land, he has twice helped the Football Academy under-18s win premierships, while also being an under-18 grand final winner.
At NPL level he was an under-15 premiers player and four times named in Queensland schoolboys team.
It is not a bad list of achievements, is it? Hence why we called him a prolific talent.
Mischa Saini (Volleyball)
A young veteran of five years in the sport, this volleyball middle blocker is under the watch of Volleyball Australia, having attended two indoor training camps.
One of his most treasured achievements was winning a gold medal while representing the Second Volleyball Queensland State Team in Bendigo, and also playing for the Queensland Beach Volleyball team.
“I want to get a scholarship to an American college for volleyball and I would also like to represent my country in the Australian team,’’ Saini said.
Ryan Edgar (Volleyball)
Edgar Greene will represent the Volleyball Australia team at the Thailand Junior Volleyball Championships in Bangkok after making the national under-16s. A setter or when on the beach, a defender, Edgar has risen through the ranks in a glittering four season career which has included these achievements:
+ under-14 indoor captain and representative at the Australian youth volleyball championships where he was MVP.
+ helping Queensland win the under-15 indoor national championship as captain and MVP player;
+ leading Queensland win, undefeated, the under-14 Australian youth beach volleyball championships;
+ spearheading his school to podium finishers at the national Schools Cup competition as a Year 7, Year 8 and Year 9 student and also in the beach volleyball national competitions across those age groups;
+ having toured with two junior Australian beach volleyball teams.
He is one of many high achievers in the sport at the school, including Hudson Symes and Oliver Morgan who made the Queensland school sports 12-15 years state side.
Archie Smith (Volleyball, AFL)
What a sportsman.
Across two sports he is absolutely outstanding.
On the volleyball court he plays the position setter, then on the Australian football field Smith is an elite wing or forward.
Indeed earlier this year he made his senior footy debut for Wilston Grange in the QAFL, and then earned selection in the under-16 Australian volleyball team travelling to Thailand.
He first made the Queensland schoolboys footy side in the under-12s, and progressed to Queensland under-15 side after captaining the Met North side to a grand final.
In volleyball, his team was a gold medal winner in the under 15 age group, helping earn him selection in the Queensland White side which he captained to a bronze medal at nationals.
Earlier this year he was also a member of the under-17 state side which won the gold medal at nationals.
“I aspire to keep playing these sports at a high level and see where I can get,’’ Smith said.
Ben Jackson (golf)
Jackson is a wonderful young golfer who is ranked around 23rd in Australian Boys Order of Merit.
His list of achievements include:
+ winning the under-14 junior age division championship at Royal Pines in 2022
+ finishing third in the Gary Player Classic in 2022
+ being ranked second in Brisbane junior amateur ranks
+ being a top five finisher at the Tasmanian junior masters
Jackson has also been a winter top three finisher at Keperra and an Easter top three finisher at Wynnum clubs during their respective two day events.
PADUA COLLEGE
Lachlan Walters (Cycling)
A hidden gem in Padua’s sporting landscape, Year 11 cycling wonder Lachlan Waters came first in the Under-17s Boys Team Pursuit and second in the Individual Pursuit at the AusCycling Track National Championships earlier this year.
A great prospect, Walters was invited to Malaysia to race as part of the Australian Development Team in May.
RYAN FISTR (athletics, surf, AFL)
A wonderful multi-sport athlete who is a medallist on the track and field oval in the under-13 age group (800m), amd who is a powerhouse member of the Queensland triathlon squad.
In addition, he is a Queensland surf life saving medallist, one of the best cross country runners in his age group and a Level 2 Brisbane Lions academy member. How is that for a portfolio?
Alex Correll (Road Cycling)
A superb young prospect, Correll finished fourth in the Under-19 time trial at the 2024 Oceania Road Cycling Championships held at Mt Walker.
Felix Styman-Bailey (Rugby)
A Year 10 student, Felix Styman-Bailey was a 10As marvel this year and will likely be one of Padua’s First XV young guns next season when they chase back-to-back premierships.
He played in the Ella 7s tournament earlier this year, The marquee event for Indigenous Sevens Rugby, named after the famed Ella brothers - Gary, Glen and Mark.
Will Tozer (Padua)
Talk about a sporting high achiever - this bloke is the definition.
A class act on and off the field, Tozer played three seasons in his school’s First XI cricket team, including this year when the all-rounder scored two half centuries.
In term two, the mistake-free No. 8 captained Padua’s First XV rugby side to their first premiership since 2016.
Will Ross (Rugby)
Almost as tall as a rugby crossbar, Australian Under-16s selection Will Ross was a ball winning ace at lock who was growing his game around the field with tackles and carries.
The Year 11 student had a wonderful 2023 season which he used as a springboard into this year’s premiership season in the AIC rugby competition.
Last year, the 10As big man was picked in the Reds Under-16s where he did enough to make the Australian Under-16s side - making him arguably the best second rower in the nation for his age.
Jayden Solien (Rugby, rugby league)
The exciting Padua senior made News Corp’s Meninga Cup (Under-19s) and the News Corp AIC First XV rugby Teams of the Season this year, after playing a key role in the respective Souths-Logan (league) and Padua (rugby) outfits.
A lock in rugby league and fullback in union, Solien is just a natural talent.
Damon Humphrys and Flynn Dalton (rugby league, rugby union)
Both boys had huge seasons in the football codes. They were AIC First XV premiership winners, with five-eight Humphrys one of the best players in the competition. Then, two weeks ago, they both earned places in the Confraternity Carnival Honorary Team - a huge achievement given the prestige of the carnival. Humphrys also played in the Padua First XVIII footy side.
