From Basketball to Motorsport this year had it all in Mackay sport

From global basketball success to Bathurst brilliance, Mackay’s best athletes were in prime form this year and dominating in their fields. See the list of who shined brightest.

Monique Bobongie, 13, became the first basketball player from Mackay to be named in the National Performance Program.

Mackay has a reputation for pulling more than its weight when it comes to producing sporting talent, with some of the region’s best talent taking it to new levels this year.

The athletes showed class not just on the national stage but also globally, making the job of narrowing down to five of the best across the year incredibly difficult.

From junior tournaments to first state teams, national medals to undefeated streaks, our sporting landscape has never been stronger than it is now and the following moments came out atop of the list.

TOP 5 SPORTING MOMENTS IN MACKAY 2022

5. WBBL opening its season in Mackay

The WBBL was one of the standout sporting events to happen locally this season and given the continued support with the developing Great Barrier Reef Arena we can expect more of it for the years to come. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)

Any time a national sporting code chooses Mackay to host its games is a great honour for clubs and the wider community.

Given each code has a plethora of location options, Mackay and its ever-developing sporting district more than holds its own.

The WBBL opted to bring their opening weekend back to our region, playing host to 6 games across a 5 day period as hometown heroes thrived.

The event also gets visitors to the facilities and tourism booming, and with the Great Barrier Reef Arena continuing to build, it will only get better.

4. Declan Fraser makes history at Bathurst

Declan Fraser and Craig Lowndes ahead of the Bathurst 1000 where Fraser would go on to make history as the highest ever wildcard finish for the event

The story of Declan Fraser was one of dreams coming true.

Fraser this year cemented himself as one of the best young drivers in the country, and in the process rewrote the history books.

Being given the chance to drive alongside childhood hero Craig Lowndes wasn’t enough for the Mackay talent, who at one point during the historic race found himself in second position.

As it came to its conclusive stages, Fraser and Lowndes crossed the line in eighth as he became the highest wildcard finisher in the event’s 62-year history.

Off the back of Bathurst, Fraser went on to win the super 2 series and stamped his authority as the best young driver without a major league contract for 2023.

3. Monique Bobongie makes debut for Australia’s U17 Sapphires in FIBA Asia Cup (aged 15)

Monique Bobognie was a star this season in Womens Basketball and capped off her brilliance with selection into the Asian cup side for the under 17 Australian Women’s team.

Monique Bobongie has been a standout for years, but 2022 saw her leap into the conversation as one of the best junior basketballers in the country.

Having played valuable minutes for the region’s Metoerettes outfit at the beginning of the year, the 15-year-old sharp shooter was selected as part of the country’s under 17 Asian Cup squad in Jordan and was among the youngest to do so.

With the rise of Women’s basketball in the region, Bobongie is the name to watch as she begins to eye potential offers to USA colleges, or even a professional stint in Australia.

In her recent form in division 1 basketball, Bobongie is setting herself up to go even better in 2023, and will be one of the ages to watch ahead of the season.

2. Jacob Anderson scores 2 goals in Commonwealth Games finals Hockeyroos

Jason Anderson was brilliant for Australia in this years Commonwealth Games which was capped off with a dominating performance to secure gold. (Photo by Tom Dulat/Getty Images)

The frequent flyer miles Jacob Anderson has accrued representing in his sport this year would be enough for a round-world trip.

It’s one thing to contribute to a side, but whole other to do it when it is the best team in the world.

Anderson was a key feature of this year’s Commonwealth Games-winning Hockeyroos.

Scoring and sliding their way through the rounds with ease, the team was set to come up against their toughest challenge to date in second-ranked India.

Touted as one of the best games on the card, the Hockeyroos went on to demolish our rivals with a 7-0 trouncing with Anderson being one of two players to score twice in the outing.

Anderson continues to be a dominating presence among the squad, recently featuring in the side’s exhibition games against India in November, and will be a part of the squad next year as they look to continue their number 1 standing globally.

1. Liam Paro 23-0 Stoppage of Brock Jarvis

Liam Paro made light work of one of the nations best Boxers in Brock Jarvis this year extending his undefeated record to 23. He now awaits his moment to fight for the world light weight belt next year.

This was one of the biggest boxing bouts of the year in our country and somehow Mackay’s Liam Paro went in as the underdog.

With a 22-0 record before the fight, Paro loved the title of being a relative unknown against one of the nation’s best boxers, Brock Jarvis.

Taking to the ring, Paro knew if he were to come out victorious he would land himself a chance to face-off for the world title in 2023.

Inside the first round, Paro peppered Jarvis with a flurry of hooks and jabs to send the ‘prodigy’ scrambling, and eventually to the canvas to record his biggest win to date.

Post-event, Paro gave his respect to his competitor but announced himself as the only man able to come for the World Light Weight title, hopeful the cards fall his way for that chance in 2023.

As incredible as these five performances are for the region, the depth in sport is truly one of the best in the nation and has the possibility to have an entirely new set of faces make the list for 2023.