Meet the 60+ elite young Whitsunday athletes competing at state, national, and international levels
They may be young, but they are fierce. Discover the stories and achievements of the elite young athletes who are dominating state, national, and international competitions.
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The Whitsunday region is producing elite junior athletes with dozens competing at state, national or international level this year.
There are even a select few who are jet-setting internationally to compete for Australia, at places including Barcelona and in the UK.
While this is by no means an exhaustive list, here are 64 Whitsunday region sporting talents you should keep on your radar:
Ljay Barton
Touch football player Ljay Barton, 12, will play for the 10-12 years Boys’ Touch Team at the state level game to be held from May 18 to 21 in Cairns.
Katie Maund
Show jumping superstar Katie Maund, 15, competed with horse Loony at the Pony Club Queensland State Jumping Equitation and Show Jumping Champions on May 5 in Bundaberg.
Maund came away with 2023 Runner Up State Champion.
She has also represented her state at Horseball competitions in August and November last year.
Maund also placed in multiple events with horse Cristrogracia at the Tropical North Queensland Showjumping Championships.
Jamie Henderson
Basketballer Jamie Henderson, 12, will play for the 10-12 years at the Queensland Regional State School Basketball Championships on May 25.
Henderson is the only male to have been selected from Proserpine State High School.
Lola Boorman
Netballer Lola Boorman, 11, is hoping to represent Queensland at the U13 Junior Nissan State Age Event from June 24 to 27 in Townsville.
Ruby Henry
Like Boorman, Ruby Henry, 13, has been selected to represent her state in netball at the U13 Junior Nissan State Age Event from June 24 to 27 in Townsville.
Maali Bradley
Maali Bradley, 13, rounds out the netball squad having also been selected to represent Queensland at the U13 Junior Nissan State Age Event from June 24 to 27 in Townsville.
Bradley is from Proserpine State High School.
Harrison Squires
Futsal champion Harrison Squires, 13, will represent the nation as part of the Australian 13 Boys’ Representative Futsal Team which heads to Barcelona in Spain in June.
Don Algae
Don Algae, 10, represented Queensland at the North Queensland 10-12 years State Swimming Championships held in Brisbane from March 26 to 28.
Algae also competed at the Queensland Sprint Championships in February.
Isabella Pisaniello
Isabella Pisaniello, 12, represented Queensland at the North Queensland 10-12 years State Swimming Championships held in Brisbane from March 26 to 28.
Pisaniello is a member of Cannonvale Cannons Swimming Club.
Holly Perrin
Holly Perrin, 16, represented Queensland at the National Qualifier Australian Age Swimming Championships on April 10 at the Gold Coast.
Perrin, of Cannonvale Cannons Swimming Club, also represented North Queensland at the 13-19 years Swimming State Championships held in Brisbane from March 29 to 31.
Ruby Harland
Ruby Harland of Cannonvale Cannons Swimming Club represented Queensland at the North Queensland 10-12 years State Swimming Championships held in Brisbane from March 26 to 28.
Tiarne Watson
Netball talent Tiarne Watson, 12, will represent her state at the U13 Junior Nissan State Age Event from June 24 to 27.
Freddie Hazelton
Freddie Hazelton, 14, of St Catherine’s Catholic College, represented the nation as part of the Australian Futsal U14 Boys Team that played in the UK from April 13 to 27.
Reef Peel
Reef Peel of St Catherine’s Catholic College represented the nation as part of the Australian Futsal U14 Boys Team that played in the UK from April 13 to 27.
Max O’Keefe
Max O’Keefe of St Catherine’s Catholic College represented the nation as part of the Australian Futsal U14 Boys Team that played in the UK from April 13 to 27.
Archer Wright
Archer Wright, 10, competed at the North Queensland 10-12 years State Swimming Championships held in Brisbane from March 26 to 28.
Jacks Clayworth
Jacks Clayworth, 10, competed at the North Queensland 10-12 years State Swimming Championships held in Brisbane from March 26 to 28.
Mia Clark
Mia Clark, 14, competed for her state at the North Queensland 12-15 Years Volleyball Championships held in Brisbane from April 19 to 22.
Ben Hope
Ben Hope, 12, competed at the state level at the North Queensland 10-12 years State Cricket Championships held in Rockhampton from March 27 to 31.
Blake Hanks
Blake Hanks, 15, competed for his state at the North Queensland School Sport AFL Championships held in Ipswich on March 25.
Hanks goes to Proserpine State High School.
Mila Parkinson
Mila Parkinson, 12, competed at the state level in horseshow jumping at the Pony Club Queensland 2023 State Jumping Equitation and Show Jumping Championships held in Bundaberg on April 5.
Eneliko Savelio
Eneliko Savelio, 15, represented his state in rugby at the Queensland U15 Rugby League championships.
Cooper Kennedy
Cooper Kennedy, 12, represented Queensland in sailing at the 2023 Musto Australian Optimist Championships held in NSW from January 9 to 14.
Fletcher Kennedy
Fletcher Kennedy, 9, represented Queensland in sailing at the 2023 Musto Australian Optimist Championships held in NSW from January 9 to 14.
Connor Harris
Harris, 12, represented his state in sailing at the Open Skiff National Championships U15 at Perth Yacht Club from January 8 to 13.
He also competed for the country at the 2022 ISAF Open Skiff World Championships.
Russell Harris
Russell Harris, 12, represented his state in sailing at the Open Skiff National Championships U15 at Perth Yacht Club from January 8 to 13.
He also competed for the country at the 2022 ISAF Open Skiff World Championship.