Nate Clark (Padua)
The athletic was a multi-sport marvel for Padua this, impressing with her versatility playing AIC First XVIII footy where he was one of the top players, then switching to First XV rugby where he made the AIC First XV rugby Team of the Season as an inside. He then played rugby league for the school in the Confraternity Shield.
NARANGBA VALLEY STATE HIGH SCHOOL
Chloe Parker (Football)
What a player this elite soccer rookie is, having earlier in the year earned selection in the Junior Matilda’s competing in the under-17 Women’s Asian Cup
Rory Macleod (Australian football)
A Year 11 student, this rising star of footy has been identified by the Brisbane Lions Academy who have him training in the Level 2 squad after watching him play for the Moreton Bay Lions.
Jessica Heap (track and field)
You have to hand it to this big hearted Year 8 student who rose to win a bronze medal while representing Queensland in the under-13 shot put at the 2024 Australian Little Athletics Championships held in Adelaide.
Harrison Knight (Cross Country)
A Year 10 student, the super fit Knight was first in his division at the District Cross Country, running 6km in 21.04. He then represented the school and district at regionals in June.
BURPENGARY STATE SECONDARY COLLEGE
Jayden Curtis (track and field)
A Year 11 student, Curtis is an outstanding athlete who, in March, while competing at the State athletics championships, he claimed the under-17 boys 400m. What a performance it was.
He then progressed to the nationals where he produced a personal best effort while representing Queensland.
But there is a flip side to his sporting prowess. He is also a FQPL Caboolture Snakes Football Club member who was a part of the Academy of Sport for Football TAFE at school program.
Cienna Wildeboer (softball)
An international standard softball talent, Wildeboe helped Queensland win the nationals unbeaten earlier in the season.
She has made two state teams this season - via club and via school - and also attended an Australian squad development camp at the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra.
Cienna was also a part of a Softball Queensland 14-19 years development team.
GENESIS CHRISTIAN COLLEGE
Zarhli Reeves and Taj Reeves (water skiing)
Earlier this year Zarhli finished first in the under-14 overall, jump and shalom events at the Australian championship, claiming three places in three categories at the Australian juniors. He was also a top 10 finisher at the Moomba Masters.
Taj scooped the pool in the under-12 age group at the Australian championships earlier this year, winning the overall event, and also winning the junior masters.
The brother and sister combination were elite water ski exponents who pushed each other to great heights. Last year the Year 7 student Taj claimed the 2023 Junior Nautique Central Croc Run from his sister (Year 9).
Other high achievers at the college include:
+ Stephanie Hallas, a Year 12 student and elite strike from Moreton Bay United who made the Australian under-17 football team;
+ Felix Nielsen, a Year 8 student who finished third in the under-14 age group at the triathlon; national championships. He also made the Queensland Representative School Sport Triathlon and Aquathlon team;
+ Eliza Bulger, year 7, who competed strongly representing Queensland at the nationals as a 13-year-old. She also made the Queensland Representative School Sport Triathlon and Aquathlon team.
ST JOHN FISHER COLLEGE
Olivia Watson (Swimming)
Watson was an elite young swimmer who was a Queensland championship medallist and national finalist. She was elite during this year’s CaSSSA Cup swimming championship.
Lily Wilson and Saige Law (squash)
What a grand achievement by these two outstanding squad players. Both Wilson and Law represented Australia in squash at the trans-Tasman Series against New Zealand.
Sienna McCormack (Australian football)
Footy followers at junior level on the northside will know this name well after she represented Met North under-15 girls at the state championships.
Eloise Dudley (Swimming)
Dudley is another high achiever swimmer from St John Fisher College who:
+ for Met North was first in the 50m and 100m breaststroke;
+ at the Queensland school state championships was third in the 100m breaststroke;
+ was a top 10 ranked swimmer in 50m, 200m breaststroke at the states;
+ Made Queensland championship finals for her club in the 50m, 100m and 200m breaststrokes, including fourth in the 200m and qualifying for the All Australian Age Nationals.
Ava Stoodly (Netball)
Last year she was a member of the Met North 12 years silver medal winning team at the QSS state championships, and also helped the Queensland schoolgirls to a silver medal at the All Schools nationals. Then, this year, she co-captained the Queensland 12 years indoor team to a gold medal at the nationals. Stoodly was then selected to represent Australia against New Zealand and South Africia in a World Indoor Netball Association tri-series in July.
ST PATRICK’S COLLEGE, SHORNCLIFFE
Steven Hogan
The best junior batsman in Australian cricket, Year 11 student Hogan was named player of the carnival at the Australian under-17 championships earlier this year.
A First XI player since Year 9, he made his first grade debut last November as a Year 10 student and played out the club season for Sandgate Redcliffe before returning for St Patrick’s final AIC match in March.
He is a right handed batsman who makes a habit of scoring big runs.
Manaaki Bateman
The St Pat’s First XV rugby union captain, Bateman is an Australian schoolboys representative.
He is an elite No. 2, someone who makes a habit of driving off the back of, or through, rolling mauls and crossing the line.
His thrusting runs from anywhere on the field also send a message to his teammate that they need to follow him, while his lineout throwing is first class.
BRACKEN RIDGE SHS
Fletcher Adams (Baseball)
Last year Fletcher played in the tournament winning side at the Australian Intermediate Baseball Championships (13 and under).
Adams was then a part of the local club team which played in the Little League Baseball World Series event held in America. His coaches included Chris Clem, Shane Wilson & Keith Landy.
Adams is a member of the Pine Rivers club.
AUSTRALIAN CHRISTIAN COLLEGE
Alex Gardner and Lincoln Taylor (F4 drivers)
Both were F4 drivers, with Gardner the youngest F4 driver in the history of Australian Motorsport to win a Radical Cup Australia National Championships.
