Gunning for gold: Future Olympians from Warwick and Southern Downs revealed
Warwick’s brilliant athletes have blazed a trail at the Olympics for generations, and the next wave of stars are already making their mark! These are the 25+ sports stars who have the potential to reach ultimate sporting glory.
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In almost every arena from track and field to the pool and team sports, Warwick’s junior athletes are already making their mark on the sporting world.
All of Warwick and the Southern Downs watched on as the region’s own homegrown stars competed among the world’s best at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games this month.
With the next Olympics only three years away and Brisbane confirmed as the host venue for the 2032 Games, it’s time for the next generation of potential sports stars to step into the spotlight.
From up-and-coming gymnasts to track stars and more, these are the ones to watch out for as Warwick’s future Olympians.
ATHLETICS
Warwick and its surrounds are known across the nation for producing some of Australia’s leading athletes, including discus thrower Matthew Denny who came agonisingly close to winning an Olympic medal in Tokyo.
For Rogers Sports Coaching owners and coaches Nathan and Bec Rogers, watching Denny go from Allora to the Olympics was just the inspiration their up-and-coming athletes need to take it to the next level.
They revealed Sam Wainwright and William Thornton were standing out with their efforts in long jump and 100m sprints, while Jack Smith was showing a lot of potential as a discus competitor.
The Rogers also said Bailey Harm was one to watch in the high jump field, Denika Murray was showing potential in her 200m, 400m, and long jump events, and Jacob Kent was exemplary in shot put, discus, and long jump.
The coaching squad’s best and brightest were rounded out by Hayley Wainwright, a competitor in both the multi-event encompassing 100m, 800m, shot put, and long jump plus high jump as a separate event, and Lochlann Hogan who has been selected for the Queensland orienteering team.
Rogers said all eight athletes were already highly competitive at the state level, with this year’s national competitions in December and more firmly in their sights.
“I definitely think they all, in the last two weeks, have been buzzing with a bit of extra energy, gusto, and enthusiasm from watching all the achievements of our Olympic athletes,” he said.
“You see it time and time again – the true success stories and those really elite athletes that come out of teenagers come from hard work, and that’s one of the big ethos we try to drum into our kids.
“Persistence and hard work really does pay off, and it’s always exciting to see kids with potential continue to apply themselves.”
SWIMMING
The Australian Dolphins were a force to be reckoned with in the pool at the Tokyo Games, and there are hopes Warwick’s own could nab a spot on the squad in only a few years.
Allora Swimming Club president Donna-Maree Willett said the teen squad currently training under long-term coach Andrew Fidge could be “exceptional in time”.
Alongside her own children in 13-year-old Bailey Harm and 11-year-old Chloe Harm, she said teammates Ellyse Kruger, Alyssa White, Will Gilmore, Lily Osborne, and Ellyn Moore were all up-and-comers to watch.
“They’re all kids who do a lot of sport around here, and they make multiple Darling Downs teams and go to state events in multiple sports,” Willett said.
“They’re all really well-rounded kids, and if like hangs with like and they’re all hanging out together, I think that breeds that ‘let’s try anything’ mentality.”
Bailey Harm’s record-breaking efforts at the end of the 2020-1 season have now placed him in the top 10 rankings for multiple events.
Willett also said an even younger cohort of under-8s were quickly shaping up to be future stars in the pool, including Tom Peters, Ella Hutchison, Ruby Patterson, and Tom, Ella, and Maeve Moore.
“They’re some of the best under-8s on the Downs, and they’re going to be a really lovely strong group to watch come through,” she said.
“They’re building skills, they’ve got a great group to grow together, and this is their first year to be selected for representative teams so it’ll be great to watch.”
GYMNASTICS
After years of hard work and training, Warwick Gymnastics Club coach Lyndsay Ryan says there’s plenty of junior athletes they’ll be watching out for in years to come.
Ryan said Level 8 athlete Morgan O’Leary was the club’s top-level performer and hoped she’d continue with the sport beyond her teens.
With these athletes bringing natural power, flexibility, and performance skills at such a young age, Ryan said it was as much about training the girls’ mental game as the physical.
“Their biggest thing is learning to compete the way they train, learning how to compartmentalise is a big skill.
“When girls are on bars, they need to be focused on the skill and what they’re doing as they’re doing it, rather than what’s coming next.”
Making a promising start to their young careers with the state titles in September, it’s likely only a matter of time before these Warwick athletes make their mark on the gymnastics world.
