Revealed: Central Qld’s top young athletes dominating the world of sport
From a Year 7 karate black belt to swimmers breaking 37-year-old records, Central Queensland's schools are producing sporting prodigies at an unprecedented rate.
Central Queensland has long been recognised as rugby league heartland but school students across the region are excelling in plenty of other sporting disciplines.
From the pool to the track, the court to the cricket pitch, our teens are notching up some incredible achievements.
Our celebration of the student athletes of 2025 is well-timed because the high school students of today will hit their athletic prime when the eyes of the world descend upon Queensland in 2032.
Meet the rising sports stars who have successfully juggled their school studies with hours of training and competition.
Note: All Rockhampton and Capricorn Coast high schools were invited to participate. If your school isn’t represented here, we encourage students and parents to reach out to school leadership about nominating deserving athletes for recognition.
Glenmore State High
WILLIAM CRANE
Year 12
Crane was awarded Glenmore’s Senior Sportsperson of the Year. The Lucrapana House captain, he was the open swimming carnival age champion. He was a member of the Capricornia under-19 schoolboys indoor hockey team and the Capricornia schools hockey umpire for the under-19 girls, under-15 boys and girls, and under-12 boys and girls. He played for Rockhampton at the under-16 boys state championships and umpired at the under-18 boys titles.
GRACE LLOYD-JONES
Year 11
The talented goalkeeper was instrumental in Queensland claiming the under-16 national hockey championship in April. Her performance earned her selection in the national team. She has also been earmarked by Hockey Australia as a future Olympian. Was awarded a sporting encouragement award at Glenmore’s end-of-year presentations.
LARA POYSER
Year 7
The rising star was awarded the Munson Family Trophy for Inspirational Sportsperson of the Year at Glenmore’s annual awards ceremony. She competed at the national karate championships in September where she graded to her black belt. She won gold in both individual and team kata and silver in kumite. She was selected to represent Australia at the Shotokan Karate International Federation World Championships in Türkiye in 2026.
Emmaus College
ISABELLE MOORE
Year 10
Moore’s Aussie rules season was outstanding, earning her Emmaus College’s Female Sportsperson of the Year. She represented School Sports (13-15 years girls) at Rockhampton District, Capricornia and Queensland level. She was part of the Gold Coast Suns under-15 academy and the under-16 North Queensland High Performance and Emerging Talent squads. She was a standout in club land, claiming the Glenmore Bulls’ under-16 girls best and fairest award and was also the team’s leading goalkicker. She also received the runner-up best and fairest medal in the AFL Capricornia under-16 girls competition.
COOPER LOVE
Year 11
Love made a big splash in swimming. He finished second in the 1500m freestyle and third in the 800m freestyle at the Queensland titles, as well as winning gold in the Queensland Open Water 5km event. He broke two 37-year-old Central Queensland records and dominated Capricornia and Queensland school sport events. He also earned top five finishes at the Australian age and open short course championships. He was Emmaus College’s Male Sportsperson of the Year.
St Brendan’s College
KHOBI SCANLAN
Year 11
Although only in Year 11, the multi-talented Scanlan was named St Brendan’s Senior Sportsman of the Year after a remarkable 12 months. He was crowned age champion in cross country and was runner-up in athletics. He represented St Brendan’s in basketball, athletics, cross country and rugby union. He starred in the First XV’s Ballymore Cup Division 2 win, and earned Capricornia selection for cross country and athletics.
ASHLEY EARNSHAW
Year 10
Earnshaw has had an outstanding year, representing St Brendan’s in cross country, touch football, rugby league and athletics, where he claimed age champion. He also represented Rockhampton in athletics and touch, earned Capricornia selection in touch, and has recently returned from representing Queensland at the national under-15 schools touch championships in Victoria.
XAVIER McWHINNEY
Year 10
McWhinney recently represented Queensland at the under-15 National School Sport Aussie rules championships in Brisbane. Playing a pivotal role across half-back, he combined strong defence with attacking vision. His standout performances earned him selection in the prestigious All Australian AFL Team, a remarkable achievement for the talented young athlete.
Yeppoon State High
ASHLEY JONES
Year 9
Jones had an outstanding year in the pool and in track and field. The talented swimmer represented Capricornia, earning top 10 placings in multiple events at the Queensland schools championships. On the track, she broke three Yeppoon State High records and qualified for the 13–19 years Queensland track and field trials in Townsville, where she finished 13th in Queensland for discus and 14th for shot put. She went on to win both those disciplines at the Athletics North Queensland Championships, qualifying her for the Australian All Schools Athletics Championships for the second year running.