Taylor also raced in Malaysia during December and did fantastically well, and is scheduled to compete in the Toyota 86 Series which will include the Bathurst and the Gold Coast 500 this year.
Taylor also had a late call-up to have his first Formula 4 race for the last round of the FIA F4
Southeast Asia championship in Sepang.
Reegan Hicks
The discovery player of 2023 when she was one of the Dolphins best Harvey 19s players, she went on to win an Australian schoolgirls rugby league berth. The Broncos have swooped to sign the youngster who has made her BMD Premiership debut for the Norths Devils.
Emily Sprout (Ballet)
With grace and poise, Sprout claimed the prestigious International Ballet competition Prix de
Lausanne last year. She is simply first class.
Scarlet Hart (show jumping)
What a young sensation Scarlet Hart is. Earlier this year she competed in the Stuartholme Interschool Show jumping competition with her two horses, winning twice.
On Scarlet she achieved an incredible two firsts in both 70cm rounds, and then a first and a second in the 90cm roads. She was overall champion in the 90cm and overall champion in the 70cm. What a performance.
Esther Davies (swimming)
A Year 12 student, Davies showcased her talent at two major swimming championships when she earned silver medals in the 10km and 5km events at the Australian Open Water Championships in Busselton, WA - and helped her relay team secure fifth place.
Leading up to that championship, she was a gold medal winner in her debut 10km swim at the NSW State Open Water Championships.
Sofia Zervos (Football, Australian Christian College, Distance Education school)
‘Olympian’ is a highly esteemed title that requires years, even decades, of dedication.
As a former Olympian who competed in the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona as a member of the Road Cycling team, ACC principal Darren Lawson is uniquely positioned to lead a school that has students both on-campus and studying via Distance Education (DE). This program attracts elite athletes working to obtain a high school education while pursuing their dreams.
One of those students is fourteen-year-old Sofia Zervos who has been playing organised soccer since she was four.
She joined the prestigious Football Queensland, Queensland academy of Sport (QAS) Skills Acquisition Phase program in 2022 and has been chosen to play in the Queensland under-15 Nationals this month.
With so much focus on developing her athletic prowess, Sofia and her family found the demanding training schedule conflicted with her on-campus high school schedule.
So recognising the challenges of balancing high school and intense training, the Zervos family turned to the ACC DE program.
NUDGEE COLLEGE
Rylan Brownlie (Football)
A Brisbane Roar A-League debut player this season, he is a striking attacking player who can polish off a movement in the blink of an eye.
Elfie Piper (Rowing)
The current stroke of the Nudgee 1st VIII despite only being in Year 10, Piper was also an elite triathlete.
Bennett Armistead (Rugby Union)
A fast emerging lock, this 17-year-old young giant made an impression in the under-16 ranks when he played for both the Queensland and Australian under-16s, and this year progressed to play in the Queensland under-18s.
William Dallimore (volleyball)
Dallimore has been named in the 15th Asian Men’s U18 Volleyball Championships starting later in July. This was after the 201cm young giant made the Australian under-15 team in 2023 - as a 14-year-old.
Prestyn Laine-Sietu (rugby and league)
A 2023 premiership winning centre, Prestyn was also a member of the 2023 Queensland schoolboys side - and was named again for the 2024 side but had to withdraw due to injury.
Timothee Philippe (volleyball)
One of the best in the business, Philippe was named in the 16-19 Years Queensland Representative School Sport Volleyball Merit team.
Fergus McFadyen (Australian football)
McFadyen was named in the Allies Squad to compete in the 2024 Marsh AFL National Championships.
Also a handy First XI cricketer, McFadyen is a midfielder with silky hands who works hard.
The brother of Connor McFadyen, he is also a handy tall support player with a smattering of flair. He is a noted team player.
ALBANY CREEK SHS
Kara Bradley (Hockey)
What an outstanding player she is. In a state which prides itself on having elite hockey representative teams, Bradley is among the most promising of all, having played in the Australia All Stars in the under-17 Mirnawan Cup Tournament in Malaysia (2023), and this year playing for Queensland at the under-21 Australian Hockey Championships.
Rhiannon Smith (Softball)
It is little wonder Queensland has rousing softball stocks when you have juniors like Smith - an international who was named in the under-18 Junior Aussie Spirit softball team for the World Cup group qualifier tournament following her performance for Queensland at the under-18 nationals.
This was after she represented the Softball Australia under-17 team at the Canada Cup last year.
ST COLUMBAN’S COLLEGE
Albie Lyons (rugby)
Arguably the best player in back to back premiership winning performances in the TAS First XV, utility forward Lyons is an outstanding player.
A breakdown terror who led the charge for his side this season, Lyons threw the ball into the lineout, was a prime mover with the ball and seemed to produce big plays when his team needed it.
GRACE LUTHERAN COLLEGE, ROTHWELL
Eloise Hopwood (football)
Hopwood is one of the most respected young footballers of her era, a Queensland representative at last year’s National Youth Championships and a Queensland’s QAS’s Under 15 girls team member.
A strong character off the field - a trait which comes in handy when she is recovering from injury - Hopwood also plays football for Moreton Bay United, while proudly representing her school.
She also plays futsal for River City and in April was named to represent Australia in the UK.