RUGBY
The inclusion of Rugby Sevens in the Olympics has catapulted Southern Downs stars such as Charlotte Caslick and Lew Holland onto the international stage, and it may not be long before more of the region’s best crack the big leagues.
Warwick Water Rats secretary and junior sports coach Tess Enchelmaier said 17-year-old Beau Kendall hadmade waves in the region’s rugby union competitions over the past few seasons.
“(Kendall) is massive but also a very skilled rugby player for his age – good at ball running, and great game knowledge,” she said.
“He was missing for the regular Rats’ season this year because of injury, but he’s playing in the Super Schools Cup now and it’s pretty clear why people say he’s one to watch.”
Allora athlete Reegan McMillan was another star player on Enchelmaier’s list of up-and-comers, with the 15-year-old already standing out in a tough and competitive field.
“She’s phenomenal. Last year was her first year of union, coming from a league background, and she just tore up the competition,” Enchelmaier said.
“She’s in rep sides for Sevens already and does really well at the competitive level too.”
HOCKEY
Almost 30 years after field hockey prodigy Lee Bodimeade represented Warwick and his country at the 1992 Olympics, there are new hopes Rose City athletes could follow in his footsteps.
Warwick Hockey Association participation director Angela Groves said the U15s girls’ and boys’ teams heading to state championships next month showed a lot of potential to reach the next level.
“There’s an opportunity to be selected for a Queensland squad as individuals, and we have a few boys and girls that would be hoping to get a look in on that,” Groves said.
STANTHORPE STARS TO WATCH
Swimmer Ben Armbruster has his mind firmly set on competing at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
His former coach Gail Smail reflected on the 19-year-old’s development to now.
“Ben has a lot of natural talent, ever since he was four he was a natural swimmer,” Mrs Smail said.
“He has a good backstroke and his butterfly technique is really flawless, it’s strong.”
His mum Shannon Armbruster said her son has always been determined to do the best in his sport.
“I’m very excited for the future. His goal is to make the Olympics in 2024 and the Commonwealth Games next year would be good, too,” she said.
Ben is ranked in the top 10 in Australia Open Men’s for 50m butterfly, 50m backstroke and 100m butterfly.
He is part of the Elite Swimming Program on the Sunshine Coast where he trains seven days a week.
Another Stanthorpe champion in the making is 12-year-old Jessica Pradella.
She began swimming at just six months old before becoming a competitive swimmer at age seven.
The youngster’s Stanthorpe swimming coach Mrs Smail said she was a very strong and talented athlete.
“She’s dedicated in her training, and likes to train and knows she has to train to get results. She’s continuing to develop her technique all the time and has good listening skills at this stage of her life,” she said.
“If she puts her mind to it she can make it a long way with swimming and swimming in the Olympics.”
Jessica’s dad Michael Pradella said his daughter is passionate about the sport and training.
“She is keen to go as far as she possibly can with swimming,” he said.
Jessica idolises Ariarne Titmus with both her coach and dad telling the Border Post the youngster would like to be and has the potential to be just like the Australian Olympic gold medallist.
“She is a very strong freestyle swimmer, distance more than sprints, but she is following Ariarne Titmus as a role model and setting (the Olympics) as her goal,” Mrs Smail said.
Tom Petrie is an up-and-coming basketballer from Stanthorpe, with his heart firmly set on being an Olympic basketballer just like his uncle.
Tom has made the Darling Downs school basketball team and plays for the Toowoomba Mountaineers under 12s junior state league team as a forward and centre, due to his tall stature.
Dad and basketball coach Damian Petrie said the Toowoomba coaching staff really liked the 11-year-old‘s attitude and willingness to learn.
“He was voted the most valuable player in the Toowoomba Mountaineers for his ability to be such a happy-go-lucky kid,” he said.
Basketball is in Tom‘s blood, with uncle Anthony Petrie having played for the Brisbane Bullets.
Mr Petrie said his son over the last few months has started to develop more and have more confidence with the ball in his hands, regularly training and practising his shooting skills in the hoop at home about three or four times every week.
“He has more co-ordination and more control of the ball than what he used to,” Mr Petrie said.
Mr Petrie said he only wants to encourage his son to try his best and if he is keen and passionate about playing basketball professionally he can get there.
“Dream big and go for it, what‘s the worst that can happen?” he said.
“(Tom) said to me before, ‘Dad something’s always happening (in basketball)’, he feels it’s fast-paced and is always involved in the game and that’s what he enjoys.”
If there’s a junior sports legend you’d like to see put forward, let us know! Comment on the story below or send an email to jessica.paul@news.com.au
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