Reid Martin
Reid Martin, 9, represented his state in sailing at the 2023 Musto Australian Optimist Championships held in NSW from January 9 to 14.
Zanda Wong
Zanda Wong, 13, represented Queensland in sailing at the 2023 Musto Australian Optimist Championships held in NSW from January 9 to 14.
Sophie Fletcher
Sophie Fletcher, 11, represented North Queensland in both running and swimming at the 11-12 years Aquathlon Championships held in Hervey Bay on February 4.
Kayla Vella
Kayla Vella, 14, represented the state in touch football at the U15s Girls’ Touch Championships held in Wagga Wagga, NSW, late last year.
Catherine Maund
Catherine Maund, 14, represented her state in horseball at the Horseball Team Championships Equitana held in Melbourne in mid-November.
She also competed at the Horseball Championships in August.
Ruby Cran
Ruby Cran, 14, represented Queensland at the Horseball Team Championships Equitana held in Melbourne in mid-November.
Amy Gray
Amy Gray, 18, represented Queensland at the Horseball Team Championships Equitana held in Melbourne in mid-November.
Lachlan Gray
Lachlan Gray, 17, represented Queensland at the Horseball Team Championships Equitana held in Melbourne in mid-November.
Charlotte Adams
Charlotte Adams, 14, represented Queensland at the Horseball Team Championships Equitana held in Melbourne in mid-November.
She also competed for her country in equestrian at the Horseball World Cup in France.
Charlotte Lee
Charlotte Lee, 14, represented Queensland at the Horseball Team Championships Equitana held in Melbourne in mid-November.
Brooke Mizzi
Brooke Mizzi, 16, represented Queensland at the Horseball Team Championships Equitana held in Melbourne in mid-November.
Corey Stroud
Corey Stroud, 13, of St Catherine’s College, played for Australia at the Australian Futsal U14 Team Championships held in the UK from April 13 to 27.
Jacob Godden
Jacob Godden, 12, of St Catherine’s Catholic College will represent his country with the Australian 13 Boys Representative Futsal Team that will play in Barcelona, Spain from June 5 to 22, 2023.
Kai Draper
Kai Draper of St Catherine’s Catholic College will represent his country with the Australian 13 Boys Representative Futsal Team that will play in Barcelona, Spain from June 5 to 22, 2023.
Lincoln Sokolski-Fricker
Lincoln Sokolski-Fricker, 15, represented North Queensland in soccer at the 2022 FQ Community Cup at Maroochydore in September, 2022.
Sari Goodall
Sari Goodall, 15, played soccer for Queensland at the National Youth Championships held in Coffs Harbour, NSW, in August last year.
Fyn Gunn
Fyn Gunn, 15, represented Queensland in endurance motorbiking at the Australian Hard Enduro Championships held in Hillston, NSW, in August last year.
Lincoln Thicker
Lincoln Thicker, 15, competed for North Queensland in rugby union at the Northern Queensland U15 Rugby Union championships.
Thicker also represented the region for touch football.
Lillian Kelly
Lillian Kelly, 14, played volleyball for Queensland at the Youth Volleyball Championships held in Bendigo, Victoria, in September, 2022.
Kade Harrison
Kade Harrison, 13, played volleyball for Queensland at the Youth Volleyball Championships held in Bendigo, Victoria, in September, 2022.
Taleisa Savelio
Taleisa Savelio, 12, played rugby league for her state at the Rugby League Girls 11-12 years competition held in Brisbane in September last year.
Karl Ward
Karl Ward, 12, played futsal for Queensland state at the National School Futsal Championships held in the Gold Coast in September, 2022.
Derek Ward
Derek Ward, 12, played futsal for Queensland state at the National School Futsal Championships held in the Gold Coast in September, 2022.
Jack Oberg
Jack Oberg, 12, competed for North Queensland in cross country at the Queensland Schools Cross Country competition.
Oliver Dibben
Oliver Dibben, 11, competed for North Queensland in cross country at the Queensland Schools Cross Country competition.
Hugo Williams
Hugo Williams, 11, competed for North Queensland in cross country at the Queensland Schools Cross Country competition.
Williams also represented the region in touch football.
Charlie Williams
Charlie Williams, 11, competed for North Queensland in cross country at the Queensland Schools Cross Country competition.
Shailee Mewha
Shailee Mewha, 10, competed for North Queensland in cross country at the Queensland Schools Cross Country competition.
Fergus King
Fergus King, 11, competed for North Queensland in cross country at the Queensland Schools Cross Country competition.
Fergus was also selected to compete in the 2021 Northern Schools Cross Country competition.
Rufus King
Rufus King, 13, competed for North Queensland in cross country at the Queensland Schools Cross Country competition.
Rufus was also selected to compete in the 2021 Northern Schools Cross Country competition.
Jy Parkinson
Jy Parkinson, 17, swam at the North Queensland Sport 13-19 Years State Swimming Championships at Brisbane from March 29 to 31.
Kai Draper
Kai Draper, 12, competed for North Queensland in soccer as part of the Northern 10-12 years Boys Football team.
Jarrad Skiba
Jarrad Skiba, 12, competed for his state in rugby league at the Northern 11-12 Years State Championship.
Skiba also represented Queensland in 2021.
Jake Pettigrew
Jake Pettigrew, 16, competed for North Queensland in rugby league as part of the Northern Region Schools Sport U16 Boys Football Team
Justin Meeks
Justin Meeks, 15, competed for Queensland in boxing at the Boxing Australian U19 Championships.
Diesel Bonds
Diesel Bonds, 11, competed for North Queensland in rugby league as part of the U11 State Championships.
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