Grace Lutheran College – Caboolture Campus, also has a small army of high achievers, including:
Cianna Van Daalen, a Queensland representative at the Chemist Warehouse Australian Junior Track and Field Championships;
Kayla Arthur who was named in the Australian Junior Women’s Inline Hockey team - all this after being named reserve goalkeeper for Brisbane Lightning Hockey team;
Ice queen Dain Arthur was the super cool ice hockey and inline hockey representative, having made the inline team and being named in the Australian Hockey training squad in her age group;
Mooloolaba’s Cohen Poetschka was second in the World Series Open Water Swim event;
Zara Jane Mead, an Australian representative at the Sydney CDI dressage who cut her world ranking to 120 in the under-25 dressage;
Grace Lutheran College – Rothwell Campusrepresentatives
Abbie McDonald (water polo)
McDonald helped Sunshine Coast win the Queensland State Championships, earning selection in the Queensland squad. These achievements followed a bumper 2023 when she was selected in Australian Cadet Women’s squad for 2023.
Mia and Tiama Doyle (Water Polo)
Both girls helped Sunshine Coast win the Queensland State Championships and then they progressed into Queensland Water Polo Representative squads. They also collected gold medals at the state championships.
Emily Keiler (cricket)
Keiler was a Queensland Cricket representative, an ace batter who plays club cricket at the Sandgate Redcliffe club. She bats around No.4 in the order.
Sophia Matthews (softball)
Matthews was another bat, ball specialist of the highest order who has been a Queensland and Australian Softball representative, while also progressing into the 2024 national squad.
Also, throw into the mix Khyden Wilson, another outstanding bat-ball player who represented Sunshine Coast region in the under-14s.
Bronte Misso (surf lifesaving)
Misso was just the type who you hope is on patrol if you get into trouble at the beach this summer. He represented at the 2024 Australian surf lifesaving championships for beach sprint and distance events
And then you have Xavier Honsa and Chase Crew, both of whom were Sunshine Coast and Queensland under-14 baseball representatives. Chase Crew was also noted for his outstanding fielding.
Swimmer Olivia Smith was also a high achiever from Grace Lutheran, snaring a silver medal at the Queensland State Sprint Championships and also flying in the 50m freestyle to qualify for the Australian Age National Swimming Championships;
The talented Jacob Edwards was also named in the Australian under-16 volleyball team which toured Thailand during April, a high achievement by the young man;
This terrific trio of footy players, Jetho Grills, Hamish McPherson and Harrison Grills,
were also outstanding sportsmen from the College. All have been in the Lions academy, with the boys also former Queensland under-15 representatives;
With precision and patience - and plenty of practise - Georgia Dyson was the state champion in Uneven Bars for Level 7, under-13s;
Beau Switzer (BMX) is another elite talent from the Peninsula, having been both a Queensland and Australian representative in the highly competitive sport;
Lauren Dymond, Alia Shaw, Macey Lawler and Xander McRae (multi-class) were also elite youngster who all qualified for Australian Age Swimming Championships;
ST RITA’S COLLEGE
Isabelle O’Connor (Waterpolo)
St Rita’s Year 11 student Isabelle O’Connor has those razor sharp reflexes which in the pool, sees her fend off attacking raids left, right and centre as the Australian Under-16 goalkeeper.
The emerging goalie competed at the World Championships in Turkey this year, helping Australia to a bronze medal.
Other high achievers in sport include:
Alexis Farrell (Year 9) who went with the under-13 Queensland development team that competed in the Australian National Development Series;
Year 10 Students Bella Bolton, Tara Williams, Nastasha Winton, Abbey Crowe, Lillian Houston all represented Queensland at the under-14 Challenge tournaments in Melbourne last year;
Year 11 student Emma Williams proudly represented Queensland in Canberra last year;
Year 12 student Lucy Aggs who made both the under-17 medal winning Queensland development team and also the under-19 Queensland development team;
Isabelle Langstraat who is a member of the under-17 State Development Program.
Rose Acklin (athletics)
Having recently represented Australia, Year 12 student Acklin is a remarkable young athlete.
She has been the national champion for three successive years in both the under-16 400m and 800m events on the track.
Competing in the under-18 division despite being eligible for the under-16 age group, Acklin also challenged herself by running in the high age group.
She has also produced a world junior championship qualifying time for 400m after a rousing second place performance in the open division at State Championships.
Last month she competed at the Oceania championships in Fiji, while she has also played Queensland Rugby 7’s team.
Mia Nguyen (athletics and volleyball)
Nguyen has remarkable vertical leap talents which were put to good use in both athletics and on the volleyball court.
At state level Mia is also a triple jump champion and bronze medallist in long jump, while in volleyball is a member of both the QAS under-17 squad and the under-16 Queensland Indoor Volleyball Queensland team.
St Rita’s have an array of other talent athletes including:
Year 9 Student Ashley Coleman who competed in the Australian Athletics Championships, finishing 11th in triple jump;
Year 11 Student Madelyn Witteveen who represented Queensland at the Australian National Championships in triple jump;
Year 8 Student Sienna De Young who finished a remarkable second in the under-14 long jump, triple jump and 100m and 200m events at the Queensland championships;
Year 10 Student Ella Postle who competed at Australian Track and Field Championships in 800m.
Year 11 Student Romy Vickers who represented Queensland at nationals in the track and field and cross country, while also finishing fourth in under-17 1500m at state track and field championships.
Zoe Crowther (swimming)
Crowther is an international class young talent who finished second in the 50m butterfly at the national championships (under-12s) and broke the 100m backstroke record for 13-year-olds, a 19-year-old record previously held by the great Emily Seebohm.
She also competed in seven events at the 2024 Australian Age Championships in April.
Ruby Crowther (swimming)
Swimming runs in the family, with Zoe following in the footsteps of Ruby.
Ruby is an Australian silver medallist, having claimed second place in the 50m backstroke (under-15s) at the nationals.
She also competed in seven events at the 2024 Australian Age Championships in April.