Rockhampton Grammar
KAYLEE ACTON
Year 12
Acton represented Rockhampton Grammar in netball and was named Player of the Carnival at the prestigious QISSN carnival in Bundaberg. The goal shooter was also a member of the Capricorn Claws women’s team which competed in the Ruby North League. She was also called into the Sunshine Coast Thunder’s Sapphire Division team during the year. She is also a current member of the Queensland 19 years netball squad.
SAM GASSMAN
Year 12
It was a big year of representative duty for the right-arm paceman. He kickstarted 2025 by representing Queensland at the national under-17 championships in January. He was part of the Queensland Country under-18s that played in Adelaide against South Australian under-17 and under-19 squads in August. The following month, he lined up with the Queensland School Sports under-19 team against New South Wales. He was also selected in the North Queensland open men’s team that beat South Queensland in Cairns.
St Ursula’s College
LYDIA
Year 7
Lydia started at St Ursula’s in 2025 and hit the ground running, achieving age champion for both cross country and athletics at the college’s interhouse carnivals. She was selected at Capricornia level for cross country and athletics, and is a member of St Ursula’s Athlete Development Program. Was St Ursula’s Junior School Sportswoman of the Year.
HEIDI
Year 9
Heidi’s 2025 achievements include age champion at St Ursula’s cross country and athletics interhouse carnivals, as well as representing the Rockhampton District for touch football and cross country. A member of the college’s Athlete Development Program, her skill and versatility saw her named St Ursula’s Player of the Tournament for the Vicki Wilson Shield (netball), All Schools Oztag under-15s, and the
All Schools Touch Football under-15s. Was St Ursula’s Middle School Sportswoman of the Year.
ELLA
Year 11
St Ursula’s 16 years athletics and cross country age champion for 2025, Ella represented Capricornia in triathlon, cross country and athletics. In March, she was selected in the Queensland triathlon team for the nationals in Western Australia. A national C netball umpire, she was the Capricorn Coast Netball Association’s designated umpire at this year’s junior state titles. Was St Ursula’s Senior School Sportswoman of the Year.
North Rockhampton State High
DARCY WEBB
Year 10
Webb continued to blaze a trail in athletics, a sport he only started 18 months ago. In March, he was crowned the Queensland under-16 pole vault champion. He competed in the 100m, high jump and pole vault at the Australian Athletics Junior Championship in Perth. He won every event in his age group at the North Rockhampton High School athletics carnival, breaking the high jump record that stood since 1979. He represented Central Queensland at QRSS in 100m, 200m, high jump, pole vault, javelin and the 4x100m relay. He won or placed top three in multiple events at the North Queensland Athletics Championship, earning him selection in the North Queensland team for the Australian All Schools Championship in Melbourne, where he will compete in the high jump, long jump, pole vault, javelin and the 4x100m relay.
Rockhampton Girls Grammar
JALIME WOSOMO
Year 12
Wosomo was crowned Rockhampton Girls Grammar’s 2025 Open Girls Sporting All Rounder. She was selected in the 18 girls Queensland oztag merit team after a strong showing at the Queensland All Schools carnival. She also played at the Gold Coast Titans All Schools Touch Carnival. She was integral to RGGS placing second in its pool, using her exceptional speed to score several touchdowns each game. She was selected to attend the State Athletics Carnival for the 100m and 200m events.
The Cathedral College
SIENNA HARMSWORTH
Year 9
Harmsworth has had an outstanding year, representing The Cathedral College, Rockhampton and Capricornia in netball, touch football and hockey. She also competed at the Queensland Secondary Schools state titles in all three sports. She was selected in the Queensland schoolgirls hockey team, playing a key role in its national championship victory. She was named as a shadow for the Queensland under-15 schoolgirls touch football team. Was awarded TCC’s Junior Female Sportsperson of the Year.
MICHAEL ‘MICKEY’ BUSBY
Year 12
Busby was a standout in 2025, excelling in rugby league and touch football. He was an integral member of The Cathedral College’s open rugby league team, leading from the middle of the field with his playmaking skills. He represented Rockhampton and the Capricornia region in both sports. He was a member of the Queensland schoolboys touch team, which finished runners-up at the National Youth Championships. He also captained TCC’s open boys all schools touch team, guiding them to the quarter-finals. Will continue his rugby league journey next year after being signed by NRL club, the Wests Tigers. Was named TCC’s Senior Male Sportsperson of the Year.
MANAIA FAIUMU-MALONE
Year 12
The gifted athlete represented The Cathedral College, Rockhampton and Capricornia in touch football and rugby league. Was selected in both the Rockhampton and Capricornia 18 years girls teams in both sports. She represented the Queensland schoolgirls 18 years touch football team, which was victorious at the National Youth Championships. Captained TCC’s open rugby league team, which won the girls division at Confraternity, and was named in the carnival’s Queensland Merit Team. Was TCC’s Senior Female Sportsperson of the Year.