Alba Stiller (swimming)
And let us not forget one of the younger members of the swimming squad, Alba Stiller, who finished third at the nationals in the 50m breaststroke (under-10s).
Mia Croucamp (Cricket)
Despite being a 15-year-old, Croucamp was not out of place in the Queensland Premier Cricket first grade women's competition earlier this year.
The Queensland Under-16 selection was a batting all-rounder for the Sandgate-Redcliffe Gators, where she scored runs and snared wickets at an efficient clip.
Elke Cooper (Hockey)
One of the top players in her age group, field hockey ace Elke Cooper has represented Queensland every year since Year 7.
Now in Year 10, after being recognised as the player of the tournament at last year’s State Championships, Cooper captained Queensland to a gold medal in this year’s event.
Abbey Crowe (Everything)
Just a real athletic weapon, Year 9 student Abbey Crowe was a sporting star in the making.
The Brisbane Lions Development Academy member also dabbles in hurdles, water polo, line throw and surf life saving where she claimed two bronze medals at the state titles.
A Queensland Water polo selection, Andrews holds the Australian title for line throw.
Zara Andrews (Gymnastics)
A Year 7 student, Andrews excels in Level 8 Artistic Gymnastics where she is ranked third in the nation.
Sophia Keating (Track and field)
St Rita’s Year 9 student Sophia Keating has long been a high achiever in a variety of sports.
She is the type to excel at anything, partly because of her natural ability but predominantly because of her mindset.
The hardworking Brisbane Lions Development Academy member is an athlete, having represented Met North at the Queensland Track and Field State Championships.
Keating placed fifth in the Under-17s 2000m Steeplechase and competed in the Australian Athletics Championships 2024 and came 10th in the same event.
Claudia Keating (Australian football)
The younger sister of Sophia, Claudia was also a classy Australian football in the Brisbane Lions Development Academy.
The Year 8 student is also quick on her feet, having placed fourth in the Under-14 Beach Sprints at the Queensland Surf Life Saving State Titles.
St Rita’s overflowing sporting stocks does not end there.
Enter Year 9 student Holly Williams who represented Queensland at the Australian Hockey Championships, Year 10 student Sienna Chamier-Brumpton who donned the Maroons colours for the under-14 Football team at National Youth Championships, and also Year 7 student Bella Martin, ranked third nationally in Level 7 gymnastics
MT ALVERNIA COLLEGE
Matilda Hill (rugby league)
Keep an eye out for this league rookie. An under-16 Met North representative, she also plays rugby seven-a-side football. The Brisbane Broncos had identified her and she is a part of the NRLW Brisbane Broncos Talent Squad.
Let us also acknowledge Alicia Mills (touch football), a pacy under-14 player.
Abigail Steele, Mia Wise and Kristina Kertsen (track and field)
When the CaSSSA track and field championships swing around next month, leading the way to the finish line for Mt Alvernia will be this terrific trio.
Steele is an ace, the Queensland under-13 captain during the recent Australian Little Athletics Championship.
She led from the front, finishing second in the 80m hurdles.
Wise was another podium finisher, powering to second place in a gruelling 1500m event. What a performance it was.
And Kersten was another state finalist standard athlete who performed in the thrilling 800m event.
Airlie Davis (swimming)
Davis was a golden girl at the 2024 Australian Age and MC Championships when she stormed to victory in the 100m MC backstroke (16-18 years), reclaiming her own Australian title.What a performance it was.
Mia Newbold (hockey)
A perennial Queensland representative, this year Newbold helped Brisbane 1 to its gold medal at the under-18 championships. She is a Division 1 Opens for Kedron Wavell Hockey club.
Saoirse O’Neill (Swimming)
With a name like O’Neill, it is no surprise Saoirse can swim. Earlier this year she placed at the nationals in the demanding 200 MIM while also competing in the 50m backstroke.
and placed in the 200 IM relay.
NORTHPINE CHRISTIAN COLLEGE
Kiara Waterman (track and field)
Waterman was a high achiever on the walking on the track where she was a race work specialist.
Earlier this year the grade 8 student was a sixth place finisher at the Little Athletics national championships in Adelaide and a podium finisher at the state Little A state titles, coming second in the 3000m race walk and second in the under-13 girls 1500m Race walk.
Those performances also earned her Queensland selection.
Maxwell O’Leary (figure skating)
A Year 12 student, O’Leary helped Australia win a gold medal in Figure Skating, performing at the Trophy d’Ecosse, in Scotland. It was a huge achievement for a young man from subtropical Queensland to help Australia win the event.
Bryce Smith (Water Skiing)
A slalom, jump and tricks exponent, Smith is ranked around third overall in the under-17 male category and was a top 10 performer in the under-15 category.
Sharni Richardson (basketball)
Year 9 student Richardson represented the Moreton Bay Suns at the under-16 basketball State Championships earlier in the year, helping her team sweep to two gold medals as they powered through the Division 4 (South Qld), and then the state championships.
It was an extraordinary performance by Richardson and teammates who won 24 games straight after jumping up a Division.
Mackenzie Allen (boxer)
An outstanding junior amateur boxer, Allen is ranked No.2 in the country for the light fly division.
Redcliffe SHS
Amelie Hoefel (water polo)
Amelie Hoefel is a member of youth Australian teams for the last two years and only last week helped Australia win a bronze medal at the World Championships in Turkey.
A Queensland, she was a member of the Sunshine Coast school regional team and won the state school championship.
Hoefel hails from the powerhouse Mermaids club, arguably the best junior club in Australia, and was a member of Mermaids’ under-16 team that won at the Australian Youth Championship. She was also a part of the Opens Mermaids team that won at the Queensland State Championships.
Hoefel was also a noted swimmer who has medalled at the Brisbane championships.
A leading female player at the school, she represented Sunshine Coast at the Queensland School Sport Championship team where she progressed into the Queensland schoolgirls squad
James Peni (Rugby league)
Imposing middle or edge forward James Peni made the Maroons’ 14-15 years Queensland schoolboys side this year and we have a feeling it won’t be the last state side he makes.
A big body who carries the ball strongly from the back of his side, Peni is one of many youngsters from the Burpengary, Caboolture and Woodford regions benefiting from the rugby league development program at Redcliffe SHS.
He is 15 years of age but is as big as a fully grown young adult and plays like it.
Kyron Arthy (Rugby league)
Arthy makes running the ball look easy. Thickly set, he breaks tackles consistently and has plenty of speed. He arrived at Redcliffe SHS from Perth at the start of the year hoping to advance his league career - and it has worked. He was selected in the Queensland 14-15 years schoolboys side.
Lorenzo Peseta (Rugby league)
What an asset he will be to Redcliffe’s Langer Trophy side in years to come.
A big hearted, go-all day type of player, Trojan worker Peseta loves the physical battle.
He made the top tier Queensland Maroons 14-15 years schoolboys side.
Lennox Ngata-Faofau (Rugby league)
Lennox Ngata-Faofua was a likely looking talent, a big middle forward who launches himself off the back fence with some explosive front row charges. He was selected in the Queensland 14-15 years schoolboys side.
Jonathan Alo (Rugby league)
A sky scraping centre or winger, the high-flying Alo is a Queensland Schoolboys selection who plays for Redcliffe’s Year 10 Walters Cup team.
Athletic with great awareness, Alo plays rugby league but would have an instant advantage in rugby or playing basketball. He was selected in the Queensland 14-15 years schoolboys side.
Wil Berrigan (Rugby league)
An unfortunate withdrawal from the Queensland schoolboys 14-15 years team due to injury, he was, however, selected to represent the side. He plays hooker and is an outstanding prospect, following in the footsteps of his older brother Nate, a Dolphins’ contracted utility forward who also represented the Queensland 14-15 years schoolboys.
ST PAUL’S SCHOOL
Oliver Rauchle (Rugby, cricket)
The high-achieving St Paul’s Year 11 student hit boundaries for fun in the summer - and then turned his attention to them scrum and barnstorming runs when he played First XV TAS rugby in the winter.
The towering all-rounder and No. 8 is someone who uses his size to his advantage.
Jake Blakey
Blakey was a one person swimming team, earning him a spot at the Met North QLD School Swimming Championships.
In a fabulous series of performances, he was first in 200m freestyle and 100m backstroke, second in 50m backstroke and third in 50m breaststroke.
He broke the record for 100m backstroke at Met North.
Earlier in the year, Blakey also made waves at the Queensland School Sport Aquathlon Championships in Hervey Bay as part of the Met North team.
Despite demanding conditions and competition, he placed sixth overall for 12-year-old boys, securing his well-deserved spot on the Queensland team.
He then backed up his success at the Queensland Swimming Sprint Championships, winning gold in the 50m backstroke and a silver medal in the 50m freestyle.
He was sixth in the 50m breaststroke, smashing his personal bests in both heats and finals for these events.
Meanwhile, St Paul’s also had this awesome foursome of sport who made their respective Met North Basketball teams - Blythe Lambie, Holly Oates, Megan Stanley and Ingrid Mutzelburg.
MUELLER COLLEGE
Tian Markart (water polo)
A Year 12 student, Markart was named in the Australian Men’s Cadet Waterpolo Squad bound for the Volos, Greece next month for the historic under-16 FINA World Championships.
Markart also rose to the occasion to represent Sunshine Coast district at the Queensland School Sport Championships, progressing into the Queensland squad. Markart’s club is QU Barras club.
Zaire Griffin (baseball)
An Australian under-16 baseball squad member, Griffin will represent the history-making Brisbane North Region Little League Baseball in the Little League World Series in August.
He is an outstanding pitcher who, for example, pitched North Brisbane into the World Series by striking out 13 players during an epic 90 pitch performance in the semi-finals.
Ewan Jordaan (Gymnastics)
Ewan represented Queensland at the national championships earlier in the year.
Having bravely returned from injury, he snared third overall in the Level 7 U13 category. The competition saw him achieve national champion status on High Bar, then come second on Rings and third on Pommel Horse. He was fifth on Parallel Bars. His efforts helped the Queensland team to place second overall.
BRISBANE GIRLS’ GRAMMAR SCHOOL
Astrid Thomas (Rowing)
A Year 12 student who has just been named in the Australian team bound for the World Rowing Beach Sprint Championships in Genoa, Thomas broke the 2009 Brisbane Schoolgirl Rowing Association record by 12 seconds earlier this year.
It was a record previously held by Olympian Jess Hall.
Astrid also set an Australian record for the 15–16 year old category. Her ergo time of 6:57.4 has set a new precedent for schoolgirl rowing.
Most recently Thomas was selected as only one of three athletes to represent Australian
Rowing at the 2024 World Beach Sprint Championships in Genoa, Italy, from September 13-15.
The high achieving Thomas also has a long list of rowing and water polo achievements, including:
+ Current BGGS rowing captain;
+ Winning gold (Queensland Women’s under-21 Youth Eight) and bronze (under-19 women’s scull) at the 2024 Rowing Nationals;
+ claiming bronze (under-19 coxless fours) at the 2024 Queensland State Rowing Championships;
+ winning gold (under-19 single skol, silver (under-19 Double Scull), bronze (under-21
Single Scull at the 2024 Queensland State Rowing Championships;
+ earning selection in the Queensland under 19 Pathways Eight.
In water polo, Thomas was a member of the 2023 Queensland Open Women’s Premier League representing Brisbane Vikings.
She was also an Australian under-16 Water Polo squad member in 2023 after also representing Queensland in 2021 (under-14), 2022 (under-15) and 2023 (under-17).
Footnote: At the same BSRA event where Thomas produced her record breaking performance, another BGGS student, Year 11s Cate Ward, passed a personal best time in the 2km ergo.
Zoe McElwaine (cross country/track and field)
A multiple BGGS Cross Country Champion, McElwaine represented Queensland School Sport at the 2023 National Cross Country Championships in Canberra.
On the track she is also a high class 1500m and 3000m runner, the reigning Queensland Athletics State Champions and 2023 Australian under-16 champions.
Charlie Howard (water polo)
BGGS’s has a rich tradition in water polo - past students Abby Andrews, Gabi Palm and Bridget Leeson-Smith were all Australian representatives, with Andrews and Palm heading to the Paris Olympics - and Howard is the next generation elite athlete in the sport.
The 2023 BGGS water polo captain, she was a part of the BGGS opens team which, earlier this year, finished second in the Brisbane Water Polo Inc.
The long limbed Howard, a goalie, is a member of under-17 Water Polo Queensland squads.
Carissa Graham (hockey)
A member of the under-16 State Hockey team, Graham was Player of the Match at Australian under-16 National Championships.
The year 10 student was also a member of the under-15 Maroon Indoor state team.
She is a leading light for the BGGS side which contests the QGSSSA competition.
Lizzy Harman (Golf)
Lizzy Harman started her golfing adventure aged just nine at her first Junior Golf Queensland
event.
Since then Harman has continued to develop her skills and gain experience playing in regional, state and national championship level.
Aged just 11 at the time, Harman was selected in the Queensland School Sports State Golf Team to play at the National Championships, although the event was cancelled due to COVID.
The following year she won the Queensland School Sports State Girls Championship title and again made the School State Team - another event cancelled due to COVID.
She was also runner-up Greg Norman Junior Masters 13 and under age group in 2022.
When she was 14, Harman was successful in winning the Queensland State Women’s Foursome Championship Title, as well as the Women’s Queensland Order of Merit event called the Oxenford Plate.
She went on to defend her Oxenford Plate Title this year.
Last year Harman was invited to join the 2023 State Junior Development Squad which contributed to her continued growth and development in the sport.
As a result she finished sixth in the Queensland Girls Order of Merit and 13th in the
Queensland Women’s Order of Merit.
Earlier this year Harman travelled to the ACT, South Australia, and Tasmania to compete in their respective Junior State Championships, and in April she competed in the Australian Junior Amateur Championship in Perth.
She currently sits inside the top 10 in the Australian National Girls Order of Merit and has gained a place in the 2024 State Junior Development Squad organised by Golf Australia Queensland.
Amarlie Evans (Taekwondo)
Amarlie started her career as an international athlete at the 2022 Taekwondo Cadet World championships in Bulgaria.
Since then Amarlie has competed in the Dutch Open where she earned a bronze medal, and has gone on to gather vast international experience by competing at the Belgium, Canadian and USA Open championships.
Currently the Australian national champion in her weight category. This year, Amarlie is training towards earning another place on the National Taekwondo team to represent Australia at the upcoming Junior World Championships in October.
Ella Yu (Table Tennis)
An Australian National Pathway identification squad member, Year 9 student Yu was a finalist in Queensland Junior Sports Award, 2022. She has won eight medals at national level and over 30 medals at state level across singles, teams, double and mixed doubles in both her own age or higher age groups.
Her list of achievements include:
+ 2022 national champion (U13 girls singles)
+ 2023 national champions mixed doubles (U13)
+ 2024 QLD State Champion (U15 girls)
+ 2024 QLD gold medallist for U17 girls team, selected in A team for U17 girls team to
represent QLD in the nationals.
Meanwhile, another high achiever from BGS, Charlotte Kane, made the Queensland School Sport triathlon team;
ST JOSEPH’S GREGORY TERRACE
Ike Martinez (swimming)
Martinez has been selected for the 2024 Junior Pan Pacific Championships to be held at the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra from 21 to 24 August 2024.
The championships are a major benchmark meet for the Junior Dolphins ahead of the World Junior Championships next year and act as a litmus test against the best international juniors including swimmers from the United States, Japan and Canada.
He is on a thrilling swimming journey. Ike moved from Cairns to Brisbane in 2022 to further his studies at Terrace and continue his training with Centenary Rackley under head coach Damien Jones.
He then made the Australian 2023 World Junior Championships Swimming Team.
Earlier this year at the Australian Age Swimming Championships he won the 17-years 200m Butterfly, and was second in the 16-18 years 800m Freestyle.
He was also third in the 17-years 400m Freestyle.
Leading up to the All Ages, he broke the GPS swimming championship 100m butterfly record in a time of 29.55:16.
Vincent Faulkner (athletics)
A stunning winner at the 2023 GPS track and field championships, Faulkner has progressed at pace this year.
Earlier in the track and field season he won the State titles for the under-16 100m and 200m events and claimed the under-16 200m national title.
Also at the nationals he was third in the 100m and was part of the bronze medal winning team which competed in the 4x100m relay and 4x200m relay events.
BRISBANE GRAMMAR SCHOOL
Will Greene (volleyball)
The Year 9 student was youngest member of the BGS First VI volleyball team in
history, and not long after was selected to represent Australia in Thailand as part of the under-16 Volleyball Development Tour.
Last year he was also a member of the under-15 Boys Queensland team and is a member of the Volleyball Australia National Pathway Program.
Hayden Cahill (swimming)
Year 10 student Cahill has extraordinary endurance which was there for all to see when he won the 15 years, 5km event at the 2024 Australian Open Water Swimming Championships.
It was a huge achievement for the youngster who also competed at the national age swimming championships on the Gold Coast.
From the Yeronga Park Swimming Club, Cahill sliced an extraordinary 4.46 seconds off his previous best to claim a silver medal in the 15 years freestyle.
Swimming for BGS at the GPS championships in March, he earned champion status by winning the 100m and 200m events in his age group, then helped the BGS medley relay to the gold medal.
Seth Kennedy (track and field)
The all-time BGS school record holder for fastest 400m (47.51 seconds), this international standard athlete is an elite talent.
He is the under-16 national 200m and 400m All Schools Champion and a terrific talent who we can’t wait to see in action again at the annual GPS track and field championship in term four.
Patrick Holmes (hockey) was another high achieving BGS student who made the Queensland Maroons side which competed at the Australian under-16 National Championships
ALL HALLOWS’ SCHOOL
Isabel Pattison (rowing)
An exciting Queensland rowing prospect, the Year 9 student broke the Indoor Australian and Brisbane Schoolgirl Rowing Association record (3:29.70) previously held by an Olympian, Maddie Edmunds.
Pattison then spearheaded the Year 9 All Hallows’ team into breaking a Brisbane Schoolgirls Rowing Association indoor record in their age group in a time of 8:34.80. Pattison’s teammates were Sophia Preston, Alice McMeniman, Meg Gallagher and Zoe Ball.
Allhallows had more success in the Year 11 indoor event when Gabby Ryan, Danielle Watt, Claudia Munn, Phoebe Cannon and Millie Gallagher combined to break another BSRA record (8:13.50).
Lilla Ribot de Bresac (All Hallows)
Ribot de Bresac represented Australia at the 2024 Oceania Championships after helping Allhallows’ School regain the CaSSSA championship trophy earlier in the year.
In one of the relay races at the QGSSSA championship, Ribot de Bresac joined Alice McMeniman, Keva Robinson and Abbie Hegarty to set a new CaSSSA record in 2:07.66.
De Bresac, whose grandfather John played rugby league for Australia, is coached by Steve Miller at Newmarket Racers who also coaches All Hallows’ old girl, Liz Dekkers, who is a new Olympian.
Claudia Booth (All Hallows)
Centre forward Booth was a member of the Australian under-16 water polo team which competed at the girls’ World Championships in Turkey late last month. Although she proudly represents her school, the Year 11 student also plays for the Barras UQ club.
Sara Connors (water polo)
A shining light in the Allhallows’ School water polo program since helping her school reach the under-12 Australian Youth Water Polo Championships title in 2020, Connors progressed to make the Australian under-16 water polo team which competed at the girls’ World Championships in Turkey. The Year 11 centre back, who plays for the Barras UQ club, is the child of Queensland Reds great and former Wallaby Mark Connors, and wide Jodie who was an outstanding water polo player.
Ellie Sefton (water polo)
Sefton was a member of the Australian under-16 water polo team which competed at the girls’ World Championships in Turkey late last month. A driver in the team, the Year 11 is a proud as punch AHS girls but also plays for the Barras UQ club.
Emily Cope and Alice McMeniman (water polo)
High achievers at Allhallows do not stop with the three girls mentioned above who represented Australia at the world championships. Both Cope, who plays for the UQ Barras club, and Alice McMeniman made an Australian team which represented at the World Aquatics Women’s U16 Water Polo Championships in New Zealand.
KEDRON PARK SHS
Ali McCarthy (Kedron Park State High)
From the Polo Bears club, this Kedron SHS is the school’s latest international after representing the Australian under-16 water polo team which competed at the girls’ World Championships in Turkey. She helped Australia to a bronze medal.
GOOD SHEPHERD CHRISTIAN SCHOOL
Emmersen McEwan
McEwan was an elite junior from the North Brisbane Polo Bears club who earned Australian selection in the side which competed at the under-16 water World Championships in Turkey. From the Polo Bears club, she helped Australia to a bronze medal at the championships.
CRAIGSLEA SHS
Riley Akanoa, Florence Liu (volleyball)
Akanoa, a setter, was named in the Australian team which competed at the 15th Asian Women’s under-18 Volleyball Championship in June. This was after she claimed a silver medal at Australian Youth Beach Volleyball Championships.
Also winning a medal at the championships in the under-17 division was Liu.
Hamilton Vincent and Stephanie Marshall (volleyball)
Continuing Craigslea’s extraordinary tradition in volleyball, Vincent was named in the Australian squad which is bound for the 15th Asian Men’s U18 Volleyball Championships. Vincent and Marshall were named in the Queensland School Sports 16-19 years state merit team.
Taylah Tulloch-Juleff (volleyball)
Taylah Tulloch-Juleff was a member of a four person team which won gold in the under-15 Australian Youth Beach Volleyball Championships. She was also named MVP.
She is a part of an exciting Year 9 cohort coming through at Craigslea which includes Matthew Marshall, Liam Nolan, Moses Man, Archie Mellor, Sibona Beckitt, Lisa Caravello and Jewel Moss.
Prince of Peace Lutheran College
Thomas Quine (hockey) was a proud state representative when he made the top tier Queensland Maroons side which competed at the Australian under-16 championships earlier in the year.
ASPLEY SHS
Mia Afoa (soccer and track and field)
Afoa is a Queensland soccer team representative and a strong performer in track and field.
Originally published as High sporting achievers of Brisbane North and Moreton